First Church Forward: We welcome, celebrate, and embrace ALL.
In the wake of the recent called Special Session of the General Conference, FUMCFW keeps its congregation up to date via this page. The Special Session was called to vote on “A Way Forward” for the United Methodist Church regarding controversy over the language of The United Methodist Book of Discipline Book of Discipline concerning its ban on same-gender weddings and “self-avowed practicing” gay clergy. Here you’ll find relevant news, announcements, videos, blog posts, resources and insightful and unifying comments from all walks of our faith community as we continue to define ourselves by our center, Jesus Christ, rather than our boundaries.
At FUMCFW we affirm that all people are created in the image of God and as beloved children of God. We believe that all people are worthy of God’s unconditional love, grace, and inclusion. We embrace and celebrate the gift of diversity in our church and in our world. We recognize that while we may not all think alike on all issues, we can all Love God, Serve People, and Transform Lives in ministry together regardless of race, ethnicity, age, faith history, marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, and physical or mental ability. We proclaim this statement of welcome to all who have known the pain of exclusion or discrimination in the church or in society, and we invite all people into full participation in the life of this community of faith as we all seek our highest and best expression of the transformative and all-inclusive love of God as revealed through Jesus Christ.
Dr. Tim Bruster, Senior Pastor explains how the church from its earliest times has wrestled with scriptural and theological questions.
If you missed the March 3 info session regarding the action of the Special Session of the General Conference, watch it here, complete with unedited congregational questions and answers.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, much of what we thought would be happening in 2020 has been delayed — but most definitely not forgotten or minimized in any way.
Last week a mediated agreement called “Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation” proposed a new future for our denomination. What does this agreement mean to the UMC — and to our First Church faith community?
Last week the CTC met for its Annual Conference 2019 at Arlington Convention Center and FUMC Hurst. Here are a few of the highlights!
This past week 600 United Methodist leaders gathered in Kansas to consider the future of the United Methodist Church. Here’s the recap and resources for learning more.
If you’re unclear about “The Trust Clause,” you’ve heard referenced in conversations about our denomination’s future, here’s clarity — and the answer to a very important question.
Dr. Tim Bruster and Rev. Adam Hamilton share their sense of hope they feel and have felt in the presence of others who have gathered to discuss the future of the United Methodist Church.
Heather Hahn, a reporter for United Methodist News, interviewed Dr. Tim Bruster on Friday, April 26 to discuss his initial impressions and insights on the Judicial Council’s declaratory decision. Here are highlights and link to the full story!
The nine-member, 12-alternate Judicial Council is the highest judicial body or “court” of The United Methodist Church. But what does it do? How could its decision this week impact us?
A United Methodist News Service article this week details and explains the Judicial Council docket in progress and the role Dr. Tim Bruster’s motion will play in this decision.
Since the Recent General Conference decision in St. Louis, conversations have been going on across the nation among UMC clergy who are grappling with troubling issues and implications for their individual congregations.
In this relatively brief article, I would like to show you how someone can have both a high view of scriptural authority while at the same time believing that LGBTQ+ people and their relationships can be in harmony with God’s purposes for human sexuality.
Following the General Conference in St. Louis there have been many expressions of pain and feelings of uncertainty in our church family. Here are a few of my own thoughts I’d like to share with you regarding the aftermath of this pivotal meeting.
This past Sunday, Dr. Tim Bruster led his third in a series of info sessions regarding the Special Session of the General Conference that met in St Louis last week to vote on “A Way Forward” for the global United Methodist Church.
This is the fifth in the series of articles regarding the called Special Session of the United Methodist General Conference.
During the Called General Conference Senior Pastor Dr. Tim Bruster was interviewed each day — on Day 1, prior to the beginning of the conference, at the end of Day 2, and at the conclusion of the Conference with CTC Bishop Mike Lowry.
Starting tomorrow, February 23, our elected United Methodist delegates along with all of our Bishops will gather in St. Louis, Missouri, for a called special session of General Conference, which will be the culmination of the “Way Forward” process begun at the 2016 General Conference.
“The list is long of things the church has struggled with before,” Says Dr. Tim Bruster as he puts the coming Called General Conference into the context of Methodist history.
Having received and considered the extensive work of the Commission on a Way Forward, the Council of Bishops will submit a report to the Special Session of the General Conference in February 2019. Here’s how the Council of Bishops arrived at this decision.
The Commission on a Way Forward was proposed by the Council of Bishops and approved by the 2016 General Conference to do a complete examination and possible revision of every paragraph of the Book of Discipline concerning human sexuality and explore options that help to maintain and strengthen the unity of the church.
Want to know more about the upcoming Called Session of the UMC General Conference? Join Dr. Tim Bruster in Wesley Hall February 6, 17, and March 3 for a full explanation and discussion of the work leading up to this conference and the One Church Plan.
In today’s Fort Worth Star-Telegram, reporter Hanaa Tameez’s article, “United Methodists face vote on LGBTQ issues. Will it rip the church apart?” quotes our own Dr. Tim Bruster along with several other area clergy and church members regarding the upcoming Called General Conference.
March 3, 2019 Called General Conference Info Session with Q&A
Dr. Tim Bruster’s Motion at Called General Conference 2019
Near the end of the conference, Dr. Bruster made a motion to send the Traditionalist Plan back to Judicial Council for a ruling on its constitutionality.
March 3, 2019: Traditional Worship Sermon “Jesus’ Transfiguration”
For a deeper understanding of the biblical and scriptural connotations around the issues at hand, Dr. Bruster’s sermon on March 3 illuminated this context regarding the action of the Special Session of the General Conference.
March 3, 2019: Faith Like a Child “Kermit and Gracie”
Pre-GC19 Reflections from Dr. Tim Bruster, CTC Delegation Lead
Dr. Tim Bruster Reflects on a “Tough and Painful” Day 2 of GC19
Bishop Lowry and Dr. Tim Bruster Wrap Up GC19
Watch this space for upcoming info sessions, listening posts, and small group meetings.
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Organization: The Church as Connection (from umc.org)
Terms: General Conference, Jurisdictional Conferences, Central Conferences, Annual Conferences, Districts, Charge Conferences and Local Churches
United Methodist leaders often speak of the denomination as “the connection.” This concept has been central to Methodism from its beginning.
The United Methodist structure and organization began as a means of accomplishing the mission of spreading scriptural holiness. Methodism’s founder, John Wesley, recognized the need for an organized system of communication and accountability and developed what he called the “connexion,” a network of classes, societies, and annual conferences.
Today, our denomination continues to be organized in a “connectional” system, which “enables us to carry out our mission in unity and strength” (Book of Discipline, ¶ 701). Every local church is linked to an interconnected network of organizations that join together in mission and ministry, allowing us to accomplish far more than any one local church or person could alone.
Within the connectional structure of The United Methodist Church, conferences provide the primary groupings of people and churches for discernment and decision-making. Wesley described Christian conferencing as a spiritual discipline through which God’s grace may be revealed. At every level of the connection, church leaders and members come together in conversation, or conferencing, to discuss important issues and discover God’s will for the church. The word, conference, thus refers to both the assembly and organization of people as well as the process of discerning God’s call together.
General Conference
As the primary legislative body, General Conference is the only entity with the authority to speak on behalf of the entire United Methodist Church. The General Conference meets every four years to consider the business and mission of the church. An equal number of lay and clergy delegates are elected from United Methodist conferences around the world to decide matters of policy and procedure for the denomination. Learn more.
Jurisdictional Conferences
There are five geographic jurisdictions, or regions, in the United States, which are comprised of eight to 15 annual conferences each. Learn more.
Central Conferences
In Africa, Europe and the Philippines, there are seven geographical regions, called central conferences, each of which is comprised of annual conferences and divided into several episcopal areas. Learn more.
Annual Conferences
The annual conference is a geographical entity, an organizational body (made up of elected lay and clergy members), and a yearly meeting. It is the fundamental body of the church (Book of Discipline, ¶ 11). Learn more.
Districts
Each local church is part of a district, which is an administrative grouping of churches in a geographic area. Learn more.
Charge Conferences and Local Churches
As the visible presence of the body of Christ, the local church is the place where members grow in faith and discipleship, putting their faith into action through ministry in the world. Learn more.
Constitutional Structure (from umc.org)
Terms: General Conference, Council of Bishops, Judicial Council
The United Methodist Church does not have a central headquarters or a single executive leader. Duties are divided among bodies that include the General Conference, the Council of Bishops and the Judicial Council. Each of these entities is required by our Constitution, a foundational document, to be part of our structure, and plays a significant role in the life of the church.
General Conference
The General Conference, the primary legislative body of The United Methodist Church, is the only body that speaks officially for the church. Meeting once every four years to determine legislation affecting connectional matters, it is composed of no fewer than 600 and no more than 1,000 delegates.
Working within the boundaries of the Church Constitution and General Rules, the General Conference defines and fixes the conditions, privileges and duties of church membership; the powers and duties of elders, deacons, diaconal ministers and local pastors; and the powers and duties of annual conferences, missionary conferences, charge conferences and congregational meetings. It authorizes the organization, promotion and administrative work of the church. The General Conference also defines the powers and duties of the episcopacy, authorizes the official hymnal and book of worship, provides a judicial system and procedures, initiates and directs all connectional enterprises of the church and enacts other legislation for the operation of the church. Learn more.
Council of Bishops
The Council of Bishops gives general oversight of the ministry and mission of the church and spiritual leadership to the entire church connection. Composed of all active and retired bishops, the council meets as a group at least once a year.
Bishops are elected by Jurisdictional Conferences and assigned to a particular area, made up of one or more annual conferences. Each bishop provides oversight of the ministry and mission of annual conferences in his or her area and appoints all clergy to their places of service.
Through its Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships, the council builds and maintains ties with other Christian denominations as well as other faith groups. Learn more.
Judicial Council
As the denomination’s highest judicial body or “court,” the Judicial Council’s nine members, made up of laity and clergy, are elected by the General Conference and normally meet twice a year to consider whether actions of the various church bodies adhere to the constitution and follow the rules outlined in the Book of Discipline.
Their cases are generally referred to them by action of the Council of Bishops, the annual conferences or the General Conference. According to the Constitution, decisions of the Judicial Council are final (Paragraph 57, Article III). Learn more.
Resources
UMNews April 29, 2019: Court rulings escalate talk of church split
Religious News Service April 26, 2019: United Methodist court upholds Traditional Plan’s ban on LGBTQ clergy, same sex marriage
UMNews April 26, 2019: Court OKs part of Traditional Plan, exit plan
The Washington Post “Methodist Could Learn Something From the Southern Baptists”
Adam Hamilton Video “General Conference Next Steps”
“A Speech Against” Blog by Adam Hamilton
“A way backwards: winning the battle, losing the church” Blog by Adam Hamilton
A New United Methodism? Blog by Adam Hamilton
“Methodism Began as a Spiritual Movement” Blog by Diana Butler Bass
UMC Ad in the Dallas Morning News
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