Conference Mission Energize & Equip Local Congregations to Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.

ConferenceLeadership Teams

©Bishop Mike Lowry

November 17, 2012

Conference Mission

Energize & Equip Local

Congregations to Make Disciples of Jesus

Christfor the Transformation of

the World

Conference Vision

Vital Congregations all

across the Central Texas

Conference whoMake Disciples of Jesus Christ

for the Transformation of the World

Conference Biblical Foundation

Choose today whom you will serve. … The LORD is the one we will serve. (Joshua 24:15,21)

16Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted. 18Jesus came near and spoke to them, “I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth.19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.” (Matthew 28:16-20)

You are the body of Christ and parts of each other. (I Corinthians 12:27)

So, brothers and sisters, because of God’s mercies, I encourage you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God. This is your appropriate priestly service. 2Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is—what is good and pleasing and mature. (Romans 12:1-3)

Conference Linkage to and with Call to Action

“The adaptive challenge for The United Methodist Church is:

To redirect the flow of attention, energy, and resources to an intense concentration on fostering and sustaining an increase in the number of vital congregations effective in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

Conference Leadership Teams

Shift thinking from programing & management to:

DirectionGuidanceOversightPolicy

One Example:Conference Core Leadership Team

Responsibilities • Keeps CTC Mission, Vision and Values

out front• Recommends policies and direction

based on Annual Conference actions• Leads/Coordinates CTC long-range

planning• Provides critical review(from a big picture

perspective) on the alignment of budget, deployment of resources, major policy issues and outcomes of the centers

• Creates a culture of accountability• Seeks and Identifies emerging missional

needs

Conference Core Strategies

To energize and equip local congregations to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world through the engagement and development of the following:

• Wesleyan Spirituality and Theology

• Transformation of Local Churches• Clergy and Lay Leadership• Ministry with the Poor• New Churches• Accountability• Extravagant Generosity

Conference Vital Signs Metrics

The Five Practices

Vital Sign Metrics

Membership Vows

PassionateWorship

Average Weekly Worship

Attendance

Presence

RadicalHospitality

Professions of Faith

Reaffirmations of Faith

Witness

Intentional Faith Development

Involvement in Small Discipling

Groups

Prayers

Risk-TakingMission & Service

Involvement in Service Beyond

the CongregationService

Extravagant Generosity Total Giving Gifts

The Fifth Crucial Element:From Gospel Story to Conference

Story The Importance of Narrative

stories often change before metrics

Sightings! – God in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit in action

what we measure we pay attention to

metrics are at best proximate measurements

Conference Vital Congregation Scorecard

  2010 DATA 2012 2013 2014 2015

Percentage of Highly Vital Cong. (as compared to total # of congregations)

21.8% 25% 27% 29% 31%

Worship (Average worship attendance) 44,862 47,825 49,260 50,245 51,075

Evangelism (Total people who will join by profession of faith)

1,996 2,232 2,344 2,468 2,525

Spiritual Formation (Total of small groups, Sunday school classes and Bible studies.)

5,040 5,275 5,538 5,760 5,971

Missions (Total of people from the congregation engaged in local, national and international mission/outreach)

8,751 11,235 11,797 12,269 12,718

Stewardship (The total amount given by your congregation to other organizations for support of benevolent and charitable ministries, including connectional mission giving and support for all UMC and non-UMC organizations active in work such as advocacy, education, health, justice, mercy, outreach and welfare anywhere in the world)

$15,759,484

$16,124,834

$16,660,859

$16,940,751

$17,220,697

Conference Vital Congregation Historical Data

  2006 2007 2008 2009

Worship 47,117 46,192 46,639 45,860

Evangelism

2,195 1,946 2,223 2,085

Spiritual Formation

     5,054

Missions 2,265 2,567 2,069 7,063

Stewardship

$13,522,046

$14,704,138

$15,474,712

$14,704,048

Conference Transition TimelineNov. 13, 2010 Adoption of

Plan

Dec. 15, 2010 Naming of Center Directors

Jan. 15, 2011 Naming of District Superintendents

Jan-April, 2011 Plan Centers/Teams & Best Practices

May 1, 2011 Staffing

June 2011 Implementation/ vote on Best Practices

June – Dec 2011 Transition and Learning

Jan. 1, 2012 Fine Tuning

June 2012 Forward-Adjustment

Post June 2014 Review by outside consultant