A decade of re-structuring

Conference representatives will have now returned home.

In many ways this was a very important Conference with major decisions being made on the future of theological education.
The ramifications will be felt across the Church and beyond.  It is unclear whether the proposals in Fruitful Field will work.
In the past few years restructuring has gripped the Church.  Larger Circuits are growing in number and this process will continue.  Districts are the next target and may be abolished or reduced to ten.
The Fruitful Field proposals will lead to further re structuring  It could take up to five years to implement. There will be enormous upheaval and heartache.

The energy of this decade of restructuring will inevitably take its toll. Financial implications have yet to be worked out but rarely any re structuring of an institution in the end saves money.    Then there is the huge emotional cost let alone the energy it will take.
It will be interesting to ask the question in 2020 whether a decade of re structuring has been worthwhile.  At present the jury is out.
What is certain is that membership will continue to decline and therefore resources will be much more reduced.
The Conference of 2012 was concerned ( as have a number of previous conferences)  almost wholly with internal matters.

An agenda for Conference 2013 could be as follows:
Monday
Day of theological reflection by theologians of repute.  Are we a Church or a movement?

Tuesday
Ecumenical engagement

Wednesday
Consideration of the major issues of the day in society and the world

Thursday
Internal Methodist business
What an opportunity to seize
Now that would be a Conference worth attending!