Bishop Harvey makes history as first Hispanic woman to be COB President

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, May 05, 2020

Bishop Harvey makes history as first Hispanic woman to be COB President

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey of the Louisiana Area has made history by becoming the first female Hispanic to be president of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church.  She is also the first woman of color to lead the more than 128 active and retired bishops of one of the largest denominations in the world.

Bishop Harvey assumed the mantle of office last week as the active and retired bishops from around the globe gathered in a virtual meeting April 29 to May 1 to celebrate new leadership and to discuss plans for episcopal supervision brought on by the disruptions and postponements due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

“I pray that I might lead with the knowledge that we are intricately connected," said Bishop Harvey in her message after taking office. "We are a web of interactive relationships. Our connection has never been more critical. I pray I will lead with integrity, accountability, compassion, love, and grace for all."

She reflected on the shutdown brought by COVID-19.  “The question of when we resume in-person worship is paramount for everyone. The recognition that the learning curve has been steep on every corner of the planet is undeniable.  As bishops, we believe our churches are entrusted with the responsibility to care for our neighbor.  We believe that the greatest expression of love for our neighbor has to be our priority,” she said. 

Bishop Harvey follows Bishop Ken Carter of the Florida Area, who had led the Council of Bishops (COB) since 2018.  Bishop Harvey, who has served as president-designate since 2018, was elected president at the November 2019 meeting of the bishops.

Other new COB officers:

·       Bishop Tom Bickerton of the New York Area, president-designate;

·       Bishop Tracy Smith Malone of the East Ohio Area, secretary;

·       Bishop Bruce Ough of the Dakota and Minnesota Area, executive secretary;

·       Bishop Sally Dyck of the Chicago Area, ecumenical officer;

Bishop Ough and Bishop Dyck will follow Bishop Marcus Matthews and Bishop B. Michael Watson as COB Executive Secretary and COB Ecumenical Officer, respectively, on September 1.  

The April/May meeting of the Council of Bishops also received leadership reports regarding immigration, ecumenical relations, racism, disaster relief, and other mission and ministry work around the global denomination.

Here are some of the highlights of the meeting:

·       The bishops agreed that the General Conference that will be held in 2021 should be referred to as the postponed 2020 General Conference.

·       The bishops approved a motion to support the young people’s call for the Commission on the General Conference to consider school/college schedules in setting the dates for the postponed 2020 General Conference.

·       The bishops supported a global letter calling on the U.S. government to rescind its decision regarding funding of the World Health Organization.

·       With the postponement of General Conference and the Jurisdictional/Central Conferences, the bishops see the Colleges of Bishops, in consultation with Jurisdictional/Central Committees on Episcopacy, as the appropriate bodies to provide coverage of vacancies in episcopal areas dues to retirements, with final approval by the Council of Bishops (BOD, 407, 408).

To watch the video of Bishop Carter’s presidential address, click here

To watch the video of Bishop Mande’s opening devotion, click here

To watch the video of Bishop Harvey’s closing address, click here

To watch Wednesday and Friday sessions of the COB meeting, click here.

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Media Contact: Rev. Dr. Maidstone Mulenga

Director of Communications – Council of Bishops

The United Methodist Church

mmulenga@umc-cob.org

202-748-5172

www.unitedmethodistbishops.org

Update on NWTX Annual Conference Gathering

Bishop Bledsoe shared an update for the NWTX Conference on our Annual Conference gathering. As we all know, COVID-19 has shut down most of life as we knew it. Many of you transitioned quickly and learned new things to be able to gather digitally. 

With General Conference postponing and then Jurisdictional Conference due to COVID-19, Bishop Bledsoe has decided to follow suit with postponing our Joint Annual Conference with the New Mexico Annual Conference scheduled for June 3 - 5, 2020. 

We are sad to not be able to meet jointly with our sister conference but grateful for Bishop Bledsoe’s leadership during this time. 

Our NWTX Annual Conference will reschedule as a one-day event on Saturday, August 15, in Lubbock, Texas. We are working on transitioning to a one day event and plan to have detailed information announced later in May. Be watching the weekly Conference Connect Email, NWTX website, and the NWTX Facebook page for updates and announcements for Annual Conference. 

We plan to have our Annual Conference webpage up and running as soon as possible with the updated details. 

Updated Events:

• NWTX Annual Conference 2020 - August 15, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas

• NM Annual Conference 2020 - August 28 - 29, 2020 in Roswell, New Mexico

  • Please note: in the event that large-group gatherings are restricted into August, contingency plans are already being explored about dates later in the year.

• General Conference 2021 - Prospective Dates Pending Finalization: August 31 - September 10, 2021.

• Jurisdictional Conference 2021 - November 2021 with dates currently being negotiated.

Communication Links:

Conference Connect Email: Sign up here

NWTX Website: www.nwtxconf.org

NWTX Facebook: NWTX Conference - United Methodist Church

Annual Conference Website: www.nwtxregistration.org

Questions About Annual Conference: Jaime Montgomery - montgomery@nwtxconf.org

News Release from Bishop Bledsoe

Release Date:  Thursday, April 30, 2020

I want to thank the members of the New Mexico and Northwest Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church on the way in which you have responded to the Coronavirus Pandemic in our area.  Your commitment to the mission of the church is exemplary.  It speaks volumes to the leadership of both clergy and laity in our midst.  I am also appreciative for the work of our front-line workers, i.e. the healthcare workers, first responders, and those who continue to make our communities and our world function.  In this extraordinary time, many of you have found creative ways for worship, Bible study, prayer, and missional outreach.  We continue to pray for comfort for those affected by the pandemic. Some among us have lost loved ones and could not gather in great numbers for a home-going celebration. We also pray for the farmers, ranchers, oil producers, and small business owners whose livelihoods have been devastated by the effect of COVID-19.

I am asking each of our congregations to practice safe distancing and to remain in our homes following the recommendations of the state and local emergency declarations, as well as the guidelines provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and our doctors and scientists. Some areas will reopen faster than others, however, I am suggesting that each church go through a discernment period of asking the critical questions needed to keep our congregations and communities safe before returning and how best to live into a “new normal”.  The process of re-opening will, undoubtedly, be gradual and different in each locale.  I suggest we seek answers to the following questions:  How can we keep our congregation and communities safe? Even as we re-open, will our congregation feel safe?  What must we do to be safe and help our people feel safe? What new skills or means of connection have we learned or implemented that we should continue even as we re-open? What blessings have we experienced during this time, and how can we turn those blessings into ministries? What new ways will we do mission and outreach? What specific ways can we bring hope to those affected by the shutdown?

The Conference and district offices will continue to work remotely and stand ready to assist with any needs during this period of transition.  The cabinet continues to meet with me. Appointments for this year will continue as announced effective July 1, 2020.  We ask for a period of grace on the move date.  The superintendents will work together to provide a smooth transition of leadership.

All United Methodist Church conferences have been postponed or rescheduled for this year:

·       The 2020 General Conference scheduled will be moved to the end of August 2021. The new prospective dates are August 31-September 10, 2021.

·       The South Central Jurisdictional scheduled for July has been moved to November 2021. The new dates are currently being negotiated.

·       The June 2020 Joint New Mexico and Northwest Texas annual conference scheduled for Lubbock, Texas has been postponed. NWTX will meet Saturday, August 15, 2020, in Lubbock, Texas. The New Mexico Conference will meet Friday evening and Saturday, August 28-29 in Roswell, NM. We will only deal with the essentials needed to carry on the work of each conference. A detailed schedule will be shared by the New Mexico Conference Provost and the Northwest Texas Conference Director of Mission and Administration.

Leslie and I are postponing our retirement until a new bishop can be assigned by the SCJ Episcopacy Committee. We will continue to go where invited, eat what you eat, and sleep where you sleep, journeying in ministry with you.  Let us continue to pray for one another and for our church in the world. May God continue to bless and keep each of you.

Bishop W. Earl & Leslie J. Bledsoe

Connectional Support During COVID-19

March 30, 2020

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

The United Methodist Church is a connectional church.  We have long said that we can do more together than we can separately.  It is our fervent conviction that, together, we can see each other through the COVID-19 crisis and emerge on the other side to once again gather in person as the Body of Christ.

Your Conference Leadership celebrates those churches that have found innovative ways to continue in ministry and, perhaps, begin new or different expressions of what it means to be Christ to a hurting, anxious world.  And your Conference Leadership stands with you as many churches find themselves facing financial difficulties.

Therefore, the Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits (CBOPHB) has approved a plan to provide some financial relief during these difficult times.  Specifically,

1. Billings for the church portion of pension (CRSP), welfare (CPP) and health insurance (HealthFlex) will be eliminated for the months of April, May, and June.  Billings for the pastor’s portion of health benefits (flexible spending accounts, health savings account contributions, and dental and vision insurance) will continue.  In the aggregate, this will save our churches $1 million.

2. The CBOPHB will evaluate the situation again in mid-June.  At that time a decision will be made whether to continue billing relief and to what extent.  Our prayer, of course, is that this health crisis will have waned and things will be somewhat back to normal.

The Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CF&A), likewise, wants to provide help and support to the connection:

1. We join in prayer for those in your church and in your mission field who have lost their jobs, whose businesses are shuttered, and who are uncertain what they are going to do over the next few days, weeks and months.

2. We also realize that gathering to worship, whether it be in the parking lot or over the internet, is important and your Conference leadership is committed to helping you find the means and resources you can use.

3. An important part of worship in giving.  Hopefully, your church has been accepting on-line and/or text giving for some time.  If not, we can point you to a number of resources that will help you get electronic giving up and running quickly.

4. We are people of faith but, as Wesleyans, we also are realists who recognize that churches may need to scale back their expenditures.  Your Shared Ministries support vital, life-changing ministries here in Northwest Texas and around the world.  However, in these challenging times, CF&A is requesting that if you have to scale back your Shared Ministries giving, you contribute first to the categories of 1) Ministry Support and Leadership and 2) Strategic Priorities.

Above all, together may we remember: do not worry (Mat 6:25) and do not fear.  God is with us.  God will strengthen us, God will help us, and God will uphold us with God’s victorious right hand (Is 41:10).

With Prayer and Thanksgiving,

The Northwest Texas Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits

The Northwest Texas Conference Council on Finance and Administration

The Northwest Texas Conference Mission Advancement Team

CARES ACT Resources:

CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY (“CARES”) ACT

FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT (“FFCRA”)

PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP) INFORMATION SHEET

PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM FORM

WESPATH SUMMARY OF CARES ACT

SAMPLE OF PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM APPLICATION

Commission on the General Conference Update

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2020

General Conference to move to 2021

Nashville, Tenn.: Subsequent to the announcement by the Executive Committee of the Commission on the General Conference that the 2020 General Conference will be postponed, the full Commission met March 21, 2020 to determine next steps to take in setting a new date.

After hearing recommendations from Sara Hotchkiss, Business Manager of the General Conference, and discussion of possible alternatives, the Commission made a determination that the General Conference will not meet in 2020 as originally planned and elected to work toward setting a date in 2021.

“As we looked at the complex issues that we will need to navigate to reschedule the event and the lack of options available, it does not appear feasible to plan for 2020,” said Kim Simpson, chair of the Commission. “These issues include the undetermined length of the pandemic, uncertainty around travel bans in different areas of the world, delays in processing visas due to government and business closures and other questions.”

In giving direction for next steps, the Commission resolved that holding the event in Minneapolis is a high priority and authorized the business manager to pursue negotiations regarding other dates available at the Minneapolis Convention Center in 2021.  

“The Dakotas-Minnesota Area Host Team has done a wonderful job in partnering with us to prepare for this event, and we are grateful for their willingness to continue to work with us as we move toward a new date,” Simpson said.

“As many groups have cancelled and are being rescheduled, they are given priority by venues they have already been working with,” said Hotchkiss. “Continuing to work with the Minneapolis Convention Center and area hotels will help us avoid competing with other groups for space in those facilities if they did not already have a contract.” 

Hotchkiss said that steps are being taken by their travel agency regarding flights booked for delegates and others who booked through ADTRAV:

•    ADTRAV will cancel all flights booked for primary delegates. 
•    Travelers will only need to call ADTRAV if they booked a personal ticket for themselves and/or a family member with ADTRAV (855-417-8789).
•    Each traveler will receive a copy of the RezConfirm showing that the flights were canceled. 

Regarding hotel reservations, Connections Housing will be sending emails regarding individual reservations made through them for the GC2020 hotel block. There is no penalty for this cancellation.  No deposit was charged for reservations, therefore no refund is due and no further action is required regarding hotel reservations.

Once new dates for the General Conference are set and adjustments with current vendors are made, additional information will be sent out to delegations regarding a timeline and next steps.

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About General Conference
General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church. The conference can revise church law, as well as adopt resolutions on current moral, social, public policy and economic issues. It also approves plans and budgets for church-wide programs.

Media contact:
Diane Degnan presscenter@umcom.org
615.742.5406 (o) 615.483.1765 (c)  

A MESSAGE FROM BISHOP BLEDSOE AND THE APPOINTIVE CABINET

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

We are writing to the churches of the New Mexico and Northwest Texas Annual Conferences to support and encourage you as we work together to respond to the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus in our world.  Our political leaders and healthcare professionals have all come together to provide guidelines for us to live by in order to minimize the spread of the virus over the weeks and months ahead.  The threat is real, and the risks are high, if we do nothing.

The 2020 General Conference scheduled for May in Minneapolis, Minnesota has been postponed until a later date due to the threat and complications related to the Coronavirus.  We will keep you informed as decisions are made and alternate plans develop for our Annual as well as the South Central Jurisdictional conferences.

We as a church do not want to abandon or neglect our core values and mission in the world to care for others and to share hope and encouragement during this crisis.  We do not know how long the crisis will be with us before we have an effective vaccine to curb the spread. At this point, the experts are anticipating it will get worse before it gets better.

Because we are The United Methodist Church, we are asking each of our churches to help maintain our sacred connection while practicing safe physical distancing.  We applaud the work that is already occurring in many of our congregations to minimize the risk, while carrying out their mission in the world.

Let’s work together in creative ways to accomplish our mission by doing the following:

1. Prayer is our most powerful tool, and our first response to crisis. Be creative in finding ways to implement prayer as individuals and as congregations.  Prayer calendars, specific times during the day to pray in unity as a congregation, video conferencing for group connection and prayer, and social media connections, can be powerful ways to join in prayer. Remember that persons we might encounter who are in fear will be most open to a word of hope, and a promise of prayer.  Pray for all those affected by the current crisis, and be challenged to consider persons others might tend to overlook.

2. Practice good hygiene by washing our hands and cleaning areas most used or touched by individuals. For additional information, go to one of the following, www.cdc.gov or https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200306/power-of-hand-washing-to-prevent-coronavirus 

3. Practice safe distancing by meeting in smaller rather than larger groups and gatherings. https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/14/health/coronavirus-asymptomatic-spread/index.html  Many large churches have gone to live streaming and online worship.  Several smaller congregations are instilling the Wesleyan Class meeting concept to stay in touch with families and individuals through class leaders. Be creative! Be the church and learn to share effective ideas with others. See https://www.resourceumc.org

4. Work at being the church: practice the best of Wesleyan “social holiness” by extending love and care to each other, staying connected with those who are isolated (especially the elderly) by checking in with and encouraging them during this time and offering assistance with food, groceries, and childcare where needed.

5. Do not hoard resources. Do not neglect to be generous with those in need - this is the way of Christ!

6. Financially support your church by continuing to give of God’s tithe and offerings, using online giving or by mailing in your gifts. Our CF&As in each conference are working on implementing financial relief (help in shared ministries, health benefits and pension) and help to support you in your ministry.

7. As many schools are closed or closing, find creative ways to make sure children are safe and cared for in the community. Pay attention and be ready to respond to the emerging needs these families might be experiencing.

8. Being in God’s Word is also an important tool.  May we suggest 2 Timothy 1:7, Isaiah 40:28, Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 6:34, and Philippians 4:4-13.

We will get through this if we do not grow weary or lose heart. We look at this as an opportunity for us to learn to be the church in creative and effective ways. May God bless and keep you as we work together to keep our focus on the ministry of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe, Resident Bishop

Mr. Sid Strebeck, NM Conference Lay Leader

Mr. Randy Stutes, NWTX Conference Lay Leader

Rev. Dr. Randall Partin, NM Conference Provost

Rev. Wendell Horn, NWTX Conference Director

Rev. Dave Anderson, NWTX Treasurer and Benefits

Rev. Kathryn Boren, NWTX Cabinet Dean, Big Spring DS

Rev. Dr. Eddie Rivera, NM Cabinet Dean, El Paso DS

Rev. George Price, Abilene DS

Rev. Craig Cockrell, Albuquerque DS

Rev. Don Boren, Lubbock DS

Rev. Felicia Hopkins, Amarillo DS

Rev. Ernest Vineyard, Cabinet Secretary, Clovis DS

Rev. Les Hall, Incoming Big Spring DS

P.S. The bishop, conference lay leader and lead clergy person to General Conference will be sharing a video that speaks to additional plans.  In the meantime, take care of one another as God cares for us all.

Proposed new General Book of Disciple review documents available.

United Methodist Communications
Office of Public Information

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2020

Proposed new General Book of Discipline review documents available

Nashville, Tenn.:  The United Methodist Church’s Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters has launched Generalbod.org—an online resource that makes it easy to review tracked changes to the proposed new General Book of Discipline as a means of offering transparency, and informing and stimulating conversation within the church. Members can now choose to view the content as the proposed final document version or a version with edit notations. The latter highlights revised text and the reasoning behind it to reduce potential questions.

United Methodists are invited to give feedback by emailing StandingCommittee@umcmission.org. Comments will be reviewed by the committee prior to the recommended new General Book being finalized and presented to the 2024 General Conference for approval.

The committee has rearranged, reordered and revised content while also removing redundancies, and fixing inconsistencies and inaccuracies. Their goal is to create a more clearly structured, shorter and easier to understand and translate edition applicable to the entire global church. They aim to alleviate the need for extensive revision and translation work every quadrennium.

Bishop Streiff, a committee member and resident bishop of the Central and Southern Europe Area, shares that “former generations of Methodists were most successful in missional outreach with a slim Book of Discipline that contained the essentials of what makes up the identity of a connectional [United] Methodist church. It empowered them for contextually adapted mission in societies that were very different from the U.S.”

Since assigned by General Conference in 2012, the committee has painstakingly gone paragraph-by-paragraph to determine what parts of the current Book of Discipline’s Part VI are connectionally essential and applicable worldwide for all United Methodists. They’ve also endeavored to identify what is constitutionally adaptable by central conferences outside the U.S.

Counsel from the Committee on Faith and Order, the Ministry Study Commission and the Connectional Table has also been sought. Annual conference insights were also welcomed. Initial recommendations were brought before the 2016 General Conference with continued discussions at the committee’s 2019 meeting in Manila. Upon submission for final action in 2024, the team will have spent a nearly 12 years on the important project.

The resource materials for a new Part VI General Organization and Administration are presented in three columns. The first reprints the finalized proposed draft as published in The Advance Edition of the Daily Christian Advocate (ADCA)—the official journal of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church that’s available in English, French, Kiswahili and Portuguese translations. The second includes details on the changes made in comparison to The Book of Discipline 2016. The third adds rationale insights.

Following that structure, a newly proposed Part VII Additional Organization and Administration focuses on previous Part VI portions deemed adaptable. Outside of introductory sentences, it features the original text from the 2016 edition of The Book of Discipline. Future revisions to organizational details fixing local or regional problems and their translation needs would occur in this section.

George Howard, director of connectional and mission engagement at Global Ministries work adds he’s “excited about an emerging slimmer Discipline” as this work “clarifies what is adaptable only by General Conference and acknowledges what is adaptable to be in ministry in contextually different legal, political and social contexts across the globe.”

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About the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters

The Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters is a permanent committee of General Conference composed of 43-members from all Jurisdictions in the US and all Central Conferences outside the US. It serves as a coordinating body that studies the structure and supervision of The United Methodist Church in Africa, Asia and Europe.

Media contact:
Diane Degnan ddegnan@umcom.org
615.742.5406 (o) 615.483.1765 (c)

UMC offers resources for GC2020

UPDATE on General Conference 2020.

General Conference 2020 is set for May 5 - 15, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The General Conference is the highest legislative body in The United Methodist Church.

In order to help both lay and clergy leadership understand what is taking place at General Conference, here are some resources with information about the schedule, proposals, pre-conference presentations, and other resources.

General Conference Resources

Not sure exactly what General Conference is or does? Read this story from UMNews: Foretaste of what’s on the table at GC2020.

Is the language used at and around GC2020 confusing? See this glossary of terms on the UMC website.

Comparing Plans Headed to GC2020

Understanding The Protocol

List of Pre-Conference Presentations

Advance Daily Christian Advocate

Local Church Resources

Guide for Local Churches from Discipleship Ministries

Contact our NWTX Delegates at nwtxdelegates@gmail.com