Bishops adopt calls to action for United Methodists

MAPUTO, Mozambique (UMNS) - The bishops of the United Methodist Church are calling members of the denomination to "live the United Methodist way" in their daily lives and public witness and be a community of believers who offer hope to the world.

Nearly 80 bishops affirmed that call to action Nov. 6 during their first meeting outside the United States. The bishops accepted the concept but are seeking to clarify what living the United Methodist way really means.

The council also introduced an action plan that includes starting new churches across the globe, reaching and caring for children throughout the world and leading the effort to stamp out the killer diseases of poverty: malaria and HIV/AIDS.

West Ohio Bishop Bruce Ough, chairperson of the bishop's plan team, said that the call to action is an attempt to chart a response to the council's adopted seven vision pathways and focus those pathways into four areas of emphasis to compel United Methodists to action.

He said these calls reflect a strategy under development by the council, the church's general agencies and members of the Connectional Table, the denomination's program coordination group.