Vision map cover
An international group of General Conference delegates invited fellow United Methodists to envision a better way to be the church. Based in part on that feedback, the group is unveiling a new vision map offering ways to make room for all at God’s table. (Graphic courtesy of Out of Chaos, Creation.)
Via email, United Methodist Insight asked the seven members of the “Out of Chaos…Creation” writing team questions about the international process that led to the updated vision map. Co-chairs of the writing team, the Rev. Cristine “Tintin” Carnate-Artero of the Middle Philippines Confereence and the Rev. Christine Schneider of the Switzerland-France-North Africa Conference primarily responded, with an additional response from the Rev. Betty Kazadi Musau of the North Katanga Annual Conference.
1) How many responses did you get to the invitation to the church to collaborate on revising the original statement?
Cristine “Tintin” Carnate-Artero: We have 102 survey respondents and participants of the listening sessions conducted.
2) From where did the responses come across the UMC?
Carnate-Artero: Responses came from the five jurisdictions and four central conferences.
Betty Kazadi Musau: I sent the survey especially to youths in North Katanga and Tanganyika After organizing a What’s App group they responded to questions about laments that youths experienced from their context.
3) Was there one sentiment or idea that most responses included? What was it?
Christine Schneider: The sentiment that we can do better than we have in the past: to truly welcome all and to stand with people in the margins.
Carnate-Artero: Survey questions are as follows:
1. What chaos and suffering would you lament in your life, your church, your community?
2. Imagine a church involved in God’s mission of offering hope, healing, and new life for the world you see around you? Describe what that church is saying and doing?
3. What is your vision for the church in your context?
From the aforementioned queries, our respondents' sentiments: (1) Systemic Racism and Discrimination, (2) Welcoming Congregation, ( 3 ) To Be [an] Inclusive Church
4) What suggestions most captured your attention as part of the revision team?
Schneider: That we can only be truly open, welcoming and loving as a church if we practice this among ourselves. Hence the table manners. Hence our attempt to create a vision map that is accessible to many by using simple language and images people are familiar with. Hence the translation in several languages.
Carnate-Artero: The vision map and statement were developed from the respondents' "voices" and if there were any suggestion during the process is to make sure that this piece of work will give justice to those who join us in table of discussion through listening session and surveys. To be more specific, we need to translate the document into different languages.
5) How did you conduct your work?
Carnate-Artero: We formed a Writing Team, mostly composed of members from the Central Conferences. Our co-team members are longing to hear outside the USA in this visioning process. We studied and analyze carefully all the responses, and we use them in developing our vision map and statement.
Schneider: Zoom meetings. We divided the tasks among ourselves, each one worked individually and then we would come together again to share the result and to develop it further. Team members brought in their various gifts.
6) What happens now with the Out of Chaos statement? How will it be included in the church-wide discussions about the UMC's future?
Carnate-Artero: It will be offered to different "tables" as they do conferences, sessions, and engagements. We hope that this is one of the tools to be used in the discernment process. The vision map will serve as a guide, and inspiration, knowing that these are the "voices" of the "unmuted" individuals from the different parts of the connection.
Schneider: Each team member is active in the UMC at various levels and shares the documents with as many people as possible while encouraging them to share it further.
- We try to create opportunities to have a conversation about the vision map wherever possible.
- Some of us are involved with groups who bring legislation to GC. We’re not duplicating what those groups are doing but rather want to encourage and amplify their efforts as they go in the direction of what we propose.
- We try to get as many people as possible to sign on to the vision map. As they sign they answer the question “What action could you take in your local context to move our church forward?” We therefore hope that signatories will also take practical steps.
- And of course each of us will work on and support the actions suggested in the document, in their capacity as delegates to GC, jurisdictional or central conferences.
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.