Last Saturday New ACT met in Baldwinsville, NY for its monthly meeting. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say we made more decisions that day then we've made in months, not because we've been indecisive, but because now is the time.
Up until now New ACT's work has been focused on tasking various Planning Teams and task forces with developing the structures, policies and programs we need to get going as a new annual conference. These teams and task forces have gotten right on this work and now they're ready for New ACT to evaluate and approve their proposals. Last Saturday New ACT received, examined and approved several of these proposals.
In subsequent posts I'll talk about the details involved in these specific proposals. Right now, let me share the general process of evaluation and approval we started using this past Saturday. As we began to look at various proposals I asked New ACT to imagine our process as kind of like inspecting a train as it pulls into a station as part of a long journey. New ACT is charged with seeing that this "train" (i.e., proposal) is on track with our stated vision and purpose. Its not our job to redo or rethink the proposal, but to make sure it's solid and moving us in the right direction.
Several outcomes of this "inspection" are possible. 1) New ACT might like the proposal in its entirety and send "that train" on its way to the June 19, 2010 Uniting Conference for final approval; or 2) we might affirm some parts of the proposal to be sent forward, but refer some pieces (cars?) back to the planning team or task force for reconsideration. In a few cases where decisions need to be implemented now rather than later, New ACT might act in a third way and enact the proposal immediately.
Check back here soon for specifics about some of the proposals we've "sent down the tracks."
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I am a Certified Candidate for Ministry and have hope to attend Local Pastor School this coming spring. It would be helpful to know if the New Act has addressed the issue of at least where and possibly when the next Local Pastor School program(s) will take place within the new Conference. Might this decision even fall into the 3rd category you mentioned, namely the team has gone ahead and made the decision and not waited for the Uniting Conference?
ReplyDeleteThanks for any information you may have.
Mike Asbury
Calvary UMC Latham
Home phone: 518-729-4526
Mike,
ReplyDeleteGreat question. We have a Planning Team called "UNYBOOM" which stands for Upper New York Board of Ordained Ministry working on Board issues. I will forward your question to Rev. Lynne Spence, the convener for UNYBOOM>
And thanks for checking out this blog. I'd really like it to be more widely read. Could you tell 5 or 6 people to check it out? Over the next few months a lot of information will be shared (and discussed) on this site.
Any chance that the train will derail before pulling into the next station? Is there a pit crew with the right equipment to put it back on the rails?
ReplyDelete