May 19-21, in Wildwood, New Jersey
The Greater New Jersey Conference met May 19-21 in Wildwood, New Jersey, Bishop John Schol presiding. The theme was “Rooted,” drawing from Jeremiah 17:8.
In his episcopal address, Bishop Schol celebrated the ministries of congregations in Greater New Jersey, sharing ways that clergy and congregational leaders have demonstrated their love through mission and outreach. He shared the good works of GNJ’s vital mission partners who witness to our communities through mission, financial management, engaging young disciples and serving housing needs. In a personal and emotional witness to the state of the church, he shared his commitment to explore new expressions of Methodism in the wake of current disagreements over homosexuality.
Bishop Schol said: “Let me be clear, I am not interested in changing a few paragraphs in The Book of Discipline and then call it a day. The Gospel demands more of us, of me and of you as leaders of the church of Jesus Christ. God is ready to do new things through us and while it will not look the same, it will be Wesleyan, it will be connectional, it will be transformative and it will turn the church outward.”
Bishop Schol called for 50 congregations to volunteer to pilot the next Methodism. He called for others to continue to move our mission forward: 75 congregations who are interested in becoming the next Hope Center, 30 congregations who want to partner to start and grow a youth ministry program. 100 congregations who are ready and willing to be the next miracle in the Miracles Everywhere Campaign, 10 congregations ready to invest with the Stewardship Foundation to move us forward into what is next and 10 congregations who are ready to start a new worship experience.
The conference had powerful worship including an ordination service which featured 18 newly commissioned and ordained clergy and one missionary who will serve in Mongolia for the Board of Global Ministries. Twenty-one retiring clergy, who represented 549 years in ministry with Greater New Jersey were celebrated. Bishop Ernest Lyght delivered a powerful sermon for our Service of Remembrance, honoring 28 clergy and lay members who passed in the last year.
Other highlights:
The Rev. Sang Won Doh, New Raritan Valley District Superintendent, spoke in her role as convener of the Greater New Jersey Way Forward team:
“The current witness and mission of the United Methodist Church is weakened by our division and impasse about human sexuality. New expressions — in the form of models, methods and organization – will provide opportunity for diverse congregations to live authentic beliefs, convictions and practices, while remaining connected, to increase our impact through witness and mission in the world.”
Sammy Arroyo, the conference’s representative in the New Jersey Schools Desegregation Coalition, shared an update on the work being done as part of the efforts GNJ initiated last year through a historic lawsuit against the state of New Jersey that calls for the desegregation of public schools in the state. Next steps include a partnership with The Latino Action Network Foundation and the Salvation and Social Justice for program planning, outreach and organizing.
Kristina González, Director of Innovation for an Inclusive Church for the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area of the UMC, led a teaching session in cultural competency and the intersections with emotional intelligence to further the conference’s commitment to its 10-year cultural competency plan. Small group sharing brought home her message with a hands-on exercise to encourage conversation.
Main actions enacted by the conference:
The Conference affirmed the work of the GNJ Way Forward Team and a call for a Special Annual Conference Session to move forward with piloting different expressions of United Methodism.
Holy Conferencing took on new meaning Tuesday as the conference discussed the work of The Way Forward Team. Bishop John Schol invited all members of the Way Forward Team to join him in sharing their work, by focusing on the tools of having an outward mindset. David Wehrle, the vice chair of the Wesleyan Covenant Association and Amanda Hemenetz, the chair of Reconciling Ministries, both gave witness to how the team is lifting them up and giving them hope for a way forward. Members of the body stepped to the microphones to share where they saw themselves in the boxes that kept us inward and where in our lives we experienced outward ministries.
Resolutions related to General Conference 2019: None
Other resolutions adopted by the conference:
Number of people ordained, commissioned or received into associate membership, and average age: 19 people with an average age of 31.8
Clergy Delegates to General Conference
Drew Dyson, Chair of the Clergy Delegation
Héctor A. Burgos
Kaleigh Tomich Corbett
Jennifer Cho
Clergy Jurisdictional Conference Delegates
Catherine Williams
Thomas Lank
William Williams, III
Eunice Vega-Perez
Clergy Reserves
Tanya Linn Bennett
Robert Costello
Sang-Won Doh
Laity Delegates to General Conference
Bethany Amey, Chair of the Delegation
Judy Colorado
Harriett Olson
Stephen Quigg
Laity Delegates to the Jurisdictional Conference
Dale Caldwell
Cynthia Kent
Moselle Jules
Carolyn Pendleton
Laity Reserves
Jane Ehlers
Creed Pogue
Andrea Wren-Hardin
Did the conference develop plans or policies for churches that are interested in leaving the denomination?
The pilot churches who will work with the GNJ Way Forward Team will consider plans or policies for churches looking for a new expression of Methodism. The conference affirmed the work of the GNJ Way Forward Team
GNJ Way Forward Team Goals
1. Renew the church by turning the church outward – renew our relationship with God, one another and the community so that we connect a life changing and relevant Gospel message with the people in our communities.
2. Bless one another – while not all agreeing, we will not inhibit congregations, disciples and clergy from pursuing their convictions and calling.
3. Identify objectives for congregations to thrive and a structure to support their efforts.
4. Identify a process and guidelines for ready and willing congregations to model congregational groupings such as:
a. Congregations that hold a scriptural view that same gender weddings should not be performed in our churches and that LGBTQI+ persons should not be ordained.
b. Congregations that hold different scriptural views and can be together recognizing there will be different practices and understanding of the LGBTQI+ community’s participation in the church.
c. Congregations that hold a scriptural view that Jesus invites everyone to participate fully in the life of the church and that all churches should allow same gender weddings and that all churches should be open to the appointment of an LGBTQI+ clergy person weddings and that all churches should be open to the appointment of an LGBTQI+ clergy person.
5. Identify the ministry, mission and administration through which we will continue to connect with one another.
Did your bishop address church unity?
Yes. In his episcopal address Bishop Schol set the tone and direction for what would come:
“It is time for the United Methodist Church to allow for new expressions of Methodism so that we stop hurting each other and give room for different theologies, methods for interpreting the Bible and diversity in practicing our faith.”
Number of clergy retired: 21
Membership stands at 85,164, down 1,646 from the previous year.
Worship attendance stands at 40,168, down 1,638.
Church school attendance stands at 10,656, down 68.
Professions or reaffirmations of faith for 2018 were 1,780, down 245 from 2017.
Adults and young adults in small groups for 2018 were 26,094, down 77 from 2017.
Worshippers engaged in mission for 2018 were 25,291, down from 2017 504.
What did your annual conference do to reinforce the Four Areas of Focus, and what commitments has the conference made for the coming year:
Poverty and Wellness:
A Future With Hope has cultivated 20 Hope Centers that are bringing hope, healing and wholeness to the people in our communities. Two years ago, we said we would launch 100 Hope Centers across GNJ. We are 20% of the way toward our goal: Hope. A Future With Hope is also working on plans to help churches transform underused property into affordable housing units that include new worship spaces and places for Hope Centers that reach deep into communities. A Future With Hope is extending the mission of Greater New Jersey and transformation in communities.
At Annual Conference, Greater New Jersey packed 30,000 meals for Rise Against Hunger. The conference received a generous offering of $31,281.50 from our congregations for the Miracles Everywhere Campaign which is supporting our partnership with Tanzania and Puerto Rico, Next Generation Ministries and A Future With Hope.
Leading Where God Calls:
Next Generation Ministries is reaching young people in new and innovative ways. Last year, they reopened camps and this year they are expanding our camping programs. They have launched a civil rights journey for students called the Joshua Generation, introduced Cultivate internships for high school and college students and oversee four Next Gen campus ministries including new ministries at Drew and Rutgers Universities. The IGNITE Youth Conference continues to grow to more than 1,500 people, but more importantly it is reviving youth ministry and welcoming new disciples of Jesus Christ. Next Generation Ministries is extending the mission of GNJ by transforming the lives of young people.
New Disciples in New Places:
In 2018, United Methodists in Greater New Jersey created a partnership with Tanzania which included an annual Local Pastors’ School to help equip leaders. The effort, funded by the Miracles Everywhere campaign, included a five-day school held at Wesley College in Mwanza, Tanzania. This year, one hundred and twenty men and 41 women leaders of churches came from across the country, some travelling 18 hours by bus, to attend the school so that they could further their ministry in their communities.
The Greater New Jersey Conference’s wrap-up of its annual gathering can be found here.
– Carolyn Conover, director of communications
The Greater New Jersey Conference met May 19-21 in Wildwood, New Jersey, Bishop John Schol presiding. The theme was “Rooted,” drawing from Jeremiah 17:8.
In his episcopal address, Bishop Schol celebrated the ministries of congregations in Greater New Jersey, sharing ways that clergy and congregational leaders have demonstrated their love through mission and outreach. He shared the good works of GNJ’s vital mission partners who witness to our communities through mission, financial management, engaging young disciples and serving housing needs. In a personal and emotional witness to the state of the church, he shared his commitment to explore new expressions of Methodism in the wake of current disagreements over homosexuality.
Bishop Schol said: “Let me be clear, I am not interested in changing a few paragraphs in The Book of Discipline and then call it a day. The Gospel demands more of us, of me and of you as leaders of the church of Jesus Christ. God is ready to do new things through us and while it will not look the same, it will be Wesleyan, it will be connectional, it will be transformative and it will turn the church outward.”
Bishop Schol called for 50 congregations to volunteer to pilot the next Methodism. He called for others to continue to move our mission forward: 75 congregations who are interested in becoming the next Hope Center, 30 congregations who want to partner to start and grow a youth ministry program. 100 congregations who are ready and willing to be the next miracle in the Miracles Everywhere Campaign, 10 congregations ready to invest with the Stewardship Foundation to move us forward into what is next and 10 congregations who are ready to start a new worship experience.
The conference had powerful worship including an ordination service which featured 18 newly commissioned and ordained clergy and one missionary who will serve in Mongolia for the Board of Global Ministries. Twenty-one retiring clergy, who represented 549 years in ministry with Greater New Jersey were celebrated. Bishop Ernest Lyght delivered a powerful sermon for our Service of Remembrance, honoring 28 clergy and lay members who passed in the last year.
Other highlights:
The Rev. Sang Won Doh, New Raritan Valley District Superintendent, spoke in her role as convener of the Greater New Jersey Way Forward team:
“The current witness and mission of the United Methodist Church is weakened by our division and impasse about human sexuality. New expressions — in the form of models, methods and organization – will provide opportunity for diverse congregations to live authentic beliefs, convictions and practices, while remaining connected, to increase our impact through witness and mission in the world.”
Sammy Arroyo, the conference’s representative in the New Jersey Schools Desegregation Coalition, shared an update on the work being done as part of the efforts GNJ initiated last year through a historic lawsuit against the state of New Jersey that calls for the desegregation of public schools in the state. Next steps include a partnership with The Latino Action Network Foundation and the Salvation and Social Justice for program planning, outreach and organizing.
Kristina González, Director of Innovation for an Inclusive Church for the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area of the UMC, led a teaching session in cultural competency and the intersections with emotional intelligence to further the conference’s commitment to its 10-year cultural competency plan. Small group sharing brought home her message with a hands-on exercise to encourage conversation.
Main actions enacted by the conference:
The Conference affirmed the work of the GNJ Way Forward Team and a call for a Special Annual Conference Session to move forward with piloting different expressions of United Methodism.
Holy Conferencing took on new meaning Tuesday as the conference discussed the work of The Way Forward Team. Bishop John Schol invited all members of the Way Forward Team to join him in sharing their work, by focusing on the tools of having an outward mindset. David Wehrle, the vice chair of the Wesleyan Covenant Association and Amanda Hemenetz, the chair of Reconciling Ministries, both gave witness to how the team is lifting them up and giving them hope for a way forward. Members of the body stepped to the microphones to share where they saw themselves in the boxes that kept us inward and where in our lives we experienced outward ministries.
Resolutions related to General Conference 2019: None
Other resolutions adopted by the conference:
Number of people ordained, commissioned or received into associate membership, and average age: 19 people with an average age of 31.8
Clergy Delegates to General Conference
Drew Dyson, Chair of the Clergy Delegation
Héctor A. Burgos
Kaleigh Tomich Corbett
Jennifer Cho
Clergy Jurisdictional Conference Delegates
Catherine Williams
Thomas Lank
William Williams, III
Eunice Vega-Perez
Clergy Reserves
Tanya Linn Bennett
Robert Costello
Sang-Won Doh
Laity Delegates to General Conference
Bethany Amey, Chair of the Delegation
Judy Colorado
Harriett Olson
Stephen Quigg
Laity Delegates to the Jurisdictional Conference
Dale Caldwell
Cynthia Kent
Moselle Jules
Carolyn Pendleton
Laity Reserves
Jane Ehlers
Creed Pogue
Andrea Wren-Hardin
Did the conference develop plans or policies for churches that are interested in leaving the denomination?
The pilot churches who will work with the GNJ Way Forward Team will consider plans or policies for churches looking for a new expression of Methodism. The conference affirmed the work of the GNJ Way Forward Team
GNJ Way Forward Team Goals
1. Renew the church by turning the church outward – renew our relationship with God, one another and the community so that we connect a life changing and relevant Gospel message with the people in our communities.
2. Bless one another – while not all agreeing, we will not inhibit congregations, disciples and clergy from pursuing their convictions and calling.
3. Identify objectives for congregations to thrive and a structure to support their efforts.
4. Identify a process and guidelines for ready and willing congregations to model congregational groupings such as:
a. Congregations that hold a scriptural view that same gender weddings should not be performed in our churches and that LGBTQI+ persons should not be ordained.
b. Congregations that hold different scriptural views and can be together recognizing there will be different practices and understanding of the LGBTQI+ community’s participation in the church.
c. Congregations that hold a scriptural view that Jesus invites everyone to participate fully in the life of the church and that all churches should allow same gender weddings and that all churches should be open to the appointment of an LGBTQI+ clergy person weddings and that all churches should be open to the appointment of an LGBTQI+ clergy person.
5. Identify the ministry, mission and administration through which we will continue to connect with one another.
Did your bishop address church unity?
Yes. In his episcopal address Bishop Schol set the tone and direction for what would come:
“It is time for the United Methodist Church to allow for new expressions of Methodism so that we stop hurting each other and give room for different theologies, methods for interpreting the Bible and diversity in practicing our faith.”
Number of clergy retired: 21
Membership stands at 85,164, down 1,646 from the previous year.
Worship attendance stands at 40,168, down 1,638.
Church school attendance stands at 10,656, down 68.
Professions or reaffirmations of faith for 2018 were 1,780, down 245 from 2017.
Adults and young adults in small groups for 2018 were 26,094, down 77 from 2017.
Worshippers engaged in mission for 2018 were 25,291, down from 2017 504.
What did your annual conference do to reinforce the Four Areas of Focus, and what commitments has the conference made for the coming year:
Poverty and Wellness:
A Future With Hope has cultivated 20 Hope Centers that are bringing hope, healing and wholeness to the people in our communities. Two years ago, we said we would launch 100 Hope Centers across GNJ. We are 20% of the way toward our goal: Hope. A Future With Hope is also working on plans to help churches transform underused property into affordable housing units that include new worship spaces and places for Hope Centers that reach deep into communities. A Future With Hope is extending the mission of Greater New Jersey and transformation in communities.
At Annual Conference, Greater New Jersey packed 30,000 meals for Rise Against Hunger. The conference received a generous offering of $31,281.50 from our congregations for the Miracles Everywhere Campaign which is supporting our partnership with Tanzania and Puerto Rico, Next Generation Ministries and A Future With Hope.
Leading Where God Calls:
Next Generation Ministries is reaching young people in new and innovative ways. Last year, they reopened camps and this year they are expanding our camping programs. They have launched a civil rights journey for students called the Joshua Generation, introduced Cultivate internships for high school and college students and oversee four Next Gen campus ministries including new ministries at Drew and Rutgers Universities. The IGNITE Youth Conference continues to grow to more than 1,500 people, but more importantly it is reviving youth ministry and welcoming new disciples of Jesus Christ. Next Generation Ministries is extending the mission of GNJ by transforming the lives of young people.
New Disciples in New Places:
In 2018, United Methodists in Greater New Jersey created a partnership with Tanzania which included an annual Local Pastors’ School to help equip leaders. The effort, funded by the Miracles Everywhere campaign, included a five-day school held at Wesley College in Mwanza, Tanzania. This year, one hundred and twenty men and 41 women leaders of churches came from across the country, some travelling 18 hours by bus, to attend the school so that they could further their ministry in their communities.
The Greater New Jersey Conference’s wrap-up of its annual gathering can be found here.
– Carolyn Conover, director of communications
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