REFLECTIONS 

While the big headlines of a failed restructuring plan catches the headlines, the foretelling was in the first two hours of General Conference as we debated the rules by which our 10 day conference would be bound.   I remember saying to my friend Joe May: this debate on the rules is a metaphor for what is ahead.   It was an intuition. Unfortunately, my hunch was spot on.

After the General Administration Committee failed to adopt any plan of restructuring, a Hail Mary was tossed to an ad hoc committee to adopt a homogenized plan.  Like a tossed salad, something for everybody was thrown in, and then, near the last hour, thrown out by the Judicial Council.  My dad, a veteran of General Conferences past once told me, "you don't sneak anything by General Conference."  I never knew truer words to be spoken than what occurred these last two weeks in Tampa, Fla. 

At the end of the day, we did adopt a reduced budget; we did downsize General Boards and Agencies.  We did remove  guaranteed appointments.  There are a host of other things we will discover we did when the consent calendar decisions begin to trickle out.  The world will not come to an end because we failed to create a leaner structure at the top level of our denomination.  Yet, as one friend of mine said, we return home to live in the past.

Gil Rendle in his book "Journey through the Wilderness" reminded those who took the time to read his excellent work that we United Methodists operate on two parallel universes. One is the General Church level, which convenes every four years as a constituency of constituencies.  The other level is the Annual Conference/local church level where disciples are made who can actually change the world. 

In my own mind, I'm called first to serve at the second level.  I believe the work we did last week will free up annual conferences to become more nimble and more able to structure themselves so that the mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ can be embodied and local congregations can be led to change people who change lives and transform the world.  I believe we are already at work leading toward the call to action to strengthen and create vital congregations.  The plan did not need to be adopted in order to fulfill this goal.

It did cross my mind when the Plan UMC was deemed unconstitutional, that God just might not be happy with the way in which we conducted our business around restructuring. God might just have a better plan in mind.  If we can give ourselves a break for what we did not do and listen deeper to the movement of the Holy Spirit, we might just find ourselves redirecting the energy to the local church after all.  If I am going to invest my life anywhere, it will be first to serve in the geographic area where I lay my head.  That's where lives are transformed and the world begins to look kingdom-like.

Lovett Weems teaches us to remember the "so that."  Perhaps the "so that" at this time is what we  we need to do by bringing as many along as possible, not just some of us.  Google has demonstrated the power of open sourcing.  A motion near the end of the General Conference invited us to send the plan back to annual conferences for input so that better ideas for the future can come from anywhere, not just from those who are invested in particular outcomes. 

If we really do believe in the Adaptive Leadership model, then we will allow the best ideas to come from anywhere in the system.  I believe it is the only way forward. If our leadership can do that in the coming four years and if we can elect people to represent us at General Conference who are willing to trust that the very best for us all is being brought forth, then we  have a future with hope.  

In the end, though, perhaps the true adaptive challenge today is how we learn to trust one another.  How do laity begin to trust bishops; how do clergy trust clergy; how do laity trust clergy; how do clergy trust bishops? How do we trust the myriad constituencies across the church?  How do Central Conference delegates trust those of us who are American?  Unless we want another circus-like experience in Portland in 2016 we will begin by valuing the lay and clergy voices at the grass roots that long for a better way forward. 

We are pilgrims on a journey and right now while we may be sleeping in our favorite beds tonight, we are a long way from home...at least as The United Methodist Church.  And yet, I remain hopeful.  In moments like these, there is no more instructive word from scripture than Romans 5:  

Therefore, since we are justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing in the glory of God.  And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the holy spirit that has been given to us.  Romans 5:1-5

It will be to those signs of hope that I will turn in my next post. May the peace of Christ be with you!

Bill

SOULFeast

July 8 - 12

Lake Junaluska, NC

Greetings All:

 

Now that all of the motions and amendments have been accepted and rejected, I would like to give you a brief description of the Pension Plan that was adopted.

 

The goal was to achieve an affordable and sustainable plan for our clergy.  One additional goal that came out of our Finance Administrative Committee was that the plan needed to be what we valued.

 

There were 2 plans before us.  First was a purely defined contribution plan (DC) and second was a defined contribution/defined benefit plan (DC/DB) that resembles the plan we are currently under except for reduced cost. 

 

The general conference rejected the minority report which was the DC plan.  This put the DC/DB (CRSP Lite) up for vote.  If this plan had been defeated, we would have been back where we are today.  Thankfully, that did not happen.

 

The plan came from GBOP Board of Directors required for all clergy serving at least half time.  I was able to get an amendment passed that required all full time clergy to be in the Restated CRSP DB/DC with an conference option for those serving half time or more.  It passed in subcommittee and came to the floor.  After defeating an amendment to carry it back to the original proposal, we adopted the Restated CRSP DB/DC plan.

 

This was in my opinion the best of all worlds.  This plan allows our conference to value our full time clergy with a pension plan that rewards years spend in the full time ministry with a Cadillac plan.  These are the clergy who give a lifetime of 24/7 to the church. 

 

The conference will reward Clergy who are serving less than full time but at least part time by (1) opting for the Restated CRSP DC/DB or (2) a conference sponsored full Defined Contribution plan.  Utilizing a Defined Contribution will allow those serving less than half time to be covered in the plan at the option of the Annual Conference.

Here are the benefits of the Restated CRSP DC/DB.

 

1. For the Defined benefit portion of the plan, the plan provides 1% of the DAC (Denominational Average Compensation) at the time of retirement for the service years in the plan.  (Under CRSP, this was 1.25%)
2. For the Defined Contribution of the plan, the Conference contributes 2% of plan compensation.  The Conference will match up to 1% additional.  (CRSP made a 3% contribution)  This continues to be the same as long as the clergy contributes 1%.  If a clergy is already contributing 1% to UMPIP, no additional match will be required.

 

This new plan will allow the Annual Conference Board of Pension to reduce the 17.5% currently charged for the Clergy Pension Benefit.  We will have to determine that rate.

 

If the conference provides a defined contribution for those serving less than full time, the rate charged for that plan can be reduced from 14.5% to the contribution rate of the annual conference.  A clergy match should also be a part of this plan as described above. 

 

The effective date of this plan has not been announced, but I have been in conversation with the General Board and I believe that date will be 1-1-14.  Not only will they need time to adjust the administration of the plan, but our Annual Conference will need to determine what the plan for the less than full time clergy will be.  There will also be a lot of education that will need to be done around the new plans. This may just be the year that clergy will want to attend the 3 "L" Academy. 

 

There are many questions that have come up on the new plan.  Some include transitional leave.  It is too early to know the answers to all those different legislative matters and how each affects the other.  As long as a clergy is earning compensation, they are on the plan.   Severance pay may be treated differently.  We will just have to sort that out.  If a person moves from full time to part time, then the rules of the conference plan will be followed.  That would depend on the plan the Annual Conference had adopted and if the ¾ or ½ time people are covered under Restated CRSP or if the conference adopted a DC only plan for them. 

 

More information will follow as we work over the next weeks and months to sort this out.  As I see it, this has no effect on the legislation going to Annual Conference this year. 

 

David Stotts, CPA

Treasurer/Director of Finance and Administration

Conference Benefits Officer

One of the most common emergencies at church is a medical problem suffered by someone attending the service. Ushers should be trained to recognize and respond to the first signs of a medical emergency - a loud noise or voice, fainting or collapse, or commotion. It is strongly recommended ushers be certified in first aid, CPR and, if applicable in your church, use of an AED (automated external defibrillator). Part of the ushers' training should address who will take charge. That individual should direct separate persons to contact 911 and to get the church's first aid kit and AED. If it is safe to do so, assist the individual in moving out of the sanctuary or worship space. After 911 is summoned, have ushers stationed at various points both outside and inside the building to help direct EMTs to the victim as quickly as possible.

Disruptions or Violent Outbursts During the Service

Upset or disturbed individuals have the potential to cause disruption of a worship service. Very rarely, such individuals may resort to an act of violence. In these situations, unless the church is staffed with a trained team of security guards, it will again rely upon its ushers. Ushers should be trained to scan the lobby and worship space for any unusual activity or behavior. Individuals appearing agitated or distressed should be watched closely. Ushers should be prepared to escort these individuals out of the worship space at any sign of disruption such as yelling or approaching the altar. Police should be summoned if there is any threat or sign of violence.

Storm and Fire Readiness

Threatening weather such as severe thunderstorms and tornadoes can materialize very quickly. Likewise, fires rarely give warning. For that reason, churches need to be prepared to evacuate the building in case of fire and to seek shelter within the building in case of storms. Plan first for an evacuation. Ushers need to be prepared to assist people, particularly the disabled, in exiting the worship space. A plan also needs to be in place for children's workers for evacuating infants and toddlers. Next, communicate to parents that their children will be evacuated by their classroom leaders and they should plan to meet their children outside the building. Practice by performing a Sunday morning fire drill at least annually. For the threat of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms, designate in advance areas within the church building where shelter should be sought. Interior hallways or rooms on the lowest level without any windows are safest.