Legislation Approved by UMRA Executive Committee for GC 2016
¶ 324.6 Provisional Membership for Local Pastors upon enrollment in Advance Course of Study
¶ 633.4b2 Disaster Coordinator Training - case manager in every district
¶ 906.1 Connectional Table Membership to include a rural voice
¶ 2549.7 Property assets directed to rural community (or new sub ¶)
Resolutions
3103 Facilitation of Cooperative Ministry – renew & update
3104 Church & Community Workers – renew & update
3105 Church & Community Workers Support Mission Initiative –
Delete –be replaced with updated 3104
3107 Missional Personnel in the United States
3391 Call to the Churches for the Renewal of Rural Ministries - renew & update
3392 Rural Communities in Crisis – renew & update
3393 Support and Protection of Rural People – renew & update
3394 Support for All Who Minister in Rural Settings – renew & update
3395 Ministries of Rural Chaplains – renew & update
NEW Local Church yearly participation in global health ministry
NEW Support of NetWorX
We are still working on the following Resolutions
1024 Environmental Law: The Precautionary Principle – renew & update
1026 Environmental Stewardship – renew & update
1027 God’s Creation and the Church – renew & update
1028 The Law of the Sea – renew & update - being updated by UMW
1029 Protection of Water – renew & update - being updated by UMW
The UMRF/UMRA sponsored the following legislation at General Conference in Tampa, 2012:
Paragraph 50 - Bishop's Limited Tenure
Reduces the tenure of bishops from life to two quadrenniums.
Paragraph 212.1 - Churches in Transitional Communities
Replaces the word 'neighborhood' with the word 'community' in this section, noting that transition also occurs in town and country communities (regions not normally referred to as neighborhoods).
Paragraph 212.2 - Ministry with the Poor in Transitional Communities
Adds 'ministry with the poor' as a central component to the ministry of the local church in communities in transition.
Paragraph 213 - Assessment of Local Church Vitality
Deletes language making small urban churches more vulnerable to closure. Opens the use of the assessment process to churches of all sizes. Shifts the focus of the process from number in attendance to the capacity of t church to transform its community.
Paragraph 324.6d - Local Pastor becomes a Provisional Member when beginning Advance Course of Study
Advances the entry into provisional membership, shortening the process to a more equitable timeframe.
Paragraph 1327.3(1) - Health Care for Immigrant Populations
Adds immigrant populations to the global list of those we advocate for access to adequate healthcare and welfare ministries.
Paragraph 1504.1 - Equitable and Sustainable Pensions
Requires the General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits to provide plans that are both equitable and sustainable.
Paragraph 2548.8 (new) Property of Discontinued or Abandoned LC & Ministry with the Poor
Allows the gifting of abandoned church property to a non-profit with similar values to UMC.
Paragraph 2702.3 - Chargeable Offense - Bishop "do no harm"
Adds active bishops to those who can be charged when they do harm to a local church through the appointment of a pastor he/she knows will be detrimental to the life of that congregation.
Resolution - Rural Chaplains (to replace Resolutions # 3395 & 3396):
Affirms the work of rural chaplains and places the Rural Chaplains Association in a special relationship with the General Board of Global Ministries.
Note that with the major changes being proposed for 2012 in the Ministry Study and the Call to Action, the Executive Committee decided to put more of our influence into our response (see values statement) and to submit fewer pieces of legislation.
Paragraph 50 - Bishop's Limited Tenure
Reduces the tenure of bishops from life to two quadrenniums.
Paragraph 212.1 - Churches in Transitional Communities
Replaces the word 'neighborhood' with the word 'community' in this section, noting that transition also occurs in town and country communities (regions not normally referred to as neighborhoods).
Paragraph 212.2 - Ministry with the Poor in Transitional Communities
Adds 'ministry with the poor' as a central component to the ministry of the local church in communities in transition.
Paragraph 213 - Assessment of Local Church Vitality
Deletes language making small urban churches more vulnerable to closure. Opens the use of the assessment process to churches of all sizes. Shifts the focus of the process from number in attendance to the capacity of t church to transform its community.
Paragraph 324.6d - Local Pastor becomes a Provisional Member when beginning Advance Course of Study
Advances the entry into provisional membership, shortening the process to a more equitable timeframe.
Paragraph 1327.3(1) - Health Care for Immigrant Populations
Adds immigrant populations to the global list of those we advocate for access to adequate healthcare and welfare ministries.
Paragraph 1504.1 - Equitable and Sustainable Pensions
Requires the General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits to provide plans that are both equitable and sustainable.
Paragraph 2548.8 (new) Property of Discontinued or Abandoned LC & Ministry with the Poor
Allows the gifting of abandoned church property to a non-profit with similar values to UMC.
Paragraph 2702.3 - Chargeable Offense - Bishop "do no harm"
Adds active bishops to those who can be charged when they do harm to a local church through the appointment of a pastor he/she knows will be detrimental to the life of that congregation.
Resolution - Rural Chaplains (to replace Resolutions # 3395 & 3396):
Affirms the work of rural chaplains and places the Rural Chaplains Association in a special relationship with the General Board of Global Ministries.
Note that with the major changes being proposed for 2012 in the Ministry Study and the Call to Action, the Executive Committee decided to put more of our influence into our response (see values statement) and to submit fewer pieces of legislation.