NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 31 – The General Secretaries Table framed a new direction to further their work for the church as agency leaders at a meeting held in Atlanta, Georgia on October 22-25, 2016.
As the new table for the quadrennium, the group formulated an aggressive plan of coordination and collaboration, built through a commitment to increase communication and collectively address issues around the four Areas of Focus.
From this conversation, two work groups were formed. The first work group will focus on developing a comprehensive message that provides leadership and affirmation in this juncture of the church’s history. The second work group will provide a strategic plan to guide the table to better expend their efforts and achieve key goals.
The General Secretaries Table, which is comprised of the chief executives of the denomination’s 13 general agencies, adopted the following statement:
We, the General Secretaries’ Table, promise to lead, along with others, the path of reaching out to take hold of God’s vision of authentic unity, which is already active in the church and world, by:
- Continuing to focus on mission and ministry and to inviting all throughout the connection to join and connect with us in this work
- Convening groups to think deeply about the theological, scholarly, missional and practical implications about the issues that impact our life together
- Listening broadly and without defensiveness to what is required of us as agencies and how we can best be of service to the connection
- Proposing strategic action that will help to propel the church toward greater relevance in an increasingly diverse and global context in the U.S. and Central Conferences
“The church stands ready for new hope, while our deep commitment to our mission remains the same,” said the Rev. Dr. Kim Cape, who serves as convener of the table. “We are moving forward together to achieve our missional goals and spread the love of God.”
The general agencies work collaboratively to advance the work of the entire denomination around the four Areas of Focus: developing principled Christian leaders for the church and the world, establishing new places for new people and renewing existing congregations, engaging in ministry with the poor, and stamping out the killer diseases of poverty by improving health globally.
“While the scope of the general agencies’ work goes far beyond these focus areas, they serve to unite our work and provide opportunities for partnership,” said Rev. Cape.
Along with Rev. Cape, the members of the General Secretaries’ Table include:
- The Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, General Board of Church and Society;
- The Rev. Junius Dotson, General Board of Discipleship;
- Thomas Kemper, General Board of Global Ministries;
- Barbara Boigegrain, General Board of Pension and Health Benefits;
- Harriet Olson, United Methodist Women;
- Dan Krause, United Methodist Communications;
- Gil Hanke, General Commission on United Methodist Men;
- The Rev. Brian Milford, United Methodist Publishing House;
- The Rev. Fred Day, General Commission on Archives and History;
- Dawn Hare, General Commission on the Status and Role of Women;
- Erin Hawkins, General Commission on Religion and Race; and
- Moses Kumar, General Council on Finance and Administration.
In an effort to increase and coordinate communication on behalf of all agencies, the table committed to meeting three times a year and using those meetings to accomplish common work and bond in common mission that speaks with one voice of leadership, influence and support of the church.
Ebony Lincoln serves as director of communications for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.