Schedule Welcome & Prayer Connectional Conference Plan Overview Small & Large Group Dialogue Micro Groups Opening Question Closing Prayer

Upcoming Weeks Session 1 – Introduction Session 2 – One Church Model Session 3 – Connectional Conference Session 4 – Traditional Plan

Opening Prayer [Your text here.]

Guideline / Covenant [Your text here.]

Opening Circle Is there anything keeping you from being fully present?

Goals Information about Special Called General Conference February 2019 Build trust and deepen relationships Learn from one another

Hymn [Your text here.]

Micro Groups Is there anything keeping you from being fully present?

Question What are you most curious about regarding LGBTQ inclusion?

The Connectional Conference Plan Would create three branches of the church based on theology (Traditional, Unity, and Progressive), referred to as Connectional Conferences, in place of the current five geographical jurisdictions. Jurisdictions and annual conferences would vote first on which branch to affiliate with, thus fewer local church would have to vote.

The Connectional Conference Plan The three branches would share responsibility and receive support from a number of general church boards and agencies along with shared doctrinal standards. Each branch would have a significant degree of autonomy when it comes to sexual ethics, teachings on marriage, and ordination standards, as well as other adaptable matters.

The Connectional Conference Plan Would transfer much of the authority and accountability functions to the connectional conferences. Re-envisions the Council of Bishops as a learning and support community for bishops, while each connectional conference would hold its bishops accountable to its standards.

The Connectional Conference Plan Bishops and clergy would only serve within their connectional conference. Work within each connectional conference would be funded and governed by that connectional conference’s theology and requirements. Cross-connection ministries and partnerships could continue.

The Connectional Conference Plan All U.S. conferences would support the work in the central conferences. Central conferences could: Become their own connectional conference with power and authority equal to U.S. conferences Join with other central conferences to become one connectional conference Join one of the three theological conferences to become a global connectional conference

The Connectional Conference Plan Would require annual conferences to adopt a number of Constitutional amendments Every Annual Conference will have to pass amendments by 2/3 of conference votes from ballots of all annual conferences

Small Group Dialogue Any questions about the Connectional Conference Plan?

Break

Small Group Dialogue What can you affirm in the Connectional Conference Plan?

Small Group Dialogue What in the Connectional Conference Plan raises questions?

Small Group Dialogue What causes you the most concern about the Connectional Conference Plan?

Small Group Dialogue If the Special Called General Conference adopted this plan I would…

Large Group Dialogue What did your small group affirm about the Connectional Conference Plan?

Large Group Dialogue What questions were raised about the Connectional Conference Plan?

Large Group Dialogue What caused your small group the most concern about the Connectional Conference Plan?

Large Group Dialogue One thing you learned from our time together is…

Homework Read petitions for Traditional Plan http://cdnfiles.umc.org/Website_Properties/who-we-are/judicial-council/judicial-council-dockets/docket-10-2018-12.pdf

Closing Prayer [Your text here.]