Connectional Table: Our History

Christian Alsed speaks during the Connectional Table meeting held at United Methodist Discipleship Ministries in Nashville, Tenn., April 2. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UM News

Established by the 2004 General Conference and building upon the legacy of the General Council on Ministries, the Connectional Table was formed to carry the vision of The United Methodist Church; to strengthen, connect and foster relationships across the connection; and to be a place and space for creativity to be encouraged, nurtured and supported for the sake of the mission.

The 2004 General Conference made clear that “the Connectional Table is to be motivated by faithfulness to the mission of the church to make disciples of Jesus Christ; global in scope and holistic in understanding; inclusive in nature and collaborative in style; and while being efficient in the stewardship of resources, be transparent, accessible, and accountable in all relationships.”

Members of Methodist Students for an All-Inclusive Church (MOSAIC) march to the Allegheny River through the David L. Lawrence Convention Centerin Pittsburgh, site of the 2004 United Methodist General Conference. The group is pushing the denomination to fully accept gays and lesbians in its churches and pulpits. At the end of the march it held a service of renewing the baptismal covenant on the banks of the Allegheny River. A UMNS photo by Paul Jeffrey. Photo number GC04324, 5/01/04

Chairs of the Connectional Table have included bishops John Hopkins, Bruce Ough, and Christian Alsted. Bishop Mande Muyombo is the first chair of the CT from the African central conferences. Bishop Alsted was the first central conference chair. The Connectional Table and its predecessor organization, the General Council on Ministries, have been led by executive officers David Lundquist, Bishop Sharon Rader, Mary Brook Cassad, Rev. Dr. Amy Valdez Barker, and Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai.

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