New England Conference: Homepage



General Commission on

UNITED METHODIST MEN

PO Box 340006, Nashville, TN 37203

615-340-7145 website: ttp://

Fall 2004

Dear Pastor:

Greetings, colleague in ministry. At the General Commission on United Methodist Men (GCUMM) we have adopted a theme “Reaching the Hearts of Men.” We are serious about reaching the hearts of men for Christ and we are asking for you to join us in this effort. Here’s how you can help. We are asking every local church to participate in the UMC Men’s Ministry Certification process. Because of recently passed General Conference legislation, all local churches are requested to highlight the many forms of men’s ministry ongoing in the local church today- including and apart from United Methodist Men.

2004 General Conference Legislation: Men’s Ministry Certification, Paragraph 2301

“Each church or charge shall have an organized unit of United Methodist Men chartered and annually renewed through the General Commission on United Methodist Men. Other organized men's ministry groups in a local United Methodist Church shall annually report through the charge conference and shall be certified as a men's ministry and resourced through the General Commission on United Methodist Men. All local church men's organizations shall provide a dedicated ministry for building men spiritually and involving men in the total ministry of the Church.”

What is Men’s Ministry Certification? Men’s Ministry Certification is a multi-purpose tool designed to: 1) Gather information from local churches about adult men’s ministry activities, 2) establish communication between GCUMM and many UM churches without a UMM group, and 3) assist churches that desire to broadly increase their effectiveness in reaching and ministering to men. By learning more about the kinds of activities and ministries that are working with men, GCUMM can provide more effective men’s ministry resources to more of our UM churches. Information gathered from your local church will help to develop “best practices” in men’s ministry that benefit all UM churches.

What is expected of the local church? The initial step simply involves completing the enclosed Men’s Ministry Certification Report as part of your Charge Conference report. The purpose of the Men’s Ministry Certification Report is to highlight the various types of ministries and activities that men are involved in at your local church. The process begins with the completion of the enclosed report, and providing a men’s ministry contact. Future communications through your local contact will enable the certification process to unfold and progress.

Next Steps. GCUMM, the denomination’s general agency for men, exists to develop and promote effective ministries TO and THROUGH men. If your church desires information and resources about men’s ministry simply check the appropriate boxes on the Men’s Ministry Report Form. Additionally, we will pass on valuable tools and information to the person that you designate as your local church Men’s Ministry Contact in the report form.

What happens to the completed Men’s Ministry Report Form? The completed form should be submitted by your

local church as part of your Charge Conference Report. Your District Superintendent will return all completed Men’s Ministry Report Forms to The General Commission on United Methodist Men. A composite report from all responding churches in your district will be sent to your District Superintendent and Bishop. Data from responses will be used to develop “best practices” in men’s ministry and serve as a tool for development of future men’s ministry resources.

Yours in Christ,

Dr. Joseph Harris, General Secretary

Enclosure: Men’s Ministry Certification Report

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