United Methodists Invited to Join in Celebrating a Generous Church

United Methodist Communications
Office of Public Information
810 12th Ave. S.
Nashville, TN 37203
www.umcpresscenter.org

For Immediate Release
April 5, 2007

Contact:
Diane Denton(615) 742-5406
Marsha Base(615) 329-3393

United Methodists Invited to Join in Celebrating a Generous Church

NASHVILLE United Methodists are invited to join in a town hall meeting Celebrating A Generous Church! via teleconference on April 17, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. CDT.

The event will bring together key church leaders to discuss findings from a new report entitled "This is Our Story," as well as to talk about the four "provocative propositions"-leadership development, congregational development, ministry with the poor, and global health. Participants will also hear stories about remarkable United Methodist churches having an impact in the world.

"This is Our Story" is a new report produced by the General Council on Finance and Administration that portrays where the church is and where it's going.

"The United Methodist Church is working together congregations, annual conferences, agencies, and bishops in new and exciting ways to reach out and touch people in the name of Jesus Christ," said Sandra Lackore, top executive of the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA). "We're seeing a renewed commitment to supporting ministries across the church."

The "provocative propositions" were developed by the general agencies and commissions in support of the Council of Bishops' vision pathways. Chosen through careful research, the four proposals represent areas where the boards and agencies will work collaboratively in new, positive ways to focus the church's spiritual and financial resources.

A portion of the event will be devoted to an interactive question and answer session with the audience and panelists.

Listeners are encouraged to congregate in small groups to participate in the call, then perhaps to have their own discussion afterwards,but you need not be part of a group to join in.

WHO: Bishop Janice Riggle Huie, Council of Bishops
Sandra Lackore, General Council on Finance and Administration
Jerome Del Pino, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry
Randy Day, General Board of Global Ministries
Karen Greenwaldt, General Board of Discipleship
Jim Winkler, General Board of Church and Society
Larry Hollon, United Methodist Communications

WHAT: A roundtable discussion celebrating where we are as a denomination

HOW: Call toll-free 1-800-868-1846 and enter participant code 63761235

WHEN: April 17, 2007, 2:00 p.m. CDT

For more information, call Diane Denton at (615)742-5406.