Dear Pastors and Laity of the NWTX Conference,
Over the last several weeks, you may have noticed several new announcements made about General Conference, Jurisdictional Conference, and their further postponement due to COVID-19. So much information came out back-to-back, and we want to make sure you are getting the updated information you need.
Bishop Bledsoe has empaneled a transition team to gather information and keep the Conference informed on significant changes that will eventually affect the NWTX Conference. Even in its early stages, the NWTX Transition Team has already responded, and adapted directions based on the postponements recently announced. The purpose of this team is to educate pastors, local churches, and the Conference on the choices they have pending decisions to be made at General Conference to help them decide what they want to do. Even with General Conference's further postponement, this team will continue to gather content and resources for you to have over the next year and a half as we wait for General Conference 2020 to meet in 2022.
We have initial information available to you on our updated website www.nwtxconf.org/transition. Make sure to subscribe to the Conference's weekly email, the Connect, for weekly updated information. You can subscribe to that email at the bottom of our home page on our website or email montgomery@nwtxconf.org. Have your key leaders subscribe as well.
The members of this transition team are
Rev. Mike Schafer, chair;
Rev. Wendell Horn, Director of Mission and Administration;
Rev. Dave Andersen, CFO/CBO/Conference Treasurer;
Rev. Don Boren, Lubbock District Superintendent;
Rev. Toni Bailey, First Methodist Church, Canyon;
Rev. Rich Jones, Wolfforth UMC/NWTX Delegate;
Rev. Andy Hurst, Lubbock, St. Luke's UMC;
Rev. Bobby Wilson, Borger FUMC;
Rev. Benji Van Fleet, Stanton FUMC;
Randy Stutes, Conference Lay Leader;
SuDe Street, Lubbock Lay Leader;
Jaime Montgomery, Director of Communications & Discipleship.
Here is a summary of what we know since the recent changes:
*Updated March 23, 2021
General Conference Postponement
2020 General Conference postponed again to August 29 – September 6, 2022, in Minneapolis.
2020 Jurisdictional Conference has been postponed to Fall of 2022 as well.
The "Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation" is still on the General Conference agenda along with other legislation previously submitted.
Delegates elected for the 2020 General Conference stay the same.
CANCELED - Special Called General Conference - Read More
The Council of Bishops has called a special session of the General Conference for May 8, 2021.
The agenda will be to suspend the rules in order to vote up or down on pre-decided legislative items through paper mail-in ballots.
If passed, there will be 12 legislative items to vote on to enable the denomination to continue its work until the regular General Conference takes place in 2022.
The 12 legislative items deal with several topics, including the retirement and assignment of Bishops. Bishop Bledsoe's retirement date could be affected if passed.
Pending a passing vote, Special Sessions of Jurisdictional Conference will be scheduled for July 2021 to work through voted on topics such as retirements and Bishops' assignments.
The Protocol is not on the agenda.
Formation of the Global Methodist Church
The formation of the Global Methodist Church, a new traditional Methodist denomination, was announced on Monday, March 1, 2021.
Please find information on their new website www.globalmethodist.org or www.wesleyancovenant.org.
What is Undecided
Whether General Conference will pass the Protocol. (Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation Legislation)
What will be the timeline for implementation of the Protocol pending passing?
Who will be the Bishop for the NWTX Conference after Bishop Bledsoe decides to retire and under what Episcopal Area the NWTX Conference will be assigned? This decision will be pending the Special Session of Jurisdictional Conference in July 2021.
Proposed Timeline
2021 NWTX Annual Conference: August 13 - 14, 2021
2020 General Conference: August 29 - September 6, 2022
Legal formation of the Global Methodist Church: September 2022
2020 Jurisdictional Conference: Pending Fall 2022
Convening General Conference of the Global Methodist Church: Fall 2023 – Fall 2024, anticipating a 12 – 24-month transition period
Online Resources
www.unitedmethodistbishops.org
Conference staff, district leadership, and the transition team will continue to work by answering questions and gathering content to help each of us make educated choices on significant decisions when it is time to move forward with them. You can help by submitting questions you have about anything mentioned above and other things related to the pending General Conference. We are working through what might be the short-term and long-term impact on the local church and our NWTX clergy.
In the meantime, there is still ministry to be done. We encourage you to continue to dig into your ministry fields as we minister through COVID-19. Find the time and rest as you can. The NWTX Conference's ministries would not exist without you and your people reaching out to your communities. Thank you for your service!
Blessings,
Rev. Wendell Horn, Director of Mission & Administration
Rev. Mike Schafer, Transition Team Chair