Conference presidents of United Methodist Men and conference prayer advocates gather outside the Upper Room Chapel during their March 3-6 meeting in Nashville.

Men file resolution to the 2012 General Conference

NASHVILLE, Tenn. –– Noting that only 10 percent of churches maintain vibrant men’s ministry programs, conference presidents of United Methodist Men urge churches to utilize men’s ministry specialists and scouting ministry specialists to expand their ministries to men.

Meeting March 3-6 in Nashville, members of the National Association of Conference Presidents, agreed to send a resolution to the 2012 General Conference celebrating small groups of men who meet monthly for study, worship and fellowship, but declaring that “should be only be a fraction of a local church’s effort to deepen the spiritual lives of men and to minister to men and young people without church homes.”

Noting an ABC poll that found that only 32 percent of American men attend church compared to 44 percent of American women, the men will ask the highest legislative body in the United Methodist Church to encourage pastors and district superintendents “to utilize DVDs, on-line training, lay-speaking courses, the services of men’s ministry specialists, and other resources provided by the General Commission on United Methodist Men to expand the ministry to all men within and beyond the congregation.”

Observing that the denomination has declined every year since the 1968 merger of the Methodist Church with the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the men declared churches could reach unchurched youth through Boy Scouts of America and other youth-serving organizations. Many churches reluctantly provide spaces to these groups, but some faith communities regard these as nuisances instead of ministry opportunities.

Local churches are reminded of a disciplinary requirement to charter a group of United Methodist Men and they are encouraged to recruit persons to serve as scouting ministry specialists and men’s ministry specialists.

             

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Expanding our outreach to men and youth

A resolution to the 2012 General Conference submitted by the National Association of Conference Presidents of United Methodist Men

WHEREAS membership in the United Methodist Church has declined every year since the 1968 merger of the Methodist Church with the Evangelical United Brethren Church, and

WHEREAS an ABC poll found that only 32 percent of American men attend church compared to 44 percent of American women , and 13 million more women than men attend church in the U.S.,
and

WHEREAS 25 percent of married women attend church without their husbands,
and

WHEREAS a Gallup poll shows declining interest among young people with only 47 percent of young adults indicating that religion is important in their lives compared to 75 percent of persons over 75 years of age answering in the same manner,  
and

WHEREAS only 10 percent of U.S. churches maintain vibrant men’s ministry programs, and most congregations struggle to find ways to minister to men and reach young people:


BE IT RESOLVED that churches be encouraged to expand their ministries to all men in the church and the community. The group of men that meets monthly for study, worship and fellowship serves an important purpose, but it should be only a fraction of a local church’s effort to deepen the spiritual lives of men and to minister to men and young people without church homes,
and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all churches shall charter a United Methodist Men’s organization . Pastors and district superintendents are encouraged to utilize DVDs, on-line training, lay-speaking courses, the services of men’s ministry specialists, and other resources provided by the General Commission on United Methodist Men to expand the ministry to all men within and beyond the congregation,
and.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that United Methodist Churches be encouraged to charter Scout troops and to add other youth-serving ministries as a way to reach unchurched youth and as a way to minister to young people within their faith communities,
and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that local churches encourage members to become scouting ministry specialists as a way to expand their ministries through youth-serving agencies,
and.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that local churches encourage and provide funding to enable one or more of their members to become men’s ministry specialists and to utilize the services and resources of those already accredited as men’s ministry specialists.