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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2009
Call To Action Steering Committee Continues Its Work
Nashville, Tenn.:The Call to Action steering committee is entering the next phase of its work: conducting research and gathering data to be used in developing recommendations to be presented to the Council of Bishops and Connectional Table.
As charged by the Council of Bishops, the committee preliminarily identified a long list of items for deliberation at their September meeting that would fundamentally change the direction of The United Methodist Church and advance the denomination's mission and priorities. During the process, it emerged that some of the ideas generated were also under discussion by other study groups and task forces looking at the same issues.
A number of items are under closer consideration, and the committee is moving forward to gather more information and engage others in the process. As a part of the research stage, committee members will be conducting conversations with about 200 church leaders in October to get feedback for further discussion as well as additional suggestions the committee may consider.
"We're looking at a number of critical areas, from the frequency and format of General Conference, to the size and number of boards and agencies, to creation of a global office, to development of leadership systems and addressing effectiveness of clergy," said Bishop Larry Goodpaster, project director. "We want to get a broad array of perspectives before we begin to formulate our recommendations."
The full committee plans to meet again in October before reporting their recommendations to the Council of Bishops and Connectional Table in November 2009.
The committee was formed in response to the Call to Action issued by the Council of Bishops in May to look at the current realities and systems of The United Methodist Church to better understand how they affect our ability to reach our desired outcomes, and generate dramatic alternative options to reshape and reorder the life of the denomination.
Media Contact: Diane Degnan
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