News

Report on the

Southeastern Jurisdiction Evangelical Forum

Simpsonwood Conference Center

Norcross, GA

September 1-2, 1998

There were 147 persons, lay and clergy, who attended the Forum, including persons from six UMC renewal organizations. All SEJ conferences were represented, as well as all UMC Jurisdictions. A list of attendees, organized by conference, is included with this packet.

Attached is a listing of the major areas of concern identified by the attendees. Additional issue areas were recognized, and will also be reviewed by representatives from each conference.

It was decided that each conference would select one clergy person and one lay person to represent the conference at the next meeting where action steps related to the issues will be identified. This group will also decide on the future organization, meeting frequency, and content of future Forum sessions. That meeting of conference representatives will be held at the Simpsonwood Conference Center (800-238-8685) on November 16-17, starting at noon on Monday and ending at noon on Tuesday. A list of conference representatives is included with this packet. Please contact your conference representative with any questions, comments, or concerns.

We thank all of you who attended this meeting. We are gratified that so many of you responded, and feel certain that the Lord will use this group to help address the real issues now confronting our church.

Included in this packet is a listing of less frequently mentioned issue areas coming from the September 1 -2 Forum. They are included for your review at the November 16-17 meeting.

Also included in this packet for your consideration is a letter drafted by Jai Gibson of the SGA Conference. It is intended as a word of encouragement from the SEJ to our brothers and sisters in the CA-NV Conference. You may want to take action on this.

The agenda for the meeting will be available when you arrive at Simpsonwood.

Overnight

$63 (single) or $51 (double), plus tax

Nov. 17: $15

Commuters

Nov. 16: $15 with lunch, $10 without lunch

Nov. 17: $10

All meals, breaks, and meeting room costs are included. Please let Allan Burns know of your intention to come and room accommodations / roommate desired by October 28. He will be unavailable November 2-11 due to a mission trip to Paraguay. Do not try and make your reservation directly with Simpsonwood: they work only through the group representative.

Allan and Senie Burns
2140 Bayview Point Lane
Cape Charles, VA 23310-1994

Office: 757-331 -1935
Fax: 757-331 -1935
E-mail: AllanBurns@aol.com

Southeastern Jurisdiction Evangelical Forum

Major Issues Identified

1 ) Need for accountability

• Bishops

• General Church Officers

• Pastors

• How and when to bring charges

2) Apportionments

• to withhold or not

• voluntary apportionments

• need for large church leadership

3) Stronger statement related to Biblical Authority

4) Seminaries

• Quadrennial theological audit

• Episcopal oversight

• Church take steps to reclaim seminaries, especially Duke and Emory

5) Episcopacy

• need for evangelical candidates

• tenure of bishops

6) General Conference

• fair representation, a special concern in the SEJ and SCJ

• election of candidates - candidate info - questionnaires - surveys - education

7) Education

• provide a study book on the issues, available to conference groups

• inform local churches of their rights and powers

8) Prayer

• regular, ongoing

• Annual Day of Prayer and Fasting, for annual conference

• Jurisdictional Day of Prayer and Fasting, for General Conference

9) Establish Jurisdictional Network

• fall / spring meetings of delegation

• regular meeting of larger group

• support for other evangelicals being persecuted (CA-NV, OR-ID)