IntroductionYou must join the group before you can post to the group: To join the Res-Net E-mail Group Subscribe: Res-Net-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
History of ResNet and Day of Listening Models
By action of the Virginia Annual Conference, 12 of the19 resolutions published in the 2006 Book of Reports were referred to the Common Table by the following motion: “[move to] refer the remaining resolutions to the Common Table for consideration of opportunities to learn, pray, and act in conferencing as appropriate under the guidance of our Common Table leadership, inviting local churches for participation.” The Common Table has named a task force whose mandate is to assist the annual conference in dealing with the left-over resolutions. Task force members are: Mr. Larry Burian, United Methodist Men’s conference president; Ms. Bernadette Mabanglo, young adult lay member; the Rev. Ileana Rosas, pastor of Gracia UMC; the Rev. Mark Ogren, Ashland District superintendent; and Mr. James Branscome, former conference treasurer and lay member from Good Shepherd UMC.
On July 27, the task force met and was joined by two staff members, Dr. Susan Garrett and Ms. Carole Vaughn, executive editor of the Virginia Advocate and director of communications. After reviewing over 150 e-mails and letters from local church members that had been solicited by the Common Table, the task force agreed that the focus of their work was to provide mechanisms and resources to assist faithful United Methodists to explore the issues raised by the resolutions. A proposed plan for future action includes: 1. A conference electronic discussion group (e-group) called “Res-Net” (for Resolutions Net) will be established to allow views to be expressed by anyone wishing to participate in the discussion. A link to information about the resolutions will be posted on www.vaumc.org , the homepage of the Virginia Conference. The twelve resolutions will be posted there in their entirety, along with any relevant Disciplinary paragraphs. The task force plans to solicit statements from the makers of each resolution and a statement from the board or agency to which each resolution had been referred. When the e-group is established, the Common Table will send out a notice providing information on how to sign up for Res-Net with links to the appropriate webpages. 2. Because some of the resolutions are time-sensitive, the task force also plans to produce a model and DVD resource that would be available to be distributed by mid-fall for a “Day of Listening” that could be used by local churches, districts, or regional gatherings. Other venues might include a district training event or a district ministers meeting. One possibility being discussed would be to divide the twelve resolutions into four categories for the purpose of discussion: marriage amendment/laws; Task Force Chair, the Rev. Mark Ogren, stated that “Christian conferencing includes listening closely to God, listening respectfully to one another and trusting that the Holy Spirit will guide our next steps. Our leftover resolutions are calling us to be God’s people who pray together, learn together and act together in ways that model Christian conferencing for our world. “ Although the Common Table cannot vote on the resolutions, since that is reserved for the conference in annual session, the Common Table Task Force trusts that it is on the path to addressing the leftover resolutions from 2006 Annual Conference. Thoughts, insights, and comments are welcomed and needed. Send letters to the Office of Connectional Ministries, P.O. Box 1719, Glen Allen, VA 23060 or send an e-mail to SusanGarrett@vaumc.org. Rev. Mark Ogren Dr. Susan Garrett
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