Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr., episcopal leader of the San Francisco Area of The United Methodist Church and resident bishop in the California-Nevada Annual Conference, has been elected president-designate of the Council of Bishops.

Bishop Rosemarie Wenner of Germany was elected to the presidency. She will begin her term on the third day of the 2012 General Conference, succeeding Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster, and will hold office for two years. Bishop Brown will succeed her in 2014.

"This is a great honor, and a testament to the caliber of leadership Bishop Brown has provided throughout his career. We are grateful that his gifts are being recognized and called upon by the global Church," the Rev. Linda Caldwell, California-Nevada Conference Superintendent for Mission Collaboration, said in response to the news.

"At the same time, this Conference faces many unique challenges. However, our course is set, many things have been put in motion, and we are moving forward purposefully with our destination in sight.

"The bishop has demonstrated unwavering commitment to the mission of this Conference. His commitment, coupled with the technology available today, has enabled him to be completely engaged in our work, even when away. This full participation will continue as he takes on this new role," Caldwell said.

The Council of Bishops is made up of all active and retired bishops of The United Methodist Church. According to the Book of Discipline, "The Church expects the Council of Bishops to speak to the Church and from the Church to the world and to give leadership in the quest for Christian unity and interreligious relationships."[427.2]

"Our main business is making disciples and empowering churches to be the instruments of God's love," he said. "As we grow and pay attention to the way God is already working among us and cherish that, it will awaken vitality." [Quoted by Heather Hahn in Wenner, Brown win election to lead bishops, UMNS.]

In photo above: The new Council of Bishops officers are (from left) Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, Bishop Warner H. Brown Jr., Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, Bishop Robert Hayes Jr., and Bishop Peter Weaver.

Bishops Endorse Church Restructure Proposals

United Methodist bishops voted overwhelmingly Nov. 1 in favor of proposals to restructure the denomination and redistribute up to $60 million in church funds.

The vote specifically endorsed a letter, titled "For the Sake of a New World, We See a New Church: A Call to Action," detailing changes — some requiring action by General Conference, some not.

"We see a new church," the bishops' letter says. "It is a church that is clear about its mission and confident about its future, a church that is always reaching out, inviting, alive, agile and resilient." It asks all United Methodists to "work to do the 'new thing' God intends for our church and discover the path God is making for our future."

The Council of Bishops' vote came as part of the multiyear Call to Action process, which aims to reverse decades of declining membership and financial giving in the United States and to increase congregational vitality.

With their vote, the bishops endorsed the proposed consolidation of nine of the denomination's 13 general agencies into a new United Methodist Center for Connectional Mission and Ministry. Legislation submitted to General Conference by the Connectional Table calls for the center to have a 15-member board of directors accountable to a 45-member advisory board called the General Council for Strategy and Oversight. The council would replace the Connectional Table, which coordinates the denomination's mission, ministries and resources.

The vote came after two days of discussions among the bishops in private conversations, small groups and plenary sessions. Even as many bishops stood up to commend the letter, they also said there were parts they would tweak if they could. "I don't agree with everything" was a frequent refrain.

Iowa Area Bishop Julius C. Trimble likened the letter to a GPS that can guide drivers toward their destination even if it doesn't always get them to the exact address.

"We cannot get where we want to go without some form of a GPS, and we certainly aren't going to get close without leaving the house," Trimble told his colleagues to murmurs of agreement.

Bishops also acknowledged that General Conference, the denomination's top lawmaking body, likely would alter the legislation. General Conference will next convene April 24-May 4 in Tampa, Fla.

At its November 2010 meeting, the council endorsed the Call to Action recommendations and the "adaptive challenge" to redirect resources toward fostering vital congregations. The suggested structural changes the bishops took up this year originated with the Interim Operations Team, a group of eight laity and clergy working with denominational leadership to implement the Call to Action recommendations.

In showing their approval, he said the bishops would be showing "our commitment to lead the church" and use the changes as "instruments in service to vision and mission."

Palmer also stressed that more than 50 percent of the work the bishops need to do to foster vital congregations does not require General Conference legislation.

Bishops do not vote at General Conference, nor do they address the assembly on legislative matters without special permission. However, there are no limits on conversations with delegates and other church members outside the sessions.

In addition to endorsing restructuring and allowing the redistribution of up to $60 million in general church funds, the bishops, in the letter, urge General Conference to give annual conferences more freedom in how they organize, allow the election of a non-residential bishop to serve as president of the Council of Bishops and provide support for collecting consistent information from all annual conferences about their financial practices. Other key points in the letter. See also: Bishops called to reclaim the church's mission.

The council said it favors adopting stronger and more transparent measures and procedures for the accountability of bishops. The bishops also said they would work with appropriate general church offices, seminary leadership and annual conference boards of ordained ministry to strengthen support for United Methodist seminaries, address curriculum requirements and clarify expectations.

The bishops said their annual conferences will strive to improve "recruitment and support of the most fruitful and effective young clergy" and strengthen clergy recruitment, formation and the appointment process to improve vitality.

The bishops' vote, by a show of hands, included a handful of "no" votes. The dissenting voices included Denver Area Bishop Elaine J.W. Stanovsky.

After the vote, she said she would have preferred that the bishops could have registered their support for

each legislative proposal individually. Her motion during the meeting to allow that failed.

She also would have preferred more conversation about the proposed Center for Connectional Mission and Ministry. "I think a certain amount of humility and doubt about what we do is appropriate," she said.

Still, she said she would support the action of the Council of Bishops and thinks the Interim Operations Team is trying to lead the denomination in the right direction.

Pittsburgh Area Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton asked what essential functions would be lost if $60 million that would ordinarily go to general agencies over the next four years would be redistributed.

The proposed legislation would authorize the board of the newly created center to allocate $5 million to theological education in central conferences outside the United States, $5 million for young people's lay leadership development, and $50 million for recruiting and training United Methodist ministerial students under the age of 35 and increasing vital congregations.

The Rev. Karen Greenwaldt, the Board of Discipleship's top executive, told the council it is not yet clear exactly what the impact would be on ministries of the general agencies.

The impact could be severe. Agencies already face a more than 6 percent cut in their funding under the 2013-16 budget of $603 million, which the General Council on Finance and Administration has submitted to General Conference. Potentially, the redistribution could mean an additional loss in funding of almost 10 percent.

"The list (of possible cuts in programming) is long and extensive, and, depending on priorities and decisions made by folks after General Conference, we would have to make those very critical decisions," Greenwaldt said, referring to her own agency's work.

East Angola Area Bishop Jose Quipungo does not expect the proposed restructuring to have much effect on the central conferences – church regions in Africa, Europe and the Philippines. However, he said, "It is good for us to recognize we are not perfect, but the people called Methodist are working toward perfection."

After the vote, Washington Area Bishop John R. Schol – who leads the bishops' Vital Congregations Initiative – said he thinks overall the changes will better align the denomination to support vital congregations.

"Those are the congregations that are growing over time, reaching out to their communities, and they are engaging more of their laity in ministry," he said.

"Some of the changes we talked about today are legislative, but there's far more change that's really about leadership at all levels of the church – bishops, general agency staff, local congregations – all beginning to say we're going to do something different," he said

11 Women Bishops Head to Holy Land

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Eleven ecumenical women bishops from the United States, West Indies and Africa will leave Nov. 12 for a 10-day trip to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. The trip is sponsored by the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) and the denomination's Council of Bishops.

Goals of the trip are to stand in solidarity with women from Christian, Muslim and Jewish traditions working for peace in the region; gather facts and stories to equip the delegation members as educators and advocates for peace after returning; and to explore partnerships for ongoing education and advocacy to affect positive change.

Four Christian denominations will be represented in the delegation: United Methodist, Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal and Christian Methodist Episcopal.

United Methodist Bishop Deborah Kiesey (Dakotas), president of GBCS's Board of Directors, is leading the delegation. "This pilgrimage will not only inform each of us as bishops regarding the complexity of the region," she said, "but it will also allow us to stand in solidarity with, and work alongside those women who are daily working to bring about peace."

Janet Lahr Lewis, a missionary of the General Board of Global Ministries who serves in the Middle East as liaison between ecumenical groups, Israel and Palestine, will accompany the delegation.

Other staff support is being provided by Linda Bales Todd, GBCS Women's Advocate, and Alex Baumgarten of the Episcopal Office of Government Relations.

The itinerary includes stops in Nazareth, Bethlehem, Capernaum, Haifa, Jerusalem/Ramallah and Gaza. Besides meeting with women working for peace in the region, there will also be tours of Holy Christian sites.

Among many briefings, the delegation expects to meet with Altufula Women's Rights Organization, Israeli/Arab Women's Initiative, Jericho YWCA, Lekiya-Bedouin Women's Project and Wi'am Conflict Resolution Center's Women's Project — Bethlehem.

Link to Registration for WJ Clergywomen's Consultation Is on Cal-Nev Website

A link to registration for the Western Jurisdiction Clergywomen's Consultation, Feb. 19-22, 2012, in Reno, has been added to the California-Nevada Conference website.

You'll find it in the "Quick Links" section, on the upper right side of the Home Page at www.cnumc.org (the last item in blue). It will take you to the Clergywomen's Consultation website, where you'll be able to find out more about the event as well as sign up to attend (look for the large "Register Now!" button midway down the page).

The theme, "Taking Flight: Leading Into the Unknown," will celebrate the ways in which women are leading the Church into the future in creative and Gospel-filled ways.

Whether or not you are able to attend, organizers ask that you send a photo of you "taking flight" in your ministry, to Katie Ladd at katiemladd@comcast.net. Photos will be used in a work of art that celebrates the wonders of God's Gospel, alive and at work in the world.

Registration fee for the consultation is $130. Scholarships are available upon request – contact Sharon Moe at revmo1@aol.com – but in order to receive a scholarship discount, you must register before Dec. 1, 2011.

Reserve your hotel room directly from the hotel, online here or by calling 1.800.648.5080. The passcode for the group discount is "Clergywomen United Methodist."

Philippines Central Conference Holds Clergywomen's Consultation

Clergywomen are no longer outsiders – instead, they are "inside outsiders," the Rev. Dr. Kim Cape told 206 clergywomen from the Manila, Baguio, and Davao Episcopal Areas of The United Methodist Church in the Philippines, in her keynote address to a gathering of the Philippines Central Conference clergywomen.

Cape said that 55 years ago, "We were outsiders...we could serve churches, but we couldn't vote at annual conferences, we had no guarantee of appointment, we didn't have to be paid minimum wages." Cape, general secretary of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, said things have changed significantly since 1956, when the General Conference voted to grant full clergy rights for women. She noted that there has been no woman bishop in the Philippines yet, and expressed hope that this, too, will change.

Citing Queen Esther as an example of being an "inside outsider" in the royal court of Persia during a time when Jews were persecuted, Cape said that clergywomen have become inside outsiders for such a time when there is war, violence, injustice, and consumerism in our world. She reminded the participants that as inside outsiders, Jesus Christ "calls us to follow as his disciples the way down a path that leads to regularly being crucified."

"God help us if we do not lose our lives for Christ's sake in order to create a world that is softer, kinder, a more peaceful place where swords are beaten into plowshares," she prayed.

Rodolfo A. Juan, resident bishop of the Baguio Episcopal Area, saw the need to organize the clergywomen in the country and to hold a consultation. He called on all the women district superintendents of the Philippines Central Conference to meet and brainstorm with the assistance of Rev. Dr. HiRho Park, GBHEM's director of Clergy Lifelong Learning, and Dr. Priscilla Viuya, president of Tarlac State University and an elected board member of GBHEM. Former district superintendent Rev. Nerissa S. Palafox led the planning team, which included Rev. Ester Nasayao, Rev. Irenea Respuesto, Rev. Joshana Aben, Rev. Nehemia Allera, Rev. Ednalyn Guillermo, Rev. Luz B. Dado, Rev. Elizabeth Bautista, and Rev. Flora Pajarillo.

One of the topics discussed by the planning team was how to work toward the possibility of electing a Filipina bishop. They also talked about the need for professional development opportunities, improved technology, and self-care. Preparations prior to the consultation were to gather information about clergywomen and to conduct a survey to determine what particular issues the UMC clergywomen face in the Philippines.

Bishop Juan said the gathering of clergywomen was a time for "bonding and fellowship, learning and equipping, and most of all, spiritual revival."

The consultation was first-ever national gathering of UM clergywomen in the Philippines – from local pastors and provisional elders to ordained deacons and elders.

Park gave the first lecture about church administration and polity, and also reported on legislation that the Study of Ministry Commission will submit to the 2012 General Conference.

Daniel C. Arichea Jr., interim bishop of the Manila Episcopal Area and translations consultant of the Philippine Bible Society, discussed the differences between literal and meaning-based translations, and defined ways of interpreting biblical texts. Bishop Arichea pointed out that biblical interpretation is the process of carefully studying the biblical text in order to understand its meaning and relevance.

Dr. Dorcas Lumba, a medical doctor, advised the clergywomen that they should take good care of their physical wellbeing, as well as their spiritual wellness – referring to 3 John 1:2: "My dear friend, I pray that everything may go well with you and that you may be in good health – as I know you are well in spirit." She mentioned ways to lead a lifestyle of physical and spiritual wholeness and wellness.

The Rev. Dr. Benoni Silva-Netto, a faculty member at the Union Theological Seminary in Cavite, and a former district superintendent in the United States [in the California-Nevada Annual Conference], encouraged the clergywomen to debunk myths such as men's ordination, sacred vocation, and missionary condescension that still pop up in the Church.

He urged them to design new paths, and said one of the means to do this is to identify some areas of specialization in ministry that can support more adequately the mission of the church – which is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Furthermore, he said, by developing special ministries that are complementary to the traditional functions of ministry, the clergywomen will be empowered to discover God even in places where God is not expected to be present.

Garlinda Burton, general secretary of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women, told Filipina clergy to "claim their place as Christ's ambassadors to the whole world, as agents of change in the name of Jesus Christ." She requested that the delegates pray with her about leading more people to Christ, and taking the lead in bringing all women to speak out the truth boldly and to support each other. She said she hopes to see a woman bishop in the Philippines someday.

The Rev. Nizzi S. Digan, chair of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Clergywomen Association (AAPIC), delivered the morning worship message on the second day. She expounded on the theme of the consultation by defining what clergywomen should do to "lift up," "level up," and "lead on." She urged the clergywomen to always take a Sabbath rest and be in constant communion with God as exemplified by Susannah Wesley, who, even in the midst of busily mothering to a big family, found time to pray to God by covering her head with her apron.

In his message in the closing service, Bishop Juan challenged the clergywomen to "rise above our difficulties and struggles and try your best to aspire for greater things." He prompted them to lift one another through prayers, to combine discipline and compassion, and to stand shoulder-to-shoulder, leaving no one behind.

Palafox said the next step is to organize the clergywomen by episcopal area and then formally organize at the national level, so that they will be able to make an action plan for the next quadrennium (2013-2016).

The Rev. Maritez Cruz, an elder from the Manila Episcopal Area, shared her thoughts on the consultation: "Finally, United Methodist clergywomen in the Philippines have found their collective voice through their shared inclusive experience. With a big sigh of relief, I realized that I was never alone in my struggles as a clergywoman. Now, we can begin the even more daunting task of reaching out to more of our clergywomen who were not privileged to attend the gathering, and developing the inroads we have achieved at this consultation. Glory to God for the clergywomen who hold up half the church!"

Cal-Nev UMW Has 'Joyful' Gathering

"Joy for the Journey" was the theme at the women's celebration I attended last Saturday. Each fall, United Methodist women from throughout northern California and Nevada gather to learn together – and to celebrate the ways in which they have worked to transform the lives of women, children, and youth in their local communities and around the world, during the past year.

The 300 women gathered at First United Methodist Church of Modesto were thrilled and energized by the music of a Cambodian vocal ensemble, along with that of the Hallelujah Korean Drum Team from Oakland.

Keynote speaker Marva Usher-Kerr journeyed from New York City to speak about her spiritual journey as a woman of faith. She serves as the Executive Secretary for Membership in the Women's Division of the General Board of Global Ministries. As an evangelist, she serves on mission trips to Haiti, Africa, and South America. She also trains women in becoming lay officers, and in lay speaking and mission education.

"Methodist Women have a long history of being in mission," Usher-Kerr said, reminding the audience of their historic record of social action. "Some of us are getting tired; we've been in mission a long time. The richer we get, the less we want to give. But there are still a lot of women and children who need our help."

Usher-Kerr spoke of her visit to the Republic of South Sudan, the newest country on earth and the 54th country in Africa. Forty women made the journey by foot to hear her speak, some of them traveling for nearly two days to get there.

"Mama Marva, I prayed every night that someone would come and help us," one African woman said during her visit. "No one in the world cares about women like us. But you've come to visit twice, so we know you care about us. We don't know what our journey will be, but we have faith in God, and we know there will be joy for the journey."

Usher-Kerr spoke of the Methodist tradition of lay women holding roles of leadership, often being the trendsetters for the direction of mission in the denomination. Methodist women first collected their egg money in the fall of 1869 to send Clara Swain to India as the world's first qualified female medical missionary. By the end of her first five years there, she had built the Women's Hospital and Medical School – the first in all of Asia and still in existence today. Methodist women also commissioned the first female educator to start a school for girls in India, which is known today as Isabella Thoburn College. In 1878, Methodist women sent the first female missionary to China.

Methodist lay women were seated as delegates during elections at General Conference as early as 1892 and gained full voting rights in 1904, 16 years before women had the legal right to vote in elections across the U.S. Today, they labor at the forefront of current issues such as putting an end to poverty-caused diseases such as malaria, promoting peace in the Middle East, and stopping worker exploitation and human trafficking. A new office was established at this annual celebration to help conserve resources: former San Jose District president Betty Dickey will be in charge of helping California-Nevada "go green."

"What I really celebrate," UMW Conference President Connie Hunter said, "Is the sense of the Conference UMW coming together to transform from seven to four districts and to continue fulfilling our purpose – no matter what!" In a challenging economy and a year of streamlining and restructuring, a team of women worked throughout 2011 to redesign the district teams for the best possible representation of the newly configured four districts.

In a moving ceremony, District Superintendents Kristie Olah, Mariellen Yoshino, and Jerry Smith presided over the transformation ceremony in which the obsolete seven district flags were retired, and four new ones took their places as women carried them forward into the future of the work in mission.

The tradition of United Methodist Women empowering women to have the freedom to discover who they really can be through Jesus, in a creative and supportive community of women, is a tradition that Helen Pulliam of the Cal-Nevada Conference knows a lot about. Pulliam was invited up on stage to be recognized at the celebration for her contributions as a coordinator of membership, nurture, and outreach in the Shasta District. Oh, did I mention that Helen is 99 years old?!

Wearing a bright red jacket with bold yellow lettering proclaiming, "Never Underestimate the Power of a United Methodist Woman," Pulliam epitomizes the best of the United Methodist Woman in a life well lived in service to others.

During district officer training the night before, when the Rev. Debra Brady, pastor of Modesto First, asked Pulliam why some churches struggle so much today to gain younger members, Pulliam pulled no punches: "Older people took over and the younger people dropped off," she critiqued. "We say, 'It's always been done this way.' It is discouraging to younger people. We need to listen more to their ideas."

As I was installed in the ceremony Saturday as one of the officers who will be serving on the 2012 CA-NV Conference Mission Team, I just kept thinking to myself, "Lord, please let me be Helen Pulliam when I grow up!"

Greater Sacramento Youth Event Is Planned for Nov. 19

Inspired by Youth 2011, the Pentecost Circuit of Sacramento wants to keep the energy going for youth – so everyone got together and decided to start Youth Worship for the Greater Sacramento area. "We want to create the energy we saw from Youth 2011!" enthuses the Rev. Motoe Yamada, pastor of Japanese United Methodist Church in Sacramento and one of the featured speakers at the July youth event.

The first Youth Worship will take place at Japanese UMC on Saturday, Nov. 19. It will begin with a potluck lunch at noon, followed by worship at 1 p.m. – with new songs, great youth testimonies and speakers, new ways to dive into the Scriptures, and interactive prayer stations.

Anyone is welcome to attend – youth may RSVP to their youth director or youth pastor, but someone needs to call in numbers to Gayle Kurasaki (gayle@sacjumc.com) to assist her in making preparations.

Japanese United Methodist Church is located at 6929 Franklin Blvd, Sacramento CA 95823. (Get directions from the Google Maps feature on the church's web page.)

A Report on 'Moving Forward: Caregiver Support Forum'

The OAMC's caregiver support forum on September 21 was a success, with attendees coming from as far away as Redding, Modesto, and the Bay Area. Comments and feedback from the participants indicated that the forum's workshops and group discussions provided information and ideas that will be incorporated into many churches throughout the Conference, helping to keep older adults vital and active members of congregations and communities.

At the forum, participants learned about the ever-present threat of financial elder abuse, and proactive ways to counter it; the spiritual and emotional importance of keeping older congregational members included in church life through worship-on-wheels, in-home Communion and congregational visiting; loss and bereavement, and how it makes us all human; and new and exciting means to keep seniors connected with friends and family through simple programs such as Skype. A major goal of all the workshops was to provide easy strategies for keeping older adults included, safe, and valued.

Big thanks goes to the workshop facilitators: Ruth Reynolds and Joyce Brinsky (Loss and Bereavement), Carol Sugimura and Rosemary Landry (Technology Options for Seniors), Beverly Lyon, Esq. (Financial Elder Abuse), and Jim Ross and Jackie Finley (Worship on Wheels/In-Home Communion/Congregational Visiting). Also, kudos go to Marilyn Wilson and Sarah Pryor for general support and assistance during the event, and to the wonderful staff at the United Methodist (Conference) Center in West Sacramento for their hospitality.

It's Time to 'Fall Back'!

Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend – officially, at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6 – so don't forget to set clocks back one hour when you retire, Saturday night.

Dean McIntyre, Director of Music Resources, Leadership Ministries, for the General Board of Discipleship, has a Time Change Song, to remind choir members and others to set their clocks back that critical hour. Download the song (in PDF format) from the GBOD'S Worship Website at www.gbod.org.

News:

Bishop Brown Elected President-Designate of Council of Bishops