Delegates continue Study of Ministry Commission

By Linda Green*

FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)—A commission studying the ordering of ministry in The United Methodist Church is being continued for four more years.

Delegates to the 2008 General Conference voted on April 29 to continue the commission work authorized by the 2004 legislative assembly to study the theological, ecclesial and practical groundings of its system of lay, licensed and ordained ministry.

That commission was to bring clarity to the church's understanding of its ministry orders and make recommendations to the 2008 General Conference. However, after four years, the group found more questions and asked for more time--either by the current commission or a new one.

Delegates to the 2008 assembly directed the United Methodist Council of Bishops--in consultation with the boards of Higher Education and Ministry and Discipleship and the Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns--to establish a 28-member Study of Ministry Commission for 2009-2012. The delegates also authorized $150,000 for its work.

"I am very pleased that the delegates decided to move forward and continue the study commission," said the Rev. David Dodge, a member of the current commission and delegate from the Florida Annual (regional) Conference. "I am pleased that the legislative committee gave some direction about the categories of people who should be included on the commission."

The bishops and the three agencies are to create a guide for ongoing study and dialogue, based on the former commission's suggestions. The guide is to foster conversations on the issues among lay members, ordained deacons and elders, local pastors, bishops and cabinets, the Board of Ordained Ministries, ethnic constituencies and central conferences.

The next commission is to present the 2012 General Conference with legislation that addresses the ordering of ministry, the separation of ordination and conference membership, and the streamlining of the ordained ministry candidacy process.

*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.