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April 11, 2022

Dear Friends in Christ in the Minnesota Conference,

We are in a significant time of transition with the potential separation of The United Methodist Church, the continuing decline of the number of United Methodists, the makeup of our pastoral leadership, the changing landscape of Minnesota, and our current cultural realities. Our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world endures. But how we fulfill our mission and live into our vision of every church being a vital expression of the scriptural imperatives of growing in love of God and neighbor, reaching new people, and healing a broken world that allows up to meet these new realities is the provocative question before us.

In consultation with the Extended Cabinet, I have decided to convene a Transition Table to imaginatively consider the staffing, structure, and resourcing of the Minnesota Annual Conference in order to answer this provocative question in a way that positions us well for the future.

The Transition Table will engage in a year-long process with a charge to dream and design models for organizing, staffing, and delivering resources that allows for flexibility, innovation, and nimbleness without jeopardizing our stability and sustainability as an organization. In particular, this group will look at the role of district superintendents and the supervision, equipping, and care of clergy and congregations. It will also examine our governance structure and staffing model. And it will reflect on where we are investing our time and resources in light of our mission, vision, and values and offer recommendations on how to more effectively leverage our resources. 

The Transition Table will be composed of the following persons: 

  • 3 people from the current Extended Cabinet
  • 4 people from the future leadership pool for Cabinet-level positions. (This pool is also being created this spring with open nominations for Cabinet-level positions that will come open in the next two years.)
  • 3 people who are younger in age and/or newer to The United Methodist Church and are active in new and/or growing congregations.
  • 4 people who are committed to the future of The United Methodist Church, active in their local church, and bring the diversity of voices we need in terms of geography, age, gender identity, racial and ethnic background, theological perspective, and church size

All persons selected need to demonstrate:

  • Commitment to the fullness of the vision of the Minnesota Annual Conference
  • Seeing possibilities, thinking creatively and strategically
  • A mind, heart and spirit that are collaborative and able to consider other perspectives
  • A demonstrated spiritual and emotional maturity
  • Willingness to engage in deep discernment and make the commitment of time and energy to be a part of a working team

We are creating an open nomination process for the seven persons who are not from the current Extended Cabinet or the future leadership pool for Cabinet-level positions. This work will require a significant commitment of time and energy over the next year. It is important work that will help shape the future of the annual conference. 

The scope, work, and meeting schedule of the team will be set once convened. The time commitment most likely would involve a couple of two-day overnight retreats, as well as Zoom meetings at least monthly; there might be some task work to be done between scheduled meetings.

The Transition Table will engage a variety of stakeholders in this process, and those who are nominated but not selected for the team will be invited into the stakeholder conversations. This team is accountable to the Bishop and Extended Cabinet for their work, will offer regular progress updates to them, and will bring a report to the full Annual Conference Session in 2023. 

Nominate yourself or someone else for the Transition Table. The deadline for nominations is May 1, 2022.

Grace and peace,

David A. Bard signature

Bishop David A. Bard
Interim Bishop, Minnesota Conference

 

Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
122 W. Franklin Ave., Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55404 | 612-230-3334