Future of The United Methodist Clergywomen’s Consultation

by HiRho Y. Park
Director of Continuing Formation for Ministry

Demographics of UM Clergywomen

There were a total of 8,892 UM clergywomen at the close of 2006 (total number of active clergy in the UMC is 32,742)
  • 1,050 racial-ethnic clergywomen
  • 128 women district superintendents
  • 1% of clergywomen are serving 1,000+ membership churches (6% of male clergy are serving 1,000+ membership churches)
(from Clergywomen’s Local Church Appointments: 2006 study by Michelle Fugate)

The United Methodist Clergywomen’s Consultation in a Global Context

Brief Summary of the 2006 Consultation Evaluation
  • In-depth discussions on issues that clergywomen face in their own contexts
  • More cohesiveness and support among clergywomen in their regions
  • More leadership from women bishops and District Superintendents
  • Need of having African and European UM clergywomen’s own gatherings
  • Opportunities to listen to global issues
  • Organize and mobilize clergywomen on jurisdictional level
  • Substantial participation of Central Conference representatives
  • True inclusivity beyond superficial multiculturalism
“How can the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry respond to these yearnings of clergywomen of the Church?”

Challenges

  • Globalization
  • Particularity of clergywomen communities within the Church

Significance of the Need of a New Structure

Glocalization: Sociologist Roland Robertson refined the word ‘glocalization’ in 1997. It describes the attempt to encompass both local and universal socio-economic tendencies without losing the authenticity of the locality. In other words: Think globally, act locally.

Regional United Methodist Clergywomen’s Consultation: Every four years

Five Jurisdictions (U.S) / African Continent / European Continent
  • GBHEM will provide a grant for each jurisdictional (U.S) / African Continent / European Continent Clergywomen’s Consultation.
  • Female Bishops and/or District Superintendent(s) will be responsible for carrying out the plan
  • Structure of gathering is up to the planning team of the region
  • Each regional clergywomen’s consultation is accountable to the GBHEM office of the Continuing Formation for Ministry in terms of process and budget.
  • The proposed year for the first gathering is 2010

Global United Methodist Clergywomen’s Consultation: Every eight years

  • GBHEM will be responsible of carrying out the plan
  • GBHEM will accumulate budget each year toward this gathering
  • The goal of the Consultation is to bring global clergywomen communities of the UMC together to listen to and learn from each other.
  • The Consultation plenary will be designed around the issues that each regional consultation brings to the table
  • The proposed year for the first gathering is 2014

The Glocal* Structure of the UM Clergywomen’s Consultation

*The attempt to encompass both local and universal socio-economic tendencies without losing the authenticity of the locality.

This new structure will

  • give ownership to clergywomen
  • provide a sense of responsibility for clergywomen
  • increase accountability
  • allow more clergywomen to participate
  • reduce the expenses of the Church.

For More Information Contact:

HiRho Park
Director of Clergy Lifelong Learning
Phone: 615-340-7409
Email: hpark@gbhem.org



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