snapshot - summer 2014

8/10/2019 Snapshot - Summer 2014

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Missional Wisdom Foundation Quarterly Repor

Do Justice. Love Mercy.

The months of July, August and

September have been filled withopportunities to serve the larger church aswell as the church in Dallas/Ft. Worth.

The last week of June and first twoweeks of July most of the leadership of theMissional Wisdom Foundation were on aCeltic pilgrimage, walking the Way of St.Cuthbert and spending a week on Iona.This was an invaluable time of deepeningin our discernment about our vocation as aChristian organization, and for deeping inspiritual formation and leadershipdevelopment.

After we returned from Scotland Itaught for 2 weeks in the Course of StudySchool at Perkins, as well as completedteaching an online course on launchingmissional communities, for the Academyfor Missional Wisdom.

August included a two-week visit toWestern North Carolina where I was afaculty person for the Academy forSpiritual Formation, and presented at theSchool for Congregational Development aplenary session on Jesus Rule of Life, andteam-taught with Larry Duggins a two-day

Missional Wisdom is discovered at the intersection of deep

contemplation, radical hospitality and service to others.

workshop on planting missional

communities.After that Larry and I spent time in

conversation with people in the Ashevillearea who are interested in joining the nextcohort of the Academy for MissionalWisdom, and we were deeply blessed to toura medical respite intentional community forhomeless persons that was started and is ledby our AMW grad, Jody Halstead.

We also spent time with BishopGoodpaster and several other leaders fromWNC Conference to discuss missionalministries that are developming in WNC. Wethen went to Pfeiffer University to shareabout the Clarifyprogram, our new summerimmersion program for undergraduates, tohelp them with missional theology andvocational discernment.

The last weekend in August I led aLeadership Summit at Missouri UMC inColumbia, MO, focusing on spiritualformation and leadership development.

Fall term began at Perkins the lastweek of August, and I am teaching twoclasses this term as well as leading a directedstudy with one student, and serving onseveral committees.

wherever two or more are gathered

I taught Sunday School twice at University

Park UMC, focusing on the Epistle to theGalatians and emergence.

September 22-23 I was honoredto be the speaker at the Oklahoma IndianMissionary Conference annual clergyretreat. Then on September 26 I presentedtwo workshops at the Sentralizedconference, a national gathering for leadersof missional ministries largely within theevangelical world.

I am very thankful for thesupport of the TMF for the ministries ofthe Missional Wisdom Foundation,especially the grant that has freed my timeto be able to travel, speak, preach, lead andteach beyond DFW.

Rev. Dr. Elaine Heath


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The Epworth Houses have taken on a new vitalityin the last months. It is as if each of the houseshave dug down and found their foundations andhave begun to build.

The Bonhoeffer Housewill be graduating two

long-time residents soon. Adam White, HouseSteward, has been instrumental in leading newlygrounded practices within the house. Ryan Klinkis a new resident, who is also serving as an internwithin MWF. Ryan planted two intentionalcommunities in Commerce, TX as anundergraduate. He was a graduate of theAcademy and will be assuming the role of HouseSteward in the coming year.

Cochran Househas begun to thrive as we havebegun using the newABIDEcurriculum. TheDirection in Common through the last year hasbegun to solidify in intentional practices amongthe residents. It has given us a methodical means

of moving from unhelpful practice toward helpfulpractice.

La Paloma Househas moved from being thehouse most likely to close to the mosttransformed house. The five undergraduatewomen, including three new residents, haveembraced an ebb and flow to the house. TheHouse steward has worked with the director ofthe Wesley at U.T. Arlington and me, in buildingleadership skills designed to overcome obstaclesto communication and discipleship practices.

Romero Househas two new residents. The

House now has a married couple, two singlewomen and one single man. Four of these areseminary students and one works in a local publicschool system.

Palmer Housecontinues to open their doors topeople seeking sanctuary and sabbatical. Thisquarter, they have welcomed many enquiring,studying and listening regarding intentional faithcommunity. The three women are all youngprofessionals engaged in their vocations andcareers, and they use art and permaculture toexpand and connect their friendships.

Susanna Wesley Housespent the summer withministry duties through their work, throughchurch and Methodist Childrens Home as well aspilgrimage. Since their return we have added onewoman, an undergraduate, to this house of onemarried couple and one single woman, all ofwhom are professionally employed. Though thishouse is only just beginning, the residents havealready been engaged in imagining and dreamingabout ways to invite and offer hospitality to thechildren of the neighborhood.

As the Abbot, my work has been centered in thediscernment and equipping process with theHouses to receive new residents as well as

continuing to encourage presence within theircommunities. This was a great time of testing fomy own continued practice of spiritual disciplineand discovering of growing edges. At times thecircuit-riding nature of this Abbots work requirunderstanding of solitude as well as an anchoriteresolve to stay engaged in prayer in solitude andamong many populations.

Along with the house transformations andongoing growth, we have seen an increase inpilgrimages through the Epworth Houses. Thispast quarter, we have opened up space forhospitality, conversation and formative teachingwith multiple high school leadership groups.

Along with these young pilgrims, we havewelcomed pastors from the northern conferenceas sabbatical residents.

As Abbot, I seek to make myself available to allwho come for ongoing formation within thehouse and beyond. Some of the invitations

accepted this past quarter involved:

Leading Wesley Foundation LeadershiRetreat

Ongoing Direction and FormativeTeaching with Pastors on SabbaticalLeave

Leading Day Retreats for YouthLeadership Teams

Leading Pilgrimages of ConferenceLeaders and Pastoral Leadership groupfrom

Conferences beyond our boundaries

through the Epworth Project Spiritual Direction with Youth Ministe

and commissioned leaders from withinTexas

Speaking to congregations regarding thpossibility of starting their ownintentional communities within theirneighborhoods and among theirmembers

Connecting and working with anchorchurches and our ongoing desire towork in connection with local churchethrough education and hospitality.

Participating as a Mentor to Senior-lev

seminary students through SMU-Perkins Intern Program.

May the Lord continue to multiply the number opeople inspired and participating in the practiceand life of intentional community buildingthrough Christ Jesus.

Rev. Jerry Moore

Abbots Report

Elaine HeathLeader

Constructive Theologian,

Educational Architect,

Forerunner

Elaine is a theologian, apostolicpreacher, teacher, and prophet. Her

work integrates systematic, pastoral,biblical and spiritual theology to

constructively bridge the gap betweenacademy and church, opening a path

for missional emergence in both.Central themes in Elaines theology

include the wisdom of the great saints

and mystics, the healing power of thegospel of Jesus, the church as Gods

missional community of faith, and thecentrality of the Holy Spirit in prayer,

discernment and ministry.

Larry DugginsLeader

Pilgrim Theologian,

Resource Management,

Leadership MentorLarry is a pastor and a business

person. He is equally comfortable inthe worlds of spiritual leadership and

financial analysis, and he seeks tounderstand the margins in which those

worlds meet. Central themes inLarrys theology include the

transformational power of pilgrimage,the importance of living into the

mission Christ set forth for us, and the

centrality of the Holy Spirit in prayer,discernment and ministry.


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This quarter, we have taken a number ofproactive steps to diversify our fundingsources. We are seeking recurring sourcesof revenues to support our ministries and

to balance the various sources of fundingso that we are not dependent on any singlesource or category of funding. On a cashbasis through the first eight months of2014, public donors have represented thelargest source of funding for theFoundation at 43%, followed by grants at37% and tuition at 13%.

Afterresearching the best

practices of other new monasticcommunities, having discussions withothers who administer residentialcommunities and consulting our currentresidents, the Foundation has beguncollecting rent from the participants of theEpworth Project houses. Individualresidents are paying $200 plus their shareof expenses monthly, while couplessharing a room pay $300 plus expenses.We have determined that paying these lowrents does not create an ongoing financialhardship for the residents, and in factincreases their commitment to the

program. Rents at these levels will generateapproximately $50,000 per year to partiallyoffset the costs of the Abbot and propertymaintenance. The Foundation hasconsulted with legal counsel and isconfident that the rental income will notcreate a tax liability for the Foundation.

During 2014, we have applied for tengrants for various projects and have beenawarded over $100,000. We continually

scour a variety of information sourcesto identify grantors with interest inthe ministry fields we serve. We findthat very few grant sources are

interested in funding the long-termoperation of the Foundation itself,and that most are focused on veryspecific types of programs ofministries. We are therefore activelypursuing grants to fund thedevelopment of new curricula andconstruction of buildings andinfrastructure to support our newprojects in immersion education, co-working and community education.

During the fourth quarter,we are undertaking a direct mail andemail campaign to increase ourdonations from private sources asindividuals plan their year-end giving.We have developed a trifold brochurethat describes the ministries of theFoundation in laypersons language,which we will pair with personalcorrespondence from an MWFdirector or lead team member. We areplanning on mailing over 250 of these

direct appeals to personal contacts,and we are hopeful that the appealwill lay the groundwork for anongoing growth in direct giving.

Rev. Dr. Larry Duggins

Funding & Development

Bret WellsLeader

Practical Theologian,

Academy Director,

Coaching Strategist

Bret is a theologian, leadership coach,church planter, teacher and father.

Each of these roles serve as extensions

of his calling to help people discoverand live out purpose and calling intheir own lives. Central themes in

Brets theology include the TrinitarianGod as a Community of Love, the

missional paradigm as a necessaryresult of being created in the image ofsuch a God, and the importance of the

missional imagination as both

prophetic message and vocationaldiscernment.

Jerry MooreThe Epworth Abbot

Rev. Moore comes to the Foundation

from 30 years of pastoral ministry,including eight years as chair of the

Order of Elders. He has also served asfaculty and spiritual director for the

Academy. He holds multiple

undergraduate degrees, a Masters ofDivinity and has completed extensive

post-graduate studies in FormativeSpirituality & Awareness. He is an

Ordained Elder in the UnitedMethodist Church.


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The last several months have been very fullpreparing for the fall launch of our tenthAcademy cohort. Comprised of studentsfrom Texas and New Mexico, this cohort iscentered in both Las Cruces and Dallas. We

are excited about the opportunity to exhibitsome of the great work that MissionalWisdom Foundation is doing here at homefor the benefit of our students.

The Texas - New Mexico cohort is the first toparticipate in the new design of the Academycurriculum after three years of research andone year of planning. Students nowparticipate in a four-module system thatprogresses learners toward their intentionalcommunity launch. The new orientation

module sets expectations and easesparticipants into our online learning platform.Next are the theological foundations andleadership and community modules, whichare composed of five of our previous courseofferings as well as a brand new one, entitledCreating Culture. The modules are designed tolead into the practicum, where studentslaunch and lead intentional communities.

The redesign is more than just a re-orderingof courses, however. Coaching is an integralpart the Academy, and an essential tool formissional leadership. Coaching assumes thatthe student is the expert of their own context,as well as their own gifts and abilities. Thecoachs role in the process is to create anenvironment that draws that expertise to thesurface. The student is then equipped to usetheir Academy training to imagine and createeffective missional space in their own timeand place.

In addition to providing the coaching service,we are also incorporating coaching skill

training into the new Creating Cultureclass, sothat we are both equipping students andmodeling missional leadership for them.Finally, the redesign expands the amount ofcoaching that students receive. They nowmeet with their coach once a month from thevery first module and twice a month in thefourth module. Previously, we were only ableto offer coaching for the final twelve months.This new emphasis should pay dividends forour students as they are coached throughouttheir time in the Academy.

The Academy

Justin HancockResearch Fellow

Rev. Justin Hancock is anOrdained Deacon and holds

a Masters in Christian

Ministries. His pastoral work

with young adults and

refugees informs his position

as House Steward of

Epworths Cochran House.

He counsels others living in

intentional community

throughout the MWF.

Daryn DeZengotitaCommunications &

CoworkingWendy MillerSpiritual Direction

Rev. Wendy Miller is a

contemplative story-listener

and transformative instructor.She holds degrees in Church

Leadership, Pastoral Care,

Spiritual Theology and

Spiritual Direction. She has

20 years of experience in

preparing clergy and laity for

the tending of the soul. Robert BishopAcademy Registrar

& Coaching

Katie ProvinceAdministration

Denise CraneFunding & Grant Writing


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185 S. Whites Chapel Blvd.

Southlake, TX 70692

Learn more and engage with us at www.missionalwisdom.com.


rule of life.

the very mention of the word rule can

send shivers down the spine and elicit

images of legalism or suffocatingrestrictions. But a Rule of Life is simply a

description of how we choose to live an

explicitly stated commitment to pursue a

particular way of life. In the context of

Christian discipleship, were talking about a

covenant to pursue the Way of Jesus

together with intentionality.

Bret Wells, from the ABIDE curriculum

Love God. Love People. Love Creation.

Missional Wisdom Foundation

I thank God for theopportunities God has given tous in the Missional WisdomFoundation to reach within andbeyond Texas and the UMC

into global and ecumenicalcontexts in order to help thechurch more faithfully bear the

gospel into the world. Rev. Dr. Elaine Heath

snapshot - summer 2014

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