resolution

Encounter With Christ in Latin America and the Caribbean

2016 Book of Resolutions, #3143

Whereas, the 2008 General Conference established a Coordinating Group for the Holistic Strategy on Latin America and the Caribbean Special Program in order to develop a mission partnerships with Methodist and United Churches throughout Latin America and the Caribbean; and

Whereas, the Coordinating Group, constituted by bishops of The United Methodist Church, bishops/presidents of the Methodist and United Churches within the Latin America/Caribbean region, the program related United Methodist general agencies and representatives of MARCHA (Methodists Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic Americans) have affirmed the growing importance of our shared mission and ministry; and

Whereas, the Encounter with Christ permanent fund (025100) administered by the General Board of Global Ministries is a primary source of financial support for our mission partnership, with interest monies of some three hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars having already supported around fifty joint mission projects in Methodist and United churches in twenty-one countries and four regional entities of the region; and

Whereas, a unique dimension of Encounter involves a process of shared decision making regarding the utilization of interest monies on behalf of mission among the leadership of CIEMAL (Council of Evangelical Methodist Churches in Latin America and the Caribbean) and MCCA (Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas) and the General Board of Global Ministries; and

Whereas, the bishops/presidents and other leadership of CIEMAL and MCCA conveyed to the Conference of Methodist

Bishops meeting in Panama in November, 2010 the critical importance of Encounter for our mission partnership, and

Whereas, the process of globalization and immigration has brought us ever more closer together with sister and brother Methodists of Latin America and the Caribbean; and

Whereas, MARCHA, along with a host of other United Methodists has supported the development of the Encounter permanent fund 025100 and the Encounter Advance Special 14729 A from the beginning of the mission effort:

Therefore, be it resolved, that General Conference celebrate the achievement of reaching the amount of 1.5 million dollars in the Encounter permanent fund 025100 and call upon annual conferences, local churches and individuals to renew and increase their commitment to Encounter as a primary mean of expressing our solidarity together in mission and ministry with Latin America and the Caribbean.

ADOPTED 2004
READOPTED 2008 AMENDED AND READOPTED 2012
RESOLUTION #3143, 2012 BOOK OF RESOLUTIONS
RESOLUTION #3144, 2008 BOOK OF RESOLUTIONS
RESOLUTION #96, 2004 BOOK OF RESOLUTIONS

See Social Principles, ¶ 162.

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