Wade Mays, a staff member of the Society of St. Andrew tells board members UM Men  provided 8.2 million servings of fresh produce to the hungry through Meals for Millions

NASHVILLE, Tenn.––The General Commission on UM Men will send four petitions to General Conference, meeting May 10-20, 2016, in Portland, Ore.

Meeting Aug. 20-22 at their Nashville office, the board of directors agreed to ask the legislative meeting to amend a resolution related to ministry to men and youth and simplify legislation related to the structure of the organization. They will also urge the 864 delegates to continue a resolution supporting the Society of St. Andrew.

In 2012, General Conference adopted a resolution urging churches to expand their ministries to men beyond the small group that meets for study, worship and fellowship. The 20-member committee wants delegates to add a paragraph to that resolution that will invite churches to establish small groups of men who use the “class meeting” model of Wesley as described in the book by Dr. Kevin Watson with the same title. These meetings can either face to face or in an e-meeting format.

Two petitions ask delegates to delete references to specific youth-serving organizations and other groups (¶256.4), Directors note the agency relates to many organizations and lists of endorsed and affiliate organizations will be posted on the commission’s website, a list that can be revised by addition or deletion at any time (see list below).

Another petition makes it clear that the president of the National Association of Conference Presidents is an additional member of the board, and not one of the five jurisdictional presidents.

The board also asks the assembly to continue Resolution 4093 asking local churches to support the Society of St. Andrew.

Each resolution has a natural life cycle of eight years unless it is withdrawn, revised at year four, or renewed with or without revision after two four-year terms. The SoSA resolution was adopted in 2008 and will expire if not readopted.

A UM Men resolution supporting clergywomen (8018) will continue in the 2016 Book of Resolutions.

Affiliate Partners

1. National Association of Conference Presidents of UM Men
2. United Methodist Men Foundation
3. Strength for Service Inc.
4. The Society of St. Andrew

Affiliates

1. Boy Scouts of America
2. PET International
3. Programs of Religious Activities with Youth
4. Bible Outreach Ministries National
5. The Upper Room Living Prayer Center
6. Girl Scouts of the USA

Endorsed Ministries

1. Camp Fire National Headquarters
2. Denominational Men’s Ministry Leaders
3. The Hope of Hearing
4. Man in the Mirror
5. National Coalition of Ministries to Men
6. Stop Hunger Now
7. The Upper Room Emmaus Ministries
8. Lead Like Jesus
9. Wesleyan Building Brothers