Pastors of large churches gathered to envision the future of their congregations, themselves, and the Iowa Conference. Coming together for the annual fall session, more than fifty of the conference’s pastors engaged in a day of worship, receiving and responding to Vision 2032, and sharing in some frank and open conversation with each other and the Bishop.
Rev. Richard Boatman welcomed the group to Oakwood UMC in Pleasant Hill, where he is the lead pastor.
A faithful journey
Focusing on Psalm 91 and other scriptures, Rev. Bill Poland invited all to journey “Into the Great Unknown.” Poland, who is the Director of New Faith Communities, observed, “We're standing at the entrance of something different, something unknown.”
“If we look with human eyes everywhere we look we see obstacles. We see a society that is completely divided and animosity with itself not just here in the United States but throughout the world. We see a church culture that is in decline,” Poland noted.
Click here to see images from the gathering
In contrast, he added, “What I see is a world ahead of us that is a new and unknown calling for us to be faithful to God and to reinvent ourselves as the church...not according to what we think best, but according to what God is already doing.”
The church of John Welsey’s time and current day have similarities, according to Poland. “It was just over 200 years now, when John Wesley, who was part of the Church of England, looked out into the world around them that was also in a rapidly changing culture.”
Click here to listen to Rev. Bill Poland's sermon
Like our Methodist predecessors, we have the capacity to venture into the future - “We have enough faith to get past our fear and go where God is going, forgetting what other people might think of us, or what will happen to our church buildings. With faith, with belief, we can journey into the unknown.”
In a closing prayer, the pastors of large churches expressed a hopeful commitment, “You have created as a new enterprise, and having trusted us with the task of living out this newness of life, so that others will also come.”
Vision 2032
Bishop Laurie Haller shared her “Vision 2032” for the Iowa Conference. As she has with lay and clergy of two districts prior to the pastors of large churches gathering, and as the Conference Connectional Ministries Council and Conference staff have already heard, “We’re in a time right now in THe United Methodist Church were it seems as if we are looking into a mirror dimly...It is such an uncertain time ...and we’re not sure what will happen at the 2020 General Conference next May.”
Vision 2032 includes several observations:
After being briefed on some of the recent reductions and realignments, the pastors of large churches were invited to consider two questions: (1) What concerns do you have for our future as United Methodists; and (2)What excites you for our future as Iowa United Methodists?
Persons interested in becoming a part of the prayer ministry supporting Vision 2032 can share their intention via email at vision2032@iaumc.org. Questions, comments, and additional insights can be also be sent to that email address.