The Commission had no mandate to do anything. This body will not impose change. We are just encouraging each organization to do a self-evaluation to see if its structure is most efficient for today s environment. Michigan Conference President Jay Gallimore said his pastors had been in clusters for years and experienced some wonderful results. He had just organized a new church in Grand Rapids through the efforts of local churches working together.
Pastors don t want another layer of administration.
In order to accomplish our mission, we must be careful to not move towards congregationalism despite the pressure. The attendees never discussed the possibility of conference mergers, another commission recommendation, nor how to keep money from going up the structure and then back down as subsidies. The Commission agreed that the church should continue its black regional conferences, which are already rather large geographically, and felt the division could provide adequate church support services through a centralized 800-number. Preparation will include Bible studies with one million people plus three uplinked training seminars. Is Written, will conduct the meetings originating in the Forest Lake Academy auditorium in Orlando, Florida.