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Relationship building is the focus of cross-conference conversations as United Methodists in upper New York prepare to come together into one conference.

Many have asked how various ministry teams, conferences agencies, and committees in our four conferences can talk together as we move toward the formation of the new Annual Conference in the Upper New York Area in 2010.

Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding, Convener of New Area Conference Team recently released a letter and guidelines to address that question. New ACT developed these guidelines to support new and ongoing conversation between leaders of our four conferences. It is the expectation that these guidelines will form the basis and protocol for all cross-conference conversations.

“We offer them in response to the growing sense of excitement and interest expressed by leaders across our region, believing there are ways we can be talking together now which will greatly enhance our work in the near future,” New ACT Convener Bill Gottschalk-Fielding notes. “Please note these guidelines are intended for this interim period prior to the formal work of developing and designing conference structures, programs and practices. At this time you are asked to focus your time and energy on relationship building, information gathering and listening together for God's direction. This is essential work which will not be wasted.”

“Before a group you are part of initiates conversations or makes any decisions about future directions, it is important for you to be in communication with both the bishop’s office and with the Director of Connectional Ministries,” Western New York Director of Connectional Ministries Larry Lundgren said. “We would also appreciate being updated about meeting dates, conversational focus, etc.”

Gottschalk-Fielding said New ACT understands the eagerness to "get going" and will not presume on your patience and understanding for long.

“Let me tell you where we are on this journey and where I think we will be by March. At our January 10 New ACT meeting we focused on articulating the guiding vision and the primary purpose for our new conference emerging from the work done over the past six months. It is our conviction a vital new conference must be shaped by a compelling vision and designed to fulfill a clear purpose.”

At this meeting New ACT members began to identify a vision shaped by the deep desire to "bring the Church into the Neighborhood and the Neighborhood into the Church," and to build a new conference to nurture and equip lay and clergy leaders, congregations and conference ministries capable of translating this vision into reality.

Two members of New ACT agreed to hone these thoughts into a working vision and purpose statement which would orient the development and design of the new conference. New ACT is now prayerfully reviewing their work and intends to affirm a statement in February.

“With this in hand we would in early March move directly to begin convening the dozens of teams needed across the region to officially develop and design our new conference,” Gottschalk-Fielding said.

“Using the guidelines provided, the conversations you have now can help pave the way for the success of these future deliberations. Recognizing this, please accept my thanks for all you are doing and my request we keep one another in prayer. If you have questions or comments, please be in touch.”

The New Area Conference Team (New ACT), in coordinating the development of the new conference, has established these guidelines for cross-conference conversations during this early stage. The purpose of these guidelines is to foster conversations that will identify expectations and practices helpful to our process and establish supportive relationships between New ACT and conference leaders. Work done now to build relationships and become better informed will make the work of the next stage – the actual development and design of conference structures, programs and practices – more productive and efficient.