As Jesus' first disciples mended and cleaned their nets to catch more fish, delegates of the United Methodist Church should consider their lawmaking work in an 11-day conference necessary to make new disciples of Christ, the top bishop in the denomination said Tuesday.

During the 2012 General Conference opening worship sermon, Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster, president of the Council of Bishops, expounded on the biblical passage where Jesus' first disciples, fishermen, left what they were doing to follow him as fishers of men.

"Like the first four by the Sea of Galilee, we have gathered beside Tampa Bay to clean and mend our nets," he said. "It is our business because once every four years we have this need to get together to amend and fix the nets we know as United Methodism."

Goodpaster said last week the changes being sought in the denominations' structure, governance, positions and principles at the gathering are of historic importance.

The church, facing a financial crisis, also will need to deal with a steep decline in membership in coming years as its older generation passes away.

The purpose of many of the proposed changes is to encourage vitality in the denomination's congregations. The legislation being considered touches on a variety of matters including how retired bishops work within the Council, how to measure the vitality of congregations, a revision of roles at the top levels, and a reallocation of funds and how they are raised.

While the task will be difficult, Bishop Goodpaster sought to give the group strength.

"Over the course of the next 10 days, we will be stretched and pulled in many directions," he said. "We will be at times overwhelmed by the sheer volume of paper, people and programs. We will fall exhausted into our beds, and rise with very little sleep for the next day of significant decision making."

But he added that "Jesus will show up here in Tampa while we are busy with our nets."