A progress report on Western Jurisdiction visioning and an invitation as we expand the table

Greetings Western Jurisdiction Friends,

Even without General Conference, the Western Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church has been hard at work living into the future we believe God has called us to. From your episcopal leaders to your delegations, from the mission cabinet to writing teams, we’ve been talking and praying and working.

The Lord has given this diverse group of leaders the opportunity to see the hope of the future promised in Jeremiah 29:11. As first elects, we wanted to share with each of our conferences a brief statement of activities.

Here’s some of what we’ve been up to:

• Leading into a special called session of the Western Jurisdiction in July, our jurisdictional Mission Cabinet formed five workgroups to look at the future of our jurisdiction. These workgroups examined our mission, the role of the episcopacy, how we might live into “permeable boundaries,” and our administrative and financial oversight.
• In that July special session, delegates decided to give the first elected delegates in the Western Jurisdiction the responsibility to see the workgroup reports into potential legislation. This action transferred responsibility to the delegations that were elected by each conference.
• These five reports have now been consolidated down to four:
  • Mission Statement Report
  • Permeable Boundaries Report
  • Episcopacy Report
  • Structure, Organization and Financial Considerations Report
• Most of our delegations have been meeting once a month with the first elects meeting every two weeks to consider the future of the Western Jurisdiction.

And now, your first elected delegates invite our delegations, conferences, and interested parties to submit insights and questions by reaching out to your delegations. Moreover, we invite you to “save the dates” of November 13, 2021 and January 8, 2022 for two opportunities to join with others across the jurisdiction and explore these reports in an open forum, get feedback, and begin looking toward future priorities and legislation.

We know that God is not done with us and that the Spirit is moving us forward.

May grace and peace and health be with you all,

Your First Elected Delegates,