A few months ago, leaders of the Global Methodist Boards of Ministry from around the world were tasked with solving some inconsistencies and problems with clergy relationship in the Conferences. We talked about appointment and leave and retirement concerns, care for the preaching and sacramental needs of congregations, and the process of appointments. At the end of the first day, we realized we needed to think differently if we were going to address all of these at once.
Out solution – live in covenant instead of legalism. We worked to build the changes into our Book of Doctrines and Discipline, and wound up changing a lot of things. We realized that we needed to explain ourselves so the delegates and members of the GMC could see what we tried to do. David Watson, the current president of Asbury Theological Seminary, offered his platform so we could do that very thing.
Here is the article, which is thorough and a bit long, written by Samuel with some editing by Jonathon and me.
https://bit.ly/DW-article