Here are some of the General Conference issues presented at the Pre-General Conference Briefing. For a full listing, see gc2012.org.

Leading vital congregations

Proposed changes to the ordination process will eliminate guaranteed appointments, streamline the ordination process and sharpen the focus on making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, said members of the Study of Ministry Commission in their presentation on clergy effectiveness proposals.

Bishop Goodpaster

Set-aside bishop

Bishop Larry Goodpaster, episcopal leader of the Western North Carolina area and current Council of Bishops president, discussed the proposal to create a "set-aside bishop" without residential responsibilities. "It is nearly impossible to be president of the Council of Bishops and lead an episcopal area," he said.

Ethnic initiatives

Representatives of United Methodist ethnic/racial ministries expressed concerns about the proposed restructuring of The United Methodist Church, which includes consolidating nine of the denomination's 13 general agencies into a new United Methodist Center for Connectional Mission and Ministry. The representatives said there was little or no consultation with them about the structure proposed by the Interim Operations Team. The restructuring has been endorsed by the Council of Bishops and by the Connectional Table, which drafted the legislation.

Worldwide nature of the church

The 20-member Committee to Study the Worldwide Nature of The United Methodist Church considered how to forge deeper connections, establish greater local authority and create a more equitable sharing of power and representation, reported Kansas Area Bishop Scott Jones, who chaired the committee.

Church budget

The General Council on Finance and Administration's main task is to present a proposed church budget for 2013-16. The agency also submitted 43 petitions. (See gcfa.org/gc2012.) The agency established an economic advisory committee, which created three economic scenarios and worked with the projections of denominational agencies.

At $603 million, the recommended budget reflects general reductions of 6.6 percent and marks the first time that the proposed budget is smaller than the one presented for the previous quadrennium.

The World Service Fund, at $311.6 million, represents 52 percent of the budget. Other categories are Ministerial Education, $105.6 million; Episcopal (the bishops), $90.3 million; General Administration, $8.2 million; Black College, $42.1 million; Africa University, $9.4 million; and Interdenominational Cooperation, $8.2 million.

Changes to clergy pensions

The General Conference will consider two proposals that would change clergy pensions, shifting more of the risk in retirement preparation from annual conferences to individual clergy. The United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits is asking the denomination's top lawmaking body to choose between the two options. The first would combine a defined benefit component with a defined contribution component, like the clergy's current retirement program but with a reduced benefit for clergy and, consequently, a lower contribution for conferences. The second option would be a defined contribution-only plan.

A defined benefit plan provides a monthly pension payment for life, with the employer assuming the bulk of the investment risk. A defined contribution plan, like the 401(k) plans most corporate employees now have, provides an account balance to use during retirement, with the clergyperson assuming most of the risk that the money will not run out in that person's lifetime. The pension board recommends the first option, which combines a reduced defined benefit component with a defined contribution component. Either option would cut costs to conferences by about 15 percent.