• By Benton Heisler, West Michigan Conference Director of Connectional Ministries •
“Go down to the potter’s house and there you will receive my message.” The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord, so Jeremiah went.
He saw the potter working at the wheel. The pot being shaped was marred, so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as he saw fit.
The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, “Can I not do with Israel [you, me, a conference?] as the potter does?” The word of the Lord continued, “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand.” (Jeremiah 18:1-6)
Plenty has been written about the numerical decline of the United Methodist Church and other denominations as well. We get it! We too are “marred.”
I find it curious that often when suggestions are made about how the UMC can re-shape itself, persons will often default to metaphors of human failure.
A common reference is made to a massive ocean liner; finest in its class in its day, driven by a human quest for power and fueled by a thirst for greed.
Full steam ahead it cruised into the dangers of the North Atlantic. The gaping hole torn in its side meant sinking was inevitable that cold April night.
I encourage those who face the struggle and opposition the Church encounters to look instead in the images found in scripture:
“What you intended for evil, God intended for good.” (Genesis 50:20)
Five loaves and two fish fed the 5,000 gathered together. (Luke 9: 16 & 17)
New wine is stored in the new wine, because the old containers would not be able to adapt to the change. (Matthew 9:17)
Clay, in the properly skilled hands, can be re-shaped and given new value and opportunity. (Jeremiah 18)
Actions, human, financial and property resources, relationships and ideas — they are all resources at God’s disposal to be shaped and used.
One of the responsibilities the Book of Discipline of the UMC gives to the position of Director of Connectional Ministries is “to ensure the alignment of the total resources of the conference to its vision (¶608.)”
We have 23 program boards, agencies and committees, and another 12 administrative boards and committees that together carry out components of the ministry of the Annual Conference. These 35 units do not include all the camps, campus ministries or other related institutions connected to the West Michigan Conference.
During the past three years the 57-member Conference Council on Ministries (CCOM) has met to review the vision, mission, purpose, structure, allocation of financial resources and staffing to help move ministry forward.
As that review moved forward, it was felt that “the pot” with which we were working was “marred”, i.e. not as complete as it could be.
A task force was requested by the CCOM to bring back a new Plan of Organization proposal. They have completed their work, which was affirmed by the CCOM.
At the June session of the Annual Conference the action of us gathered together as the West Michigan Conference becomes the final shaping.
As God moves in our honest debate, inspired amendments and prayerful actions will establish the positions and people who will share the responsibility of leadership in various contexts in our Conference.
As you study the proposed Plan of Organization, you will see that the 22 program boards and agencies continue and the 57 seats on the Council on Ministries is being replaced by a 16-18 member Leadership Team. The purpose, responsibilities and accountability for the team are clearly outlined.
The revised Plan of Organization also contains a newly expanded ministry area.
The proposal would create the Committee on Hispanic/Latino Ministries as a 23rd program committee. It would no longer be a representative single position on the Board of Global of Ministries — it would now be a freestanding committee with clear responsibilities.
You are encouraged to study the opening sections, which include the Preamble, Vision Statement, Goals and Strategies, Core Values and Beliefs & Organizational Principles.
Please note that every board and agency will have the following components: accountability, purpose, membership, organization, meetings and responsibilities.
Those areas which do not have all the details spelled out are expected to complete that work and bring it to the next year’s Annual Conference for affirmation and/or refinement.
My prayer is that we will be open to God’s reshaping as necessary of every aspect of our lives both as God’s children and God’s community so we might be “as seemed best” in God’s hands.
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