BOA ACTION: Motion to adopt in principle the resolution with referral to the BOB for implementation, with the inclusion of FM World Missions / World Conference in the discussion; by consensus the three listed items tense was changed and “We will…” was deleted. Resolution in line with what we are doing.
GCRCC Status: forwarded for April 2011 BOA action
Introduced by: David Harvey, Acts 12:24 Churches
Written by: David Harvey
Related to Paragraph(s) #: 6800-6850
Whereas:
The Western church continues to struggle while we are surrounded by revival in the southern hemisphere and Asia. According to David T. Olsen just over 17% of Americans attend church on any given Sunday. Most denominations in the United States are declining and many of those that are growing rejoice in growth of 1% to 2% per year.
Denominations that thrive demonstrate a much faster rate of growth.
The work in a body such as this General Conference usually is concentrated on making minor adjustments to deal with present difficulties. However we should not forget that we are stewards both of the present and of the kind of church we will leave to generations that follow us. This resolution seeks to shape the church in such a way that it will thrive in future generations.
The path to a thriving church throughout history has always been through decentralization of power and authority; and
The church thrives when our structures allow the full expression of the gifts and the passion to create that God has already put in the hearts of our people; and
The church thrives as we respond in bold ways to what God is already doing among us; and
The church thrives as we discover together new ways to disperse spiritual authority down to the level of the streets, (as opposed to investing it in bureaucracy); and
The Biblical norms for New Testament church seem to be that local leaders are often quickly given authority over their work while at the same time being accountable to outside oversight (c.f. Acts 14:23); and
It seems that in the future denominations that thrive will be more like affiliations of loosely connected networks rather than being governed by structures with rigid geographical boundaries. Denominations that recognize this and decentralize will thrive, those that do not will continue their slow and steady march toward mediocrity; and
We have confidence that as we take bold new steps God works in the process to create efficient structures that we cannot yet see.
Therefore, be it resolved:
Jesus said, “Go into all the world;” so do we.”
We will demonstrate our commitment to this principle by:
1. We will fully implement the action of previous General Conferences in paragraphs 6800 – 6840, and in particular paragraph 6850 by inviting Free Methodist churches and pastors from all over the world to plant new churches in any area over which the FMCNA has jurisdiction, asking only that they do so with a spirit of submission to their overseers, a spirit of collegiality toward existing Free Methodist ministries in that region in which they plant and that they act in conformity to the civil laws of that region. The body that sponsors the plant may maintain full oversight of the new church if they so choose.
2. We will reaffirm that any FMCNA pastor or church may plant new churches and maintain oversight of these new churches if they so choose, in any area of the world in which there is not currently another Free Methodist General Conference, asking only that they do so with a spirit of submission to their overseers, a spirit of collegiality with existing Free Methodist ministries in the region, and conformity to the civil laws of that region.
3. We will ask through the Free Methodist World Council that other Free Methodist General Conferences take similar action if it is possible.
Note: This resolution is part of a package of six resolutions that seek to prepare the church to thrive in future generations. These resolutions have some degree of interdependence. The resolutions are as follows:
Preparing to Thrive Through Decentralizing:
Resolution No.1 – Jesus said, “Go into all the World;” So Do We
Resolution No. 2 – What You Create, You Oversee
Resolution No. 3 – If You Plant Ten Churches, A Bishop You Will Be
Preparing to Thrive Through Infrastructure Building:
Resolution No. 1 – Our Pastors Need a Path to Living a Life of Maximum Impact
Resolution No. 2 – Our People Need a Path to Holiness of Heart that Compels Ministries of Care and Justice
Resolution No. 3 – Our Churches Need a Path to Reproduction
Does the resolution have a direct relationship to the vision and mission of the Free Methodist Church?
Yes.
How will the proposed change help us accomplish our vision and mission?
It will assist us to be an organization that advances the Kingdom by the full use of the passion and creativity that God has already put in the hearts of our people.
The Resolutions Committee rates this resolution as:
(A) Support – recommend adoption
Related posts:
- Resolution 13 – What You Create, You Oversee
- Resolution 14 – When You Plant 10 Churches, A Bishop You Will Be
- Resolution 17 – Preparing to Thrive Though Infrastructure Building (3) – Our Churches Need a Path to Reproduction
- Resolution 16 – Preparing to Thrive Though Infrastructure Building (2) – people need a path to holiness of heart that compels ministries of care and justice
