BEHOLD 2024 Motions
Motion 1: Additional Administrative Support
Summary: The GMC of SC experienced rapid growth from an initial 40+ churches to over 100 in a 12-month period. This rapid growth expanded the workload of our two conference administrators as churches discerned and aligned with our conference.
It is possible that the GMC of SC will experience additional growth as new churches align with our conference in the next year. If this happens, we will not be able to extend our current administrative support to meet additional need. Neither Kathy King nor Amanda Griswold can increase their hours beyond their current arrangement.
Proposal: The Finance & Administration Committee proposes that the Annual Conference grant authority to the Conference Connectional Team (and their sub-committees of Committee on Superintendency and Committee on Finance & Administration) to monitor conference growth and to add additional administrative support as necessary if finances allow. This proposal would allow the Conference\Connectional Team to augment the budget for additional administrative support between annual conference sessions, if deemed prudent and necessary.
Motion passed on August 8, 2024.
Motion 2: $25,000 in Missional Conference Support
Summary: The GMC has asked all US annual conferences to prayerfully consider partnering with an international annual conference. The Global Methodist Church is growing rapidly around the world, yet many nations lack the resources to adequately launch an annual conference to support the work of pastors, churches, and the training of new ministers. The Global Methodist Church does not have a hierarchical or top-down approach to supporting overseas annual conferences, but rather relies on US annual conferences to discern how God is leading them to support the church abroad.
The GMC encourages US annual conferences to:
• Consult with the bishops to learn about the needs overseas and then prayerfully discern where God may be leading.
• Commit to partnering with a developing international conference for 5 years to help them reach sustainability. Sustainability is the goal and is achievable in most parts of the world, but many conferences need a little help getting started. Note: some regions of the world may never be sustainable if they’re located in extreme poverty or persecution.
• Consider developing a true partnership where there are relationships between clergy and laity in both conferences, an exchange of best practices, and a sharing of faith. While financial resources will assist a developing conference, we do not want to develop a relationship that is exclusively financial. Many of our overseas brothers and sisters can share a profound faith in Jesus Christ.
• Consider fundraising the equivalent of 10% of our annual budget to contribute to the formation and sustainability of the overseas partner. Consider how dialogue, relationship, and mutual accountability will be part of the partnership
• Consider ways to invite local churches to partner in support, not only financially but also in terms of sending missions teams, developing sister church relationships, and in sponsoring pastor exchanges.
• All support from local churches is optional and voluntary. We seek enthusiastic partnerships and freewill support and believe this is the best way to form a healthy ministry partnership.
Proposal: The Provisional District Advisory Team (PDAT) recommends that the GMC of SC move forward in supporting the development of the GMC overseas. We propose:
1. That the Missions Collective discern and recommend an international partner(s) to the Conference Connectional Team in the Fall of 2024. The Conference Connectional Team may choose to affirm the partner(s) and share their decision immediately with the annual conference.
2. That the 2024 Behold Conference allocate $25,000 from last year’s unused budget funds as seed money to support an international partner(s) selected by the Missions Collective.
3. That the GMC of SC immediately develop a relationship with the overseas partner, but follow-up with an annual conference affirmation of the partnership at Behold 2025.
4. That the Missions Collective create avenues for GMC of SC churches and individuals to be in ministry, partnership, and relationship with the international partner(s).
5. That the Missions Collective invite churches to make a free will offering to support this partnership(s). The Missions Collective will invite churches to make a 5-year step-down commitment to help build kingdom sustainability overseas.
Motion passed on August 8, 2024.