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More Than 1200 United Methodists Expected to Attend Quadrennial Event

A few slots are still available to attend Living the United Methodist Way!

Living the United Methodist Way: Turning Worlds Upside-Down is the theme for the pivotal gathering that will help the denomination's eight million  U.S. members  live out the four areas of focus adopted  by the 2008 General Conference, the denomination's  top legislative body.

The Rev. Karen Greenwaldt

Annual (regional) conference leaders, general agency representatives, bishops and other leaders will, in addition to developing strategies for living the United Methodist way, share best practices for mission and ministry and equip participants to empower and embolden the church to live the United Methodist way.

While each conference receives 18 free registrations, participants must register for workshops and hands-on ministry projects through the director of connectional ministries (DCM).

Coming out of the 2008 General Conference a movement was set in motion to reinvigorate The United Methodist Church with emphasis on leadership development, congregational development, elimination of poverty in community with the poor and global health.

According to the event website, "to live the United Methodist Way means being prepared to unleash a movement of United Methodists on fire to transform the world. It's about calling on our faith in Jesus Christ to sharpen our mission and implement the four areas of focus given to us by the 2008 General Conference."

The Rev. Susan Ruach

Daily plenary sessions include worship, Bible study and exploration of an area of focus, followed by workshops and facilitated dialogues that delve deeper into the topic across church disciplines. Practical approaches for conference leaders to address the topic in their area of responsibility and opportunities to partner with general agencies or other annual conferences will also be presented.

For example, participants can experience a self-guided, web-based exploration of  the four-year emphases of the church in the Four Areas of Focus Learning Center,  which includes interactive learning objects, discussion forums, fun quizzes, multimedia and online exploration.

Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño, of the Desert Southwest Annual Conference, is the preacher for Living the United Methodist Way. She has a long history of being in ministry with the poor, farm workers, immigrants and refugees. Professor and worship consultant Marcia McFee and Mark Miller, a worship leader, teacher and composer of sacred music, will serve as worship and music leaders for the event.

Plenary sessions and speakers include:
(For specific schedules and times, visit www.umcquadtraining.org/plenary.html)

Plenary 1 -- Developing Principled Christian Leaders for the Church and the World, January 29, 2009

• Bishop Janice Riggle Huie of the Texas Annual Conference
• Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker of the Florida Annual Conference
• Jay Williams, a Master of Divinity student at Union Theological Seminary, New York City

• The Rev. Thomas G.  Butcher, executive director of Path 1, moderater
• The Rev. Candace M. Lewis,  elder in the Florida Annual Conference and founding pastor of New Life Community UMC in Jacksonville, Fla.
• The Rev. D. Bener Agtarap, elder in the Wisconsin Annual Conference, and GBOD director of Conference and Ethnic Church Stewardship
• The Rev. Diana Presley, pastor of Oak Cliff UMC, Dallas
• The Rev. Edgar Bazan, local pastor in the North Texas Conference, Oak Cliff UMC

• The Rev. D. Gary Gunderson, United Methodist deacon and senior vice president for Health and Welfare Ministries for Methodist Healthcare, Memphis, Tenn., and director for the Interfaith Health Program at Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University
• Dr. Cherian Thomas, M.D., executive secretary for the Hospital Revitalization Program of GBGM
• The Rev. Gary Henderson, elder in the East Ohio Conference, and executive director of the United Methodist Global Health Initiative
• Mrs. Melba Whitaker, a retired special education teacher with degrees in special education and anthropology. She has led overseas trips to help participants learn about community-based health care and has witnessed the UMC in ministry with the poor and sick in many countries.

In addition, the Montana Logging and Ballet Company will be in concert Saturday, January 31, at 7:00 p.m.

More than 1200 are expected to attend the training event, which is held every four years following General Conference.

The General Board of Discipleship's mission is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, GBOD (www.gbod.org) is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, call the Media Relations Office toll free at 877-899-2780, ext. 7017.