Conference Connectional Ministries New Structure June 9, 2011

Why are We Doing This and What Are the Advantages? The Goal: To create a more open pipeline of communication among local churches, the districts, the annual conference and general church agencies To more effectively equip, resource and connect local churches for the making of disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Advantages Include: More Responsiveness to Churches in a Time Sensitive Manner Flexibility More Autonomy to the Districts Direct Connection between DCM and CCM More Accountability for Agency Members Additional Funding at the Local Church and District Level

Where We Are Now The 2010 Annual Conference voted to establish District Connectional Ministries in each district. The DCMs are made up of persons in the districts with a commitment to Jesus Christ and The United Methodist Church who have a fire in their belly for a particular area of ministry. They are named by the district superintendents, district lay leaders and district congregational specialists. They are appointed for a quadrennium but may serve only two consecutive quadrennia. The DCMs are organized around four ministry areas: Advocacy, Discipleship, Lay Leadership and Outreach.

Where We Are Headed The new structure calls for the Conference Connectional Ministries to be organized around the same four areas of Advocacy, Discipleship, Lay Leadership, and Outreach.  All the functions of current boards and agencies will be divided among these four areas.  Each area will determine how to care for the annual conference’s disciplinary mandated responsibilities.  In many cases this will involve organizing the areas into committees of 3-5 persons.  In some instances, this will mean establishing temporary task forces or longer term design teams to care for the work and report to the ministry area.  The proposal calls for a review of the structure at the end of the quadrennium with recommendations for modification to be brought back to the annual conference. You are being asked to approve the new Conference Connectional Ministries structure as outlined here at this year’s annual conference.

What Will Change Rather than having independent boards and agencies that all report to Connectional Ministries, the ministry areas will encompass multiple board/agency responsibilities.  The current structure has Connectional Ministries members nominated through the regular nomination process for the conference.  The proposed change is that each district will bring nominations from the members of the DCM to serve on the CCM. Persons may serve no more than two consecutive quadrennia.

Frequently Asked Questions What will happen to existing conference boards and agencies? Those required by The Book of Discipline will continue to exist and will function within one of the four ministry areas. The Committee on Pastoral Care and Counseling will be transferred to the Board of Ordained Ministry. Will it cost more money? No. The 2012 budget request is for no increase over 2011. Each year the committees working in the ministry areas will build budget requests for the next conference year. Does the new structure comply with The Book of Discipline? Yes, we believe it does. However we are asking that it be sent to the Judicial Council for its ruling. When will the CCM be implemented? The members will be elected at this annual conference. They will be organized and trained in late August or early September 2011. The ministry areas and their committees will collaborate with the existing Connectional Ministries committees during the fall to ensure a smooth transition to the new structure January 1, 2012. How will ad interim appointments be made? By the District Superintendent, District Lay Leader & Congregational Specialists