ON THE 2009-2012 QUADRENNIUM
Advocate Article
for October 2008 Issue
ON THE 2009-2012 QUADRENNIUM
Every member of the Council of Bishops has been asked to share this message with their Annual Conferences. Below are some of the major goals that will guide The United Methodist Church and the Council of Bishops for the next four years. They were supported by the 2008 General Conference.
Our Mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Seven pathways will focus our disciple-making: Develop new congregations, Transforming existing congregations, Strengthening clergy and lay leadership, Teaching the Wesleyan model of reaching and forming disciples, Reaching and transforming the lives of new generations of children, Eliminating poverty in community with the poor and Expanding our racial and ethnic ministries
Our General Boards and Agencies (e.g. the General Boards of Church and Society, Global Ministries, Higher Education and Ministry, Discipleship, Pensions and agencies such as the United Methodist Publishing House, the Commissions on the Status and Role of Women, Religion and Race, Christian Unity and Communications, etc.) will focus their disciple-making efforts on four focus areas namely Leadership, Congregational Development, Elimination of Poverty and Global Health.
Observations: First, every church in the Michigan Area is directly engaged in the mission of the church and a number of the pathways. Let us celebrate that, flaming the fire of making disciples for the transformation of the world. Second, neither the four focus areas nor the seven pathways represent the totality of our ministry as a denomination. Our mission is far reaching and multi-faceted. May we continue to pursue all areas with a new sense of passion and enthusiasm.
As a member of the Council of Bishops, I have covenanted to provide leadership in these focus areas and pathways. Here are my primary assignments for the next four years. With regard to boards, agencies or committees, I am on Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century Coordinating Committee and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Within the Council, I serve on the Teaching Concerns, the General Conference Worship, the District Superintendent/Director of Connectional Ministries committees and function as a member of the North Central College of Bishops. In my Area assignment, I am blessed to serve as the resident Bishop of the Michigan Area. The entire state comprises the Michigan Area. But the area includes two conferences: Detroit and West Michigan. May we excel at reaching deep and wide to all with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
THANK YOU
The Keaton family wishes to express its deep gratitude to the Michigan Area for the tremendous, work, dedication and teamwork expressed in the past four years. And we are grateful that the North Central Jurisdictional Episcopacy Committee assigned us to the Michigan Area for another four year term. We have learned much about the work and dedication of thousands of Michiganders to the ministry and mission of Jesus Christ. We are blessed to be among you. Pray that God will bless us to accomplish far more than we can imagine or think on behalf of Christ and His church. Thanks again for all your kindness and love. We feel it and know it in countless ways. God is good.