[UMNS-ALL-NEWS] UMNS# 268-Church agency leaders continue work on Four Areas of Focus

[NewsDesk]

Church agency leaders continue work on Four Areas of Focus 

Jun. 27, 2008     

NOTE: A photograph is available at http://umns.umc.org. 

By United Methodist News Service 

In their first meeting since The United Methodist Church's legislative
assembly, leaders of the denomination's general agencies continued
cementing partnerships and planning their work on Four Areas of Focus.

The agencies' top executives, or general secretaries, met June 24-26 in
Washington, D.C., two months after the 2008 General Conference affirmed
the Areas of Focus as the emphases of the church. 

Neil Alexander, chairperson of the General Secretaries Table and
president of the United Methodist Publishing House, told UMNS that the
agency leaders reiterated "shared strong commitment for investing staff
and other resources to support ministries initiated and implemented
across The United Methodist Church."

The group is fashioning ways to learn from local churches and annual
conferences from every corner of the connection, and it is exploring
innovative partnerships that will integrate those learnings and share
them broadly, Alexander said.

"The general secretaries understand the Four Areas of Focus express the
vision and yearnings of the people of The United Methodist Church. We
are eager to continue work in place and also innovate by adopting new
methods that will increase effectiveness and make a dramatic
difference," Alexander said.

The agency executives met with Bishop Gregory Palmer, president of the
Council of Bishops, and Bishop John Hopkins, president of the
Connectional Table, as they began concentrated work in joint planning
and action strategies.

The four areas focus on:

*	Combating the diseases of poverty by improving health globally. 
*	Creating new places for new people and revitalizing existing
congregations. 
*	Developing principled Christian leaders for the church and the
world. 
*	Engaging in ministry with the poor. 

The General Secretaries Table comprises leaders of the General Council
on Finance and Administration, Board of Church and Society, Board of
Discipleship, Board of Global Ministries, Board of Higher Education and
Ministry, Board of Pension and Health Benefits, Commission on Archives
and History, Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns,
Commission on Religion and Race, Commission on the Status and Role of
Women, Commission on United Methodist Men, United Methodist
Communications and United Methodist Publishing House.

News media contact: Tim Tanton, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or
newsdesk at umcom.org. 

******************** 

United Methodist News Service 
Photos and stories also available at: 
http://umns.umc.org 




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