We greet you in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ!
We are honored to begin a monthly article to our sisters and brothers in the Trinity Conference which will focus on issues vital to laity concerns. This month’s focus is on envisioning an emphasis on connection as part of the universal priesthood of all believers.
In the “Doctrinal Foundations” found in Part One of our 2024 Book of Doctrines and Discipline (BDD), ¶ 103 states that the road to holiness is one that cannot be traveled by ourselves, but rather by being involved in a community of faith. We see this as central to our mission and agree with the team who created an organizational structure to buttress that goal.
In the GMC Constitution, found in Part Two of the BDD, ¶ 206 states that the local church charge conference shall be the connecting link between the local church, the annual conference and the general church.¶ 207 states that the Annual Conference shall be formed for the purpose of connecting clergy and laity for shared ministry and accountability. We take seriously the mandate for shared work to achieve our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ as equal labors in the Lord’s vineyards.
Within the structure of our Trinity Annual Conference resides a Connectional Council. The Connectional Council is charged with implementing the priorities of the Annual Conference. The Connectional Council is made up of an equal number of clergy and laity elected by the Annual Conference. (¶ 710, BDD). The three of us co-chair the Connectional Council, which is structured to parallel the local church’s Church Council.
This cooperative venture is to be duplicated in other parts of the Conference as well. As ¶ 801 in the BDD states: “Reflecting the shared mission of each of our congregations, connectional entities may be formed at the general and annual conference levels to effectively support the task of making disciples and spreading scriptural holiness. These organizations shall prioritize resourcing the work of local churches, functioning where possible in and through partnerships with existing ministries, congregations, annual conferences, and other bodies, rather than creating new structures.”
Our prayer and overall vision is to create an environment of Spirit-led relationships that join each person to a community of faith that is laity-empowered by the Holy Spirit. That community may be a class meeting, a Sunday school class, or a ministry of the local church serving the community. We also desire that these churches connect with other Trinity Conference churches in their area, the Annual Conference, and other global entities.
We welcome feedback from members of the Trinity Conference on this topic and any other topic that is of concern to you.
In Christ,
Mr. Oscar Garza | Eastern Texas
Dr. Sarah Kreutziger | Lousiana
Mr. Carl Brothers | Arkansas
