Council to develop plan for marketing Annual Conference.

The Annual Conference Council, meeting March 9 in Elgin, Ill., approved the naming of a ministry team to develop a plan for marketing future Annual Conferences, reported secretary Fred Swartz. The council also plans to present a final draft of a strategic plan for Annual Conference, including goals for the next five years, to the 2005 Standing Committee.

The need for a marketing plan arises out of the council's desire to promote a wider knowledge of Annual Conference among the denomination's membership and to insure a growing base of support. A "marketing ministry team" will be appointed by the council following approval of a job description for the team. It is expected that the team will include seasoned and new Annual Conference participants, as well as people who can relate to congregational issues.

In other business the council took action aimed at clarifying the role of a denominational "spokesperson" and unified representation for the denomination. The council agreed to draft a document asking the 2005-07 Review and Evaluation Committee, which will be appointed at this year's Annual Conference, to revisit the issue in light of the multiple-agency structure that has followed the redesign of the General Board. Previously, the general secretary of the General Board was the designated spokesperson for all matters concerning denominational participation or response, Swartz said. "The Review and Evaluation Committee report of 2001 seems to confirm this position at one point, but then also refers to other agency heads as authorized to speak `even in ecumenical circles' on matters relating to programs managed by that agency," he reported. "Further, in its recommendation on `Who Speaks for the Church' the committee refers to denominational polity that names the Annual Conference moderator as 'the official representative of the church.'" The council will ask the 2005-07 Review and Evaluation Committee to be more specific in its consideration of the issue.

The council continued to pursue answers to questions concerning ministry presented in the 2003 "Query of Clarification of Confusion." The General Board's Ministry Office provided the council with a reference guide to existing statements on ministry. The council voted to seek a more comprehensive understanding of ministry to satisfy the deep issues raised by the query. The council hopes to secure a wider discussion of the issue with district executives, the director of the Ministry Office, and others.

Source: 03/30/2005 Newsline