1. Learnings from Merger and Re-Structure Process Arkansas Annual Conference Texas Annual Conference

2. 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.

3. The United Methodist Church articulates its purpose/mission this way: “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

4. Merger, re-structure and/or re-organization take a huge amount of energy from the best leaders of the conference.

5. The only good motive for uniting conferences and/or re-organizing existing ones is to further the mission of the church.

6. Many of our UMC members, officers, leaders do not understand their God-given purpose/mission.

7. It is critical to agree about key values.

8. Purpose without alignment of the structure and the budget is just playing with words.

9. Merger or re-organization is a long-term process.

10. In Texas, the re-organization, re-districting and budget re-alignment occurred in 12 months.

11. Minimizing structure is a good thing.

12. Expect resistance. Learn from it. Adapt.

13. Work with the 20% who are ready.

14. It is not possible to over- communicate, but it is possible to be too un-focused in communication.

15. Trust is everything.

16. Stay in touch.

17. When we think we have arrived, we have only started.

18. 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.

19. Christian discipleship and pastoral leadership thrive in a rich, diverse environment of Christian community and engagement with the world.

20. Pastoral leaders are called as faithful, fruitful disciples of Jesus.

21. Out of their baptism, some persons are called to pastoral ministry.

22. Arkansas Connected in Christ

23. Texas New Generation Initiative