EPA’s Committee on Leadership convened leaders of conference boards and committees September 28, via Zoom, to discuss leadership needs for the 2024-2028 quadrennium, including timely succession of chairpersons.
“All groups will have changes in membership, and some will have changes among chairpersons,” reads the letter chairpersons received from the Committee on Leadership, which is co-chaired by the Rev. David Piltz and Maryann Griffith. “We will review the process, the timeline and how to make recommendations of nominations for your groups. The Conference Committee on Leadership is committed to walking with each group during this time (to) create effective teams for ministry.”
The committee has been examining the roster of board and committee members and chairpersons, whose tenures are supposed to last typically no longer than two quadrennia. But the time is tight to nominate new members and chairpersons for election at the 2024 Annual Conference. Nominations need to be finalized by December 1 to allow time for confirming and vetting nominees, implementing a new anti-bias review process, and preparing the slate to present to the Annual Conference next May.
The committee’s letter lauds and thanks elected leaders for their critical, dedicated service in ministry beyond the local church to help the conference and congregations “reach the vision of The United Methodist Church, making disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” It also reminds leaders of Eastern PA’s commitment to “increasing the number of people of color in leadership roles, while maintaining the effectiveness of rotating leadership and membership after two quadrennia.”
The leadership committee will work with elected committees in the coming months “to celebrate and honor those who are completing their service,” reads the letter. “For those who have completed two or more quadrennia, it is time for a new adventure, a new committee, a new way to serve.”
All committees will focus on creating succession plans for rotating leadership and membership, which the letter says is “rooted in Wesleyan theology and the itinerant system…it provides a chance to consider new opportunities.”
Meanwhile, the letter shares advice from Bishop John Schol that each committee should consider in its planning and identification of new members whose gifts and service are needed:
- A clear purpose statement of up to 15 words that the group can base all its decisions on in carrying out its purposes.
- Three-to-four measurable goals to guide its work and provide an opportunity to evaluate accomplishments each year.
- Clarity about the skills, experience and expectations needed of members. This provides clarity for who needs to be nominated.
- Diversity of members in skillsets, gender and ethnicity.
Succession plans should be considered every year, not just when someone is leaving, Bishop Schol notes. And recruiting new conference leaders is not just a conference responsibility; but help from local churches is crucial. The leadership committee asks pastors and congregation leaders to announce the need and provide members with access to the Connectional Ministries Leadership and Service Interest Form on the EPA website. (See the Connectional Ministries web page.) Anyone can express their interest in serving in conference leadership by completing and submitting that form.