The UM Decision 2004 team effort

The gathering in Pittsburgh marked the eighth General Conference where Good News was actively involved in the proceedings.

A team of more than 40 persons gathered at the Westin Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh for the eleven-day legislative marathon. Dr. Scott and Lynda Field assumed leadership of the UMDecision 2004 team-a coalition of evangelicals from Good News, the Confessing Movement, Lifewatch, the Renew Women's Network, Transforming Congregations, and UMAction. Other organizations, such as the Mission Society for United Methodists, were non-political affiliates. Dr. Field has been pastor of the Wheatland-Salem United Methodist Church in Naperville, Illinois, for more than twenty years.

More than two years ago, the legislative strategy team began to identify the important issues facing the church, prepare petitions, and submit them into the pipeline.

Our objectives: As you know, we printed our objectives in Good News magazine prior to this General Conference. We also sent a year's subscription of Good News to all general and jurisdictional conference delegates.

Breakfast briefings: Good News hosted a briefing for delegates each day at 6:45 a.m. when anywhere from 250 to 420 persons trudged in after a short night's rest for a meal and inspiration. Evangelist Wes Putnam led the gathering in worship and praise songs. After going through the breakfast buffet, delegates listened to the carefully prepared briefing on the issues coming up that day. Good News board members, the Rev. Tom Lambrecht (with indispensable help from the Rev. David Flagel), and Scott Field gave leadership

each morning, with presentations several mornings by various delegates concerned with specific legislation.

Team Room Hospitality: Each day, the UMDecision 2004 team met for lunch and again late in the evening to report from legislative committees and/or floor action. Lynda Field, assisted by Kris Lindon, were wonderful hostesses for the team, having lunches ready for the team (provided graciously by a local UM congregation) and snacks and munchies for the late evening session.

Focus Newsletter: This is our fourth General Conference to publish a daily Focus newsletter, distributed in front of the convention center each morning. Focus was filled with news, analysis, and devotional material from inspirational Christians.

Prayer: In Pittsburgh, there was a wonderful prayer room set up at the convention center and operated by the General Conference with the guidance of Pennsylvania pastors, the Rev. John Seth of Harmony-Zelienople UM Church in Zelienople, and the Rev. Dr. Josephine Whiley-Fields of Emory UM Church in Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, the UMDecision 2004 team was keeping prayer partners aware through a nationwide e-mail network. We communicated with intercessors and prayer groups in churches all over the country. 

Hospitality: UMDecision 2004 sponsored a hospitality suite at the Westin Hotel so that delegates and guests could find information and encouragement. Numerous renewal groups had displays in the suite, offering helpful materials, some of which addressed issues before the conference.

Through General Conference luncheons, the UMDecision 2004 team was able to address a variety of issues of great interest to delegates. The Renew Women's Network hosted a lunch in order to talk about ministry to women, the Women's Division, and the Call to Reform. Guest speakers included Faye Short, Janice Crouse, and Judy Graham. The Transforming Congregations movement held a lunch in order to talk about ministry to those who struggle with homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, and transgenderism.

Our friends at UMAction hosted a lunch addressing the issue of international religious liberty and persecution with Dr. Paul Marshall from Freedom House. They also hosted a lunch with Professor Robert Gagnon, author of the exhaustive work The Bible and Homosexual Practice (Abingdon), addressing the issue of homosexuality.

As the eleven-day event came to an end, our team sensed once again the profound gratitude we owe to Scott and Lynda Field, who invested so much of themselves in the UMDecision 2004 team in Pittsburgh.

-Good News Editorial Team

Click here to send your response plus the title of this article to us at Good News.