Background
The European Conversations were organized by Christian Alsted (Denmark) Markus Jung (Germany) Stefan Zürcher (Switzerland) and Ole Birch (Denmark) from the Connectional Table and also Anne Detjen (Germany) Christine Schneider (Switzerland) Hilde Marie Movafagh Øgreid (Norway) and Üllas Tankler (Estonia).
Context
The culture of Europe is:
- approximately 741 million people;
- widely secularized.
The United Methodist Church in Europe is comprised of:
- 100,000 United Methodists across 30 countries and annual conferences;
- three Central Conferences and Four Episcopal areas
Enormous historical, political and cultural diversity exists among the European Central Conferences given the number of countries included, which is reflected in the United Methodist Churches as well. There are multiple contexts for mission as well as many different languages and interpretations of both Scripture and church life.
The Europe Regional Context (background) document is available here: Imagining the Future: Europe Regional Context.
Coordinating Committee
The committee planned and coordinated the regional conversations and gathered the summaries of the conversations using a standard form. These forms did not include any identifying information for recorded comments.
Committee members were:
- Rev. Ole Birch (Convener)
- Rev. Markus Jung (Convener)
- Rev. Hilde Marie Movafagh
- Rev. Ullas Tankler
- Bishop Christian Alsted
- Rev. Stefan Zürcher
- Christine Schneider
- Rev. Anne Marie Detjen
Discussion Groups
The five online conversations took place in November 2021 and were organized around the following target groups:
- Central Conference members in English
- Central Conference members in German
- Open group in English
- Open group in German
- Young people under 30 in English
Most of the approximately 90 participants came from the Annual Conferences of the western European countries. The reasons for this are not clear. It is regrettable that our report therefore lacks a proper balance. We do appreciate the few Methodists from Eastern European countries who did take part in the conversations. We have contacted the Central Conference members directly and asked them to invite more people to the open conversations. We also sent out invitations to the open groups through the episcopal offices and social media. Young people were also invited through annual conference youth departments.
Predominant themes
Methodist identity
- Wesleyan tradition
- Take great pride in Methodist theology, history and worldwide reach.
- Combination of personal piety and social involvement are core expression of what it means to be Methodist.
- Unique ecumenical position
- Europe is dominated by national churches and Methodists are a relatively new and minority church that has had to work hard to find a place and respect in society.
- In some places, Methodists have respected role as bridge builders between state churches and various free churches. In other places, Methodists are met with suspicion as a “foreign” church or sect.
- Minority status makes them aware of danger of becoming narrowly focused, so value being part of greater Methodist fellowship globally and in Europe. (But beginning to wonder if being part of an organization in conflict with itself is becoming a liability for their identity and mission.)
- Community
- Value strong sense of community and fellowship — not just locally, but in other countries and continents
Vision
- Church that is a warm and welcoming community open to all. The ideal is to be a “big tent” with room for differences of opinion.
- Strong desire to become fully inclusive AND make room for conservatives.
Mission
Thinking about mission dominated by 2 themes:
- Missional theology and practices of the Wesleys and early Methodists. There is a zeal for scriptural holiness to meet spiritual and temporal needs of people around them, especially those less fortunate.
- Church as a healing people for ALL people and for the world. In ministry with marginalized people and be the voice of concern on important social issues of the day such as immigration, racial justice, economic justice and climate change.
Connectionalism
- Associated with having a broad outlook on the world and an antidote to narrowmindedness. Connection enables church to be enriched by other cultures with whom they share common roots [and faith].
- Associated with a participatory system of governance, which is seen at all levels — annual conferences, central conferences and in global mission.
- Sense of belonging that comes from being a part of a church found in so many countries of the world. At the same time, United Methodists of Europe have created their own structures that work parallel to the connectional structures of the UMC (European Methodist Council, European Commission on Mission, European Methodist Youth Council, etc.)
- The ongoing conflict causes many to think they would be better off without General Conference. Support moving decision-making closer to where missional priorities are defined — i.e. stronger regionalization.