Bill Gottschalk: first time clergy delegate

by Beth Quick

Bill Gottschalk-Fielding is a first-time delegate to General Conference. Bill is serving on the Financial Administration Legislative Committee here in Pittsburgh, an area in which he has some background - Bill once served as a Stewardship Consultant. However, Bill shared that he still had a lot to learn when it came to the many issues discussed in Financial Administration.

Bill’s personal focus area in preparation for General Conference was in the area of pensions, an area he has learned more about through his work on the Board of Ordained Ministry.

In his legislative committee, he worked on the Pensions and Health Benefits Sub-Group. Bill, along with the other delegates, had to “sift and sort” through very complex legislation. The staff of the General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits played a vital role in the committee’s work, helping to make sure that delegates understood all the issues which they were discussing.

Bill said that since the issues of his committee were usually not theologically divisive in nature, but more pragmatic in nature, time was spent projecting and predicting how decisions would affect the future church, but discussion could happen with all delegates working toward the same goals.

Bill has found himself most surprised by “the speed at which business is conducted” at General Conference. He’s also noticed the regional differences, from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, with how things run. Seeing the way others work has made Bill realize “how good we’ve got it in North Central New York . . . We take care of each other,” and allow “space for differences” in NCNY, he said. Bill has most enjoyed the chance to fellowship with his fellow NCNYers, as he builds stronger relationships with his colleagues.

In all, he has found his experience so far to be a rewarding one. Sometimes, he said, you need to move from “a small fish bowl to a bigger one”, like going from NCNY to General Conference, so that you realize the blessings of your own community. He considers it an honor to be serving and representing the people of his community in North Central New York.

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