In March of 2022, Dauphin Way’s Church Council called for a “Process Team” of 5-7 people to design the process by which Dauphin Way United Methodist Church can discern God’s call for Dauphin Way as the United Methodist Church continues to work out its disagreements regarding homosexuality.

Our Nominations Committee invited 7 lay members of high character, deep wisdom, and trusted faith to join the Process Team. All seven individuals accepted: Rev. Michael Precht (Senior Pastor), Mark Davidson, (Lay Leader) Karen Anne Beville, Richard Byrd, David Peeler, Elizabeth Percy, Vanessa Reyner, and William Terry.

The Process Team prayed daily at 9 AM for our church, and met every two weeks so that they could answer 6 questions about how Dauphin Way can discern God’s calling for our church. The Process Team did not make any recommendation about our denominational future – instead the Process Team recommended how all of us as a church can discern God’s call together. All recommendations from the Process Team required the approval of the Church Council.

The Process Team was asked to address (at minimum) the following questions:

• When should Dauphin Way expect a proposal for our denominational future?
• What kind of learning, listening, and small group feedback should shape that proposal before it is finalized?
• Who will prepare the final proposal?
• Is there a need for an outside facilitator to assist in any portion of the process?
• What training is needed for those who will lead this process?
• What is an appropriate timeline for communicating any information the congregation needs to know?

When should Dauphin Way expect a proposal for our denominational future?

Answer: We will wait until after the General Conference of the United Methodist Church in the spring of 2024 before deciding our denominational future.

This recommendation was unanimously accepted by Dauphin Way’s Church Council on August 29, 2022. For more explanation of this recommendation, click here.

What kind of learning, listening, and small group feedback should shape that proposal before it is finalized?

Answer: We will invite all church members to participate in a three-phase discernment process of learning, listening, and discerning to establish a “Statement of Principle,” before the end of 2023.

This recommendation was unanimously accepted by Dauphin Way’s Church Council on August 29, 2022. Click here for a detailed overview of this process.

Who will prepare the proposal about our denominational future in 2024?

Answer: Our Nominations Committee has named a Discernment Team that will oversee this process, prepare the first draft of our Statement of Purpose, and make an initial recommendation in 2024 about our denominational future. 

The Discernment Team is made up of the following members:

• Our three ordained clergy: Rev. Kathy Jorgensen, Dr. Woods Lisenby, and Rev. Michael Precht.
• Seven lay members of the congregation:

– CJ Angelette
– Reid Harvey
– Don Kidd
– Caroline McCarthy
– Parks Moore
– Vanessa Reyner
– Betty Stone

Is there a need for an outside facilitator to assist in any portion of the process?

Answer: We are looking for an outside facilitator who can work with our Discernment Team in October of 2023 as they draft our Statement of Purpose. 

What training is needed for those who will lead this process?

Answer: We do not believe this process requires special training. However, we will consider sending the Discernment Team to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC, April 23-May 3, 2024.

What is an appropriate timeline for communicating any information the congregation needs to know?

Answer: The discernment timeline provided in our second recommendation provides most of the necessary guidance about communication; we will provide additional explanations for each stage of this process as we go through these steps. 

Our Discernment Timeline:

*Note: This timeline is slightly amended since the original announcement video.

• Sermon Series — God Still Speaks (Feb 26-March 26, 2023)
  • A five-week focus on how the Church uses Scripture — as understood through reason, tradition, and experience — to discern God’s will.
• Class — In Good Faith (Feb. 26-March 30, 2023)
  • A five-week class on how faithful Christians — using the same criteria of Scripture, reason, tradition, and experience — have come to disagree about questions of sexuality and marriage.
• Qualitative Survey (May 17-June 4, 2023)
  • An open-ended survey to reveal core values and principles to guide our discernment.
• Listening Sessions (August-September 2023)
  • Small group gatherings to provide information and receive feedback about our congregation’s core principles, as well as developments in our local Annual Conference and worldwide denomination.
• Statement of Principle (October 2023)
  • Our Discernment Team presents a draft of our “Statement of Principle” for the prayer and consideration of the entire church.
• Recommendation( June 2024)
  • Our Discernment Team uses the “Statement of Principle” and the outcomes of the General Conference in 2024 to make a final recommendation to our Church Council regarding Dauphin Way’s denominational future.

Our Discernment Team

• Clergy:
  • Kathy Jorgensen, Pastor of Spiritual Direction
  • Woods Lisenby, Executive Pastor
  • Michael Precht, Senior Pastor
• Laity:
  • CJ Angelette
  • Reid Harvey
  • Don Kidd
  • Caroline McCarthy
  • Parks Moore
  • Vanessa Reyner
  • Betty Stone