GLENN WAGNER & MARSHA WOOLLEY
Design Team co-chairs
The Design Team for a New Conference met again on January 12 in preparation for the Listening Sessions that are coming up across the Michigan Area, beginning January 29 in Saginaw (please see schedule of Listening Sessions below).
Several key items are ready for your input and feedback as we approach these listening sessions.
Following a process led by consultant, Twila Glenn, and thorough conversation in additional meetings, the Design team recommends the following as our Vision for the new conference.
The United Methodist Conference in Michigan:
- Bold, Effective Leaders
- Vital Congregations
- Christ-Centered Ministry and Mission
This recommendation for a name for the new conference comes at this time because the North Central Jurisdiction needs it by April 4, 2016 in preparation for Jurisdictional Conference this July. We are recommending that the new conference be named, “The Michigan Conference.”
The Design Team also heard from the two Chancellors of our conferences, Andrew Vorbrich (West Michigan) and Renard Kolasa (Detroit) regarding the corporate and legal issues that need our attention as we come together as one conference. During their presentation, we learned that DAC is a corporation, while WMC is not.
WMC trustees are incorporated and they are the body that owns the real estate of the WMC. While it would be possible to keep the DAC Tax ID# and corporate status and change the name to that of the new conference, the Design team has voted to create a new corporation with a new ID#, thus creating a truly new entity.
We are very grateful to our chancellors who have put together a comprehensive list of items that need our attention as we move toward becoming one. Our treasurers and conference trustees will be helping us as well.
Invitations are out to all the agencies in both conferences, asking them to come together for conversation about how they might work together moving forward. Members of the Design Team will be present for these joint meetings. We are greatly encouraged by the number of groups that have already begun this conversation.
ALL ARE INVITED! We encourage you to attend one of the scheduled Listening Sessions being held across the state. We are eager to hear your comments, concerns and suggestions!
- Saturday, January 30, 2016, 10-12 noon at Saginaw First UMC 4790 Gratiot Rd Saginaw, MI 48638. (989) 799-0131; [email protected]
- Thursday, February 18, 2016, 7-9 pm at Southfield Hope UMC 6275 Northwestern Hwy Southfield, MI 48076 (248) 356-1020; [email protected]
- Monday, February 29, 2016 7-9 pm at First UMC of Kalamazoo 212 South Park Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 (269) 381-6340;
- Saturday, March 12, 10-12 noon at Cornerstone UMC 1675 84th St SE Caledonia, MI 49316 (616) 698-3170; http://www.cornerstonemi.org/contact-us
- Wednesday, April 27, 6:30-8:30 pm at Grayling Michelson Memorial UMC 400 Michigan Avenue. Grayling, MI 49738 (989) 348-2974; [email protected]
- Thursday, April 28 6:30-8:30 pm at Memorial United Methodist Church, Gladstone, 1920 Lake Shore Drive Gladstone, Michigan 49837 (906) 428-9311; [email protected]
The event in Southfield will be video-taped and posted after the event on our Michigan Area website. The event at Cornerstone in Grand Rapids will be live-streamed with opportunity for remote online participation from anywhere in the State. A link for the live-stream will be posted for persons wishing to connect and to offer feedback.
Last Updated on December 29, 2022