Conversation on a Way Forward Resources
Bishop Laurie's Fall Gathering Handouts, Audio and Video
Bishop Laurie Haller traveled across the state of Iowa to update the conference on the three plans being voted on at the Special Called General Conference in Feb. 2019. Sessions were held in each district. You can download the following resources for conversations in your own church.
Complete PDF of Handout
Bulleted Outline of COWF Three Plans and Praying Our Way Forward Pause for Prayer sample
Local Church Sample Agenda
Embury UMC Video
Personal Testimony by Joe Nixon Video
A letter from a Mother Audio
Resources from the Commission
Download the PDF or Power Point of the presentation.
In its continued efforts to inform The United Methodist Church on its processes and work, the Commission on a Way Forward created the following videos that document the experiences, hopes, dreams, concerns, approach, and learnings of the 32-member Commission.
The videos released are:
- Commission on A Way Forward Moderators Overview: Bishops Sandra Steiner Ball, David Yemba and Ken Carter share an overview of their role as moderators for the Commission and how service was one of their primary focus. (Length 5:35).
You Tube https://youtu.be/5tOGnPrLqKg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umcforward/videos/2114673678815014/
- Jasmine Smothers, Julie Hager Love and Tom Berlinare all Commission members who are also clergy serving in the SEJ. In this interview they reflect on their experience and their hopes for the future of the United Methodist Church. (Length 5:46).
YouTube: https://youtu.be/85KP5qxfCpA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umcforward/videos/2114649482150767/
- Dave Nuckols (laity, Minnesota) and Helen Cunanan (clergy, Philippines)- have a conversation about the Commission on A Way Forward sharing their experiences from very different places in the world. (Length 7:50).
YouTube: https://youtu.be/pJCPnFqQgUU
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umcforward/videos/2114658032149912/
- Bishops Gregory Palmer and Robert Schnase, who are members of the Commission, talk about how the work of the Commission points to the larger mission of The United Methodist Church. (Length 5:35).
YouTube https://youtu.be/52EVb7wuva8
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umcforward/videos/2114658685483180/
- "Gil Rendle: a parable for today" is a video featuring Commission on A Way Forward Consultant Gil Rendle. Gil shares a story that illustrates the difference between positions and interests. When we are able to move from holding onto our positions to seeking to understand each other’s underlying interests we are better able to move forward together. (length 5:14).
Gil provides these questions for reflection:
- How can I become more aware of my own interests so that I am not confined from seeing more by my own position?
- How (and with whose help) can I listen for the interests of others?
- Download the video here; watch on YouTube.
- Gil Rendle gives an overview of the "Purpose, Principles and Importance of the work of the Commission on a Way Forward." This video was recorded during the final May 2018 Commission meeting of the Commission on A Way Forward and gives an in depth theological and technical overview of the work of the commission that helps to frame the work that is being asked of the delegates to the February 2019 General Conference. (length 54:18).
Gil provides these questions for reflection:
- What is the new way in which I should approach my leadership in shaping the future mission of the church?
- Who should I seek to serve in my decision making about the future?
- What are the values that will best serve the purpose of the whole church in the future?
- Download the video here; watch on YouTube.
- Bishop Grant Hagiya, a member of the Commission on A Way Forward, shares reflections about the book "Anatomy of Peace." Bishop Hagiya shares why the principles of this book help us make a fundamental shift from battleground to a place where people can have open and honest dialogue with one another. (length 5:44)
- Donna Pritchard (clergy, Pacific Northwest Conference), Tom Salsgiver (clergy, Susquehanna Conference) and Leah Taylor (laity, Texas Conference) are all Commission on A Way Forward members. They share reflections on their work, the value of connection and the relationships they formed during their time together on the Commission. (length 7:02)
About the Commission: The 32-member Commission on a Way Forward was appointed by the Council of Bishops to assist the bishops in their charge from the 2016 General Conference to lead the church forward amid the present impasse related to LGBTQ inclusion and resulting questions about the unity of the church.
For more information on the Commission on a Way Forward, visit umc.org/wayforward.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/umcforward
Twitter: @UMCForward
Instagram: www.instagram.com/umcforward
Books
- Browson, James V. Bible, Gender, Sexuality: Reframing the Church’s Debate on Same-Sex Relationships
- Carter, Ken. Embracing the Wideness; The Shared Convictions of The United Methodist Church
- Covey, Steven. The Speed of Trust; The One Thing that Changes Everything
- Cramer, Philip F. and Harbison, William L. The Fight for Marriage – Church Conflicts and Courtroom Contests
- DeYoung, Kevin. What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality?
- Field, David N. Our Purpose is Love; The Wesleyan Way to be the Church
- Field, David N. Bid Our Jarring Conflicts Cease; A Wesleyan Theology and Praxis of Church Unity
- Hansen, Adolf. Is It Time? – Helping Lay and Clergy Discuss Homosexuality One Question at a Time
- Hirsch, Debra. Redeeming Sex: Naked Conversations About Sexuality and Spirituality
- Huertas, Juan, Rawle, Matt, and Simpson, Katie McKay. The Marks of Hope
- Job, Rueben P and Alexander, Neil M., eds. Finding Our Way-Love and Law in The United Methodist Church
- Milford, Brian K., ed. Holy Contradictions; What’s Next for the People Called Methodists
- Oliveto, Karen P. Our Strangely Warmed Hearts
- Renfroe, Rob and Fenton, Walter. Are We Really Better Together; An Evangelical Perspective on the Division in The UMC
- Schmidt, Thomas. Straight & Narrow? Compassion & Clarity in the Homosexuality Debate
- The Arbinger Institute. The Anatomy of Peace; Resolving the Heart of Conflict
- VanderWal-Gritter, Wendy. Generous Spaciousness: Responding to Gay Christians in the Church
Small Group Study
Resource information
Praying Our Way Forward
Point of View Resources
Videos
Commission on a Way Forward video resources
- Rendle, Gil. A parable for today.
- Rendle, Gil. An Overview of the Work of the Commission on a Way Forward.
- Hagiya, Grant. Reflections on “The Anatomy of Peace.”
- Pritchard, Donna, Salsgiver, Tom, and Taylor, Leigh. Reflections on the work and relationships formed while serving on the Commission
- Steiner Ball, Sandra, Yemba, David, and Carter, Ken. Commission on A Way Forward moderators overview.
- Smothers, Jasmine, Hager Love, Julie, and Berlin, Tom. Reflecting on the experience of being on the Commission.
- Nuckols, Dave and Cunanan, Helen. Commission on a Way Forward experiences.
- Palmer, Gregory, and Schnase, Robert. The Work of the Commission points to the larger mission of The United Methodist Church.
- Miller, Patricia and Berryman, Matt. Experiences serving on the Commission on a Way Forward.
- Machinga, Mazvita, Field, David, and Lee, Myungrae Kim. Thoughts about the work of the Commission.
- Patricia Miller and Matt Berryman. Serving together on the Commission on A Way Forward.
- Council of Bishop on the One Church Plan (5 minute video)
- Timeline on UMC stance on homosexuality
Other Resources
