A New Connectionalism
At our last Council of Bishops meeting in Lake Junaluska, NC, we spent significant time discussing the future of our church. The discussion centered around what it might take for us to “align” ourselves around our Mission to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world” and our four areas of focus (Developing Principled Christian Leaders, New Church Starts and Church Re-development, Poverty, and Global Health). It revealed a significant need for open conversations about “re-framing” the church on all levels. We have called these conversations our “Call to Action.”
In the next several blogs, I would like to share with you some clear “Calls to Action” to strengthen the ministry of the church and find our way into the future with joy and purpose.
As I said in my fall District Days, the church needs to re-discover “A New Connectionalism.” Connectionalism is critical for the church to re-claim its vision and purpose. In a day when the church is being attacked both internally and externally, there is a need for us to renew our covenant to one another in mutual ministry. We need each other more than we ever have.
Connectionalism has been the hallmark of the people called United Methodist. Throughout our existence as a church, we have demonstrated the clear, yet simple, reality that we can do more together than any of us can by ourselves. Connectionalism in a congregation enables us to mobilize people or raise money for a significant cause or a particular passion. In a Conference, connectionalism is the power to build a Habitat House in a week or impact a region for any number of good causes. And in a denomination, connectionalism represents the power to mobilize and create systems and structures to change a region for a lifetime.
I’ve always been confused by the desire of some within our church to de-emphasize, or even work to eliminate, our connection. I’ve never understood why some of our churches remove the name United Methodist from their signage and why others have never seen the value of participating in the life-changing and life-giving ministries that only the connection can provide.
These days, with declining memberships and resources, Methodism must either experience a revival of connectionalism or continue its rapid descent to irrelevance and death. The people of the world who do not have faith also do not have any time for an established church that does not back up its proclamations with consistent action. Those people are looking for hope, meaning, and purpose from the groups they associate with and are not at all concerned about our pews, stained glass, and well-preserved liturgies. To demonstrate our faith through connection with sister United Methodist Churches and other faith-based organizations speaks volumes to a people looking to integrate their life with some kind of faith.
The other night someone asked me if our conference would be working for more “cooperative” ministries and parishes in the future. The answer to that is an undeniable “Yes.”
It will be done out of necessity.
It will be done because it’s the right thing to do.
The Journey Continues, . . .
By: Bishop Thomas Bickerton On 12/7/2009
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