learnings from merger and re-structure process arkansas annual conference texas annual conference
TRANSCRIPT
Learnings from Merger and Re-Structure Process
Arkansas Annual Conference
Texas Annual Conference
Mission begins, continues and ends in God. God’s mission, God’s kingdom
coming on earth as it is in heaven, was revealed in the life, death and
resurrection of Jesus. Through the Holy Spirit, the Church, the Body of
Christ is called to be a mission-shaped church.
The United Methodist Church articulates its purpose/mission this way:
“to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation
of the world.”
Merger, re-structure and/or re-organization take a huge amount of energy from the
best leaders of the conference.
The only good motive for uniting conferences and/or re-organizing existing ones is to further the mission of
the church.
Many of our UMC members, officers, leaders do not
understand their God-given purpose/mission.
It is critical to agree about key values.
Purpose without alignment of the structure and the
budget is just playing with words.
Merger or re-organization is a long-term process.
In Texas, the re-organization,
re-districting and budget re-alignment occurred in 12
months.
Minimizing structure is a good thing.
Expect resistance. Learn from it. Adapt.
Work with the 20% who are ready.
It is not possible to over-communicate, but it is
possible to be too un-focused in communication.
Trust is everything.
Stay in touch.
When we think we have arrived, we have only
started.
Christian ministry is rooted in the heart of God. It grows and matures in the form of
Christ. It brings forth fruit by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Christian discipleship and pastoral leadership thrive in a rich, diverse environment of Christian community and engagement with the world.
Pastoral leaders are called as faithful, fruitful disciples of
Jesus.
Out of their baptism, some persons are called to pastoral
ministry.
Arkansas
Connected in Christ
Texas
New Generation Initiative