1. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Global Connection Plan Northeastern Jurisdiction Global Structure Task Force

2. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Background 2 Northeastern Jurisdiction Global Structure Task Force: Formed by the 2012 NEJ Conference Developed Global Connection Plan Collaborated with groups across The UMC

3. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Guiding Principles for the proposed structure: To be Christ focused To extend community To provides greater global equality, greater access to services and participation in structures, and in shaping The United Methodist Church’s agenda. 3 Background

4. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force What problems are we solving? 4 US matters dominate The UMC and the General Conference agenda and waste time of Central Conference delegates The UMC and the General Conference do not focus on global issues of importance to Central Conferences Inequalities exist between jurisdictions and central conferences and their opportunities to shape the future of The UMC

5. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Global Connection | Connections | Regions | Annual Conferences High Level View

6. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Aspiration 6 This proposal will: Empower the Global Connection to thrive at being the global church, and Empower the connections and regions to thrive at being United Methodist in ways most appropriate to their context.

7. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Global Connection responsibilities: Constitution of The UMC Global Book of Discipline Global Social Principles Global Connectional budget Global responsibilities of the current General Conference Discussion of global issues 7 The Global Connection

8. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Global Connection responsibilities: Number and boundaries of United Methodist connections Defining the powers and roles of connectional, regional, annual, missionary, district, and charge conferences Number of episcopal areas within each of the United Methodist connections Defining the powers, duties, and privileges of episcopal leaders 8 The Global Connection

9. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Global Connection responsibilities: Defining the powers and duties of elders, deacons, supply pastors, local pastors, deaconesses, and home missioners Defining the conditions, privileges, and duties of church membership Defining standards for the election of delegates to the Global Connectional Conference Global agency statements of purpose, accountability to the statements of purpose, and makeup of global agency boards of directors 9 The Global Connection

10. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Global Connectional Conference: Replaces the General Conference Focus on global matters during its quadrennial meeting which shall last less than two weeks. Constituted in the same way as the current General Conference and shall be assigned responsibilities that are similar to the current General Conference. 10 The Global Connection

11. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Global Connectional Conference Membership: 600–1000 delegates with an equal number of lay and clergy delegates elected by annual conferences and missionary conferences. Delegates elected by concordat churches, affiliated autonomous Methodist churches, and affiliated united churches 11 The Global Connection

12. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Global Connection Organizations: The Council of Bishops, the Global Judicial Council, and the global agencies shall serve the entire United Methodist Global Connection and shall function in ways similar to the current bodies. The Judicial Council shall have the option to review all decisions by connection judicial committees and regional committees on appeal. It shall also handle matters that reference both the Global Book of Discipline and one or more connectional books of discipline. 12 The Global Connection

13. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Global Connection Organizations: The agencies which the Global Connection defines as global shall be structured to fully serve all of the connections and shall establish boards of directors with members equitably distributed across all regions of the Global Connection. 13 The Global Connection

14. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force A United Methodist Connection in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America Focus on UMC’s mission from the perspectives of the Regions within the Connection Contextual implications of nations, cultures, languages, legal implications, etc. 14 United Methodist Connections

15. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force UM Connection Responsibilities : Connectional Book of Discipline Number and boundaries of Regions Episcopal matters Clergy standards Roles of global agencies within the Connection Connectional agencies Financial considerations Connections with no Regions will also have Regional responsibilities 15 United Methodist Connections

16. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force UM Connectional Conferences: Meet quadrennially prior to the Global Connectional Conference Function like the Global Connectional Conference Responsibility for Connectional-specific legislation 16 United Methodist Connections

17. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Connectional Conference Membership: Delegates to the Global Connectional Conference Minimum number: 100 Additional delegates: Delegates elected to Regional Conferences Equal number of laity and clergy 17 United Methodist Connections

18. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force UM Connection Organizations: College of Bishops Judicial Committee Connectional-specific agencies Global agencies with presence in the Connection 18 United Methodist Connections

19. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Benefits: Leveling standing before Global Connectional Conference Greater attention to the contexts of ministry: strengthening ministries and engaging in conversation Off-loading legislation from Global Connectional Conference Strengthen the Global Connection so that it can excel at matters of a global nature and strengthen the Connections so that they can excel at ministry within their contexts 19 United Methodist Connections

20. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Jurisdictional and Central Conferences will become regions Regions will be established geographically All Regions will have the same authority and responsibilities 20 Regions

21. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Africa Asia Europe North America Total 3 Regions 1 Region 3 Regions 5 Regions 12 Regions 21 Regions May be changed by the Connectional Conferences

22. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Region Responsibilities: Evangelistic, educational, missionary, and benevolent interests of the Church Number and boundaries of annual conferences Boundaries of episcopal areas Election and assignments of bishops Election of global, connection, and region agency boards Global BOD Legislation to Global Connectional Conference Connectional BOD Legislation to Connectional Conference Regional budget 22 Regions

23. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Regional Conferences: Meet quadrennially within one year of Global Connectional Conference Membership to be determined by Global Connectional Conference Minimum of 100 members Equal number of laity and clergy 23 Regions

24. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Regional Organizations: College of Bishops Regional Committee on Episcopacy Committee on Appeals Other agencies determined by the Region 24 Regions

25. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Benefits: Equalization of Jurisdictional and Central Conferences Strengthening ministries within the context of the region Removal of offensive term “Central ” 25 Regions

26. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Number unchanged Purpose, composition, organization, responsibilities, and agencies unchanged Responsible for electing delegates to Global Connectional Conference, Connectional Conference, and Regional Conference 26 Annual Conferences

27. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Concept proposal presented to GC2016 for modification and adoption If adopted, Connectional Table would name 15 member inclusive task force to write detailed legislation for GC 2020 27 Approach

28. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Another level of church organization, really!? How are you really going to break up what goes in the Global Book of Discipline and what doesn't? How much is this going to cost? 28 Frequently Asked Questions

29. The Global Connection Plan – NEJ Global Structure Task Force Thank You! 29