2009 has been a busy year for United Methodists!  Following our 2008 General Conference, every Annual Conference in United Methodism is voting on 32 potential Constitutional Amendments.  For many months, your Confessing Movement leadership has been at work praying, educating and preparing folks to respond to these critical issues facing our denomination.

     I want to express my deepest appreciation to our Executive Director, Senator Patricia Miller, our Associate Directors (Dr. Bill Bouknight and Dr. Riley Case) and our former President The Rev. Rob Renfroe.  While the final outcome of these vital votes is still unknown, I want to celebrate the outstanding effort put forth by our team.  Conference Coordinators and workers have given their best in this important endeavor.  Anyone familiar with these Constitutional Amendments has to understand the critical nature of this work.

     The leadership team has done a remarkable job, communicating about these potential amendments!  The keys have been: prayerful strategizing, building grass-roots communication and work teams, and diligent follow-up.  Praise God for all who have participated in this vital ministry!

     As I think about the future of the Confessing Movement within The United Methodist Church, I am excited!  I am encouraged…as I remember our commitment to connect with people who are sometimes referred to as the “Methodist Middle,” those who choose not to align with any caucus group.  Those in the “Methodist Middle” are going to have much to say about the future of our great denomination.  Some suggest, and I tend to agree, “Their votes will be determinative!”  We will continue our educational efforts to help those of the “Methodist Middle” see how much they have in common with the mission of The Confessing Movement!

     Your Confessing Movement Board of Directors are committed to being proactive, not reactive!  From the beginning of our work together in The Confessing Movement, this has been our focus!  We have, and will continue to accentuate the positives of our great denomination, and work together to continue the faithful doctrinal distinctives of United Methodism.

     We will continue to remember who we are…United Methodist Christians committed to: Jesus…the uniquely divine Son of God, the only Savior of the world, and the Lord of all.  We commit ourselves to make sure our ministry is faithful to scripture.  In contrast to Gretta Vosper’s beliefs, described in her book: With or without God: Why the Way We Live is More Important than What We Believe, our desire is to live by the precepts of Scriptural holiness, to preach it and invite all to a Scriptural wedding of right belief and right action!!

Dr. John Ed Mathison, current Board Member of The Confessing Movement and former President, has launched a new ministry called John Ed Mathison Leadership Ministries.  His goal is to provide opportunities to train pastors and laity to become leaders in transforming the world!  Please visit his website at www.johnedmathison.org for more information.