Sunday into Monday

First, a big thanks to Scott for that wonderful list of GC bloggers. Many might be more up to date and detail oriented than ours. My goal as I blog the next few days is to give you a view on some of the legislation that came from UMCMA and a few personal stories from someone intensely concerned about Campus Ministry but still very new to the GC procedures. Submitted by Rob Kirby.

Sunday was a good day for UMCMA legislation. I number of our petitions were struggling to get through sub-committees. As an example, one of our top priorities about the dissolution of Wesley Foundations came out of sub-committee with an 11 to 7 defeat (Excuse me we are not using that language), “recommendation to reject.” As the legislation came before the Ministry and Higher Education Legislative Committee, a friend of campus ministry submitted a substitute motion that addressed the concerns that had been raised but still maintained all of our central desires of the legislation. The committee overwhelmingly approved this substitute motion. For those new to the process, this means that it, along with much of legislation will move to the General Conference floor on the consent calendar. A couple of pieces of legislation that appear to be grounded to the reject calendar include,
the removal of equivalent structures language and mandating Annual Conference Boards of Higher Education (petitions 80873 ¶633.1 through 80879 ¶633.4d.)
the encouragement to elect college students as lay delegates to General and Jurisdiction conferences. The rational that swayed the subcommittee was that provision is already made for youth and young adults. (80888 ¶633.4d13)
Legislation that appears to be very promising include:
Clarifying the intent of the current paragraph as to the establishment of campus ministry presence without permission (petition 80871 ¶341.4)
Creating a list of responsibilities of the Board of Directors for a Wesley Foundation or local campus ministry unit (petition 80880 ¶633)
Development of policies for the management and financial oversight of annual conference program of campus ministry in accord with standards developed by GBHEM. Establishing standards and national searches to provide for excellence in university ministries. Establishing policies for the financing and construction of any campus ministry building in accord with standards set by GBHEM. Establishing procedures for campus ministry starts. Procedures to discontinue a Wesley Foundation or campus ministry unit. Encouraging the creation or permanent endowments funds for Wesley Foundations, University chaplaincies and campus ministry units. Collection of names and addresses of college students. (80881-80887 ¶633.4d)
Legislation to allow for full time service in campus ministry stting to meet the requirements of admission to full connection and ordination (with amendments) (81278 ¶335)
Providing a means for college students answering the call to ministry to be recommended but a campus ministry board of directors to enter the ordination process (with amendments) (81548 ¶311.2b)

I will try and update specific pieces of legislation as it is made available.

UP COMING BLOG- A COLLEGE STUDENT SPEAKS WONDERFULLY TO THE NEED FOR CANDIDACY THROUGH A CAMPUS MINISTRY.