Why should the structure of the global United Methodist Church be more regionalized?
The further postponement of General Conference emphasizes the limitations — in terms of polity and geography — with the current centralized and U.S.-centric governing structure of The United Methodist Church, says the Rev. Birch.
How has COVID-19 altered your community and ministry?
According to Rev. Birch, the pandemic has made us aware of how fragile we are, how important community and connection are, and challenged the church to use new ways of connecting and doing ministry online.
What priorities should guide the church for the immediate future?
The Rev. Ole Birch suggests that the church will need to focus on being creative, open, and willing to learn and evolve.
What kind of leadership does the church need for the future?
The Rev. Birch identifies two important attributes leaders need: a grounding in Wesleyan theology and an ability to recognize and tell the story of what God is doing and invite people to get involved.