Changes and Challenges
By Gil Hanke
I expect some of you have read or heard something about the Call to Action, an effort launched by the Council of Bishops and the Connectional Table.
Over the past two years, several committees have moved the Call to Action from research to several recommendations and a proposed new structure to be considered by the 2012 General Conference.
I strongly encourage you to follow these developments at www.umc.org; add your comments to news stories posted there. I also encourage you to express your opinions and concerns to members of your conference delegation to General Conference.
As I write this, Bishop James King, Martha Davis and I have just completed a week of meetings where this "reordering of the church" was debated. There is no doubt our denomination must make changes that will result in more vital congregations, the debate is how that can be achieved.
A Call to Action committee and the Connectional Table are recommending a massive reordering of all general agencies. How that translates to needed reforms within the local congregation is unclear.
Under the proposed plan, only the UM Publishing House and the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits would continue in their present structure. The governing boards of all other agencies, including GCUMM, would be discontinued. Under the proposed structure, the functions of these agencies would be guided by a 15-member board of directors.
It is not clear how the functions of UMM and UMW will fit in this organizational model. Harriett Olson, deputy general secretary for GBGM and top staff executive of the Women's Division, and I have been asked to propose ways in which the work of our organizations might be included. That proposal will be completed in the next few weeks.
No one is questioning the functions of the GCUMM. Men's ministries and scouting ministries do help create vitality in congregations.
Please continue to pray for me and for the other general secretaries as we go through this process. We know that our funding from World Service apportionments will be reduced by 6.5 percent beginning in 2013. If the plans from the Call to Action are enacted at General Conference that reduction is projected to be 16 percent. Such a reduction would affect the staff and the core functions of every agency, including GCUMM.
In the midst of all this, I have hope. God's hand was on the creation of the GCUMM, and He is not done with us yet. Readings in the Upper Room Disciplines remind me that we can do more together than we can do on our own.
Along with these meetings there has been a lot of writing for the upcoming magazine, webinars, the new edition of Guidelines, and a report to General Conference. In each, I get to relate God sightings as we journey together.
I am thankful that my work and prayer have led me to more work and more prayer. Please let me hear from you.
I am honored to be of service to you, your congregation and the men in your community who don't yet know Christ.
Striving,
Gil Hanke, general secretary
General Commission on UM Men
GHanke@gcumm.org
I expect some of you have read or heard something about the Call to Action, an effort launched by the Council of Bishops and the Connectional Table.
Over the past two years, several committees have moved the Call to Action from research to several recommendations and a proposed new structure to be considered by the 2012 General Conference.
I strongly encourage you to follow these developments at www.umc.org; add your comments to news stories posted there. I also encourage you to express your opinions and concerns to members of your conference delegation to General Conference.
As I write this, Bishop James King, Martha Davis and I have just completed a week of meetings where this "reordering of the church" was debated. There is no doubt our denomination must make changes that will result in more vital congregations, the debate is how that can be achieved.
A Call to Action committee and the Connectional Table are recommending a massive reordering of all general agencies. How that translates to needed reforms within the local congregation is unclear.
Under the proposed plan, only the UM Publishing House and the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits would continue in their present structure. The governing boards of all other agencies, including GCUMM, would be discontinued. Under the proposed structure, the functions of these agencies would be guided by a 15-member board of directors.
It is not clear how the functions of UMM and UMW will fit in this organizational model. Harriett Olson, deputy general secretary for GBGM and top staff executive of the Women's Division, and I have been asked to propose ways in which the work of our organizations might be included. That proposal will be completed in the next few weeks.
No one is questioning the functions of the GCUMM. Men's ministries and scouting ministries do help create vitality in congregations.
Please continue to pray for me and for the other general secretaries as we go through this process. We know that our funding from World Service apportionments will be reduced by 6.5 percent beginning in 2013. If the plans from the Call to Action are enacted at General Conference that reduction is projected to be 16 percent. Such a reduction would affect the staff and the core functions of every agency, including GCUMM.
In the midst of all this, I have hope. God's hand was on the creation of the GCUMM, and He is not done with us yet. Readings in the Upper Room Disciplines remind me that we can do more together than we can do on our own.
Along with these meetings there has been a lot of writing for the upcoming magazine, webinars, the new edition of Guidelines, and a report to General Conference. In each, I get to relate God sightings as we journey together.
I am thankful that my work and prayer have led me to more work and more prayer. Please let me hear from you.
I am honored to be of service to you, your congregation and the men in your community who don't yet know Christ.
Striving,
Gil Hanke, general secretary
General Commission on UM Men
GHanke@gcumm.org
Positive Thoughts.
This should probably be taped
to your bathroom mirror
where one could read it every day..
You may not realize it,
but it's 100% true.
1. There are at least two people in this world
that you would die for.
2. At least 15 people in this world
love you in some way.
3. The onlyreason anyone would ever hate you
is because they want to be just like you.
4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone,
even if they don't like you.
5. Every night,
SOMEONE thinks about you
before they go to sleep.
6. You mean the world to someone.
7. You are special and unique.
8. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
9. When you make the biggest mistake ever,
something good comes from it.
10. When you think the world
has turned its back on you
take another look.
11. Always remember the compliments you received..
Forget about the rude remarks.
And always remember...
Good friends are like stars.........
You don't always see them,
But you know they are always there..
"Whenever God Closes One Door He Always Opens Another, Even Though
Sometimes It's Hell in the Hallway"
I would rather have one rose and a kind word
from a friend while I'm here
than a whole truck load when I'm gone..
Happiness keeps You Sweet,
Trials keep You Strong,
Sorrows keep You Human,
Failures keeps You Humble,
Success keeps You Glowing,
But Only
God keeps You Going
'Worry looks around, sorry looks back, Faith looks up.'
Have faith..
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