four areas OF FOCUS 4 Developing New Leaders  Church Growth  Ministry with the Poor  Global Health Rio Grande Conference OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Office of Connectional Ministries & Congregational Development Conference Mobilization Plan Plan de Mobilizacion Conferencial

Conference Mobilization Plan Aligned with  4 Areas of FocusAligned with  4 Areas of Focus June 2008  Congregational Development Transformation of existing Starting NEW CHURCHES Leadership Development Health & Wellness Ministries Partnering with the Poor in Ministry

ministerios de salud y bienestar Desarrollo De Liderazgo Plan de Movilizacion Conferencial Alineado con  4 Areas de EnfoqueAlineado con  4 Areas de Enfoque Junio 2008  la asociación con el pobre en el ministerio desarrollo de la congregación transformar las congregaciones existentes comenzar NUEVAS IGLESIAS

Leadership Development CMT as Learning Communities Learning how to love God & love neighbor Who are we and how are we to BE? What is God calling us to DO? Learning how to learn Critical questions we must ask ourselves about our realities  Personal & Congregational Learning how to lead 2 people + 1 idea + GOD = ministry Personal learnings & sharing

Una comunidad que aprende es un grupo de personas que comparten valores y creencias comunes, es entrado activamente a aprender junto de uno al otro. A learning community is a group of people who share common values and beliefs, are actively engaged in learning together from each other.

Congregational Development Transforming existing congregations Critical questions & assessments Thriving? Maintaining? Realized or Unrealized Decline? GANAS Factor – how willing are we to face reality and do something about it? What are our Fruitful Practices as a congregation? Are we creating space to receive those who have not arrived at the church yet? What is your system for Spiritual Formation & Leadership Development?

Congregational Development Starting NEW CHURCHES Where are the areas to start new churches? Seven possibilities have been identified throughout RGC according to the Cabinet’s report to the Common Table Cultivating the leadership and drive to do this Shifting the RGC economic system to encourage new church starts and congregational transformation

Ministry in partnership with the POOR Are we creating space to receive those who have not arrived at the church yet? Local church as missional center and community connector Provide presence and leadership to existing entities that address issues of the poor and the marginalized Engaging in Border & Immigration issues Inventory of existing outreach ministries Demographics & understanding community realities of people living within 5 mile radius of the church

Health & Wellness Ministries How are we engaging in health and wellness issues? What is our health condition – body, mind, & spirit? What is our understanding and engagement in Hispanic health issues? Diabetes, Hypertension, mental health, teenage pregnancy, Border Health issues, etc…

Our Steps to Get There… 1.Re-purposing the Office of Connectional Ministries 2. Congregational Development Consultants 3. Leadership Institute Development 4. Leadership Development

Office Portfolios –General Connectional Ministries –Congregational Development –Leadership Development –Communications Systems evaluation & implementation Resource Development & Project Management –Resource library  shelf & virtual 1.Re-purposing the Office of Connectional Ministries

Solicited input of Advisory Board Sept Development Meeting Oct –Learning Communities –Facilitation –Providing Resources 2. Congregational Development Consultants

DCM in Master Facilitation Course August 2008  Consultant Group training December 2008 –Became a Learning Community & proclamation that Leadership Institute starts with consultants Consultants Facilitation Training 1 January 2009 Consultants moving to base February 2009  3. Leadership Institute Development

Cooperative Ministry Teams engagement in the Four Areas of Focus March 2009  –Shift in thinking Creativity Moving from scarcity to abundance thinking Fruitful practices of fruitful congregations Becoming “Level 5” leaders –Current Reality Checks 4. Leadership Development  Learning Communities

MINISTERIOS DE SALÚD Y BIENESTAR MINISTERIO EN COLABORACIÓN CON LOS POBRES INICIO DE NUEVAS IGLESIAS REVITALIZACIÓN de IGLESIA LOCAL CMT INSTITUTO DE LIDERAZGO

Re intencionar La Oficina de Ministerios Conexionales Inicio de Nuevas Iglesias Desarrollo de Comunicaciones y Avance Equipo de Desarrollo Congregacional Conferencial Instituto de Liderazgo Conferencial Revitalización Congregacional SEIS COMPONENTES DE DESARROLLO CONGREGACIONAL DE LA CONFERENCIA

shifts in thinking los cambios en el pensamiento

thinking creatively el pensamiento creativamente

Do we see the glass half empty or half full ¿Vemos nosotros el vaso medio vacía o medio lleno?

asset-based thinking las comunidades tienen deficiencias y necesidades las comunidades y los ciudadanos tienen las capacidades y las ventajas

Building Communities from the Inside Out Becoming Asset Based

Building Communities from the Inside Out Que dice el pueblo? Assets & Capacities Needs & Deficiencies

…as individuals, what are our practices ? THREE SIMPLE RULES: A Wesleyan Way of Living… 1.Do no harm 2.Do good 3.Stay in love with God

…as RGC congregations, what are our practices ? 1.Radical hospitality? 2.Passionate worship? 3.Intentional Faith- Development? 4.Risk-taking mission & service? 5.Extravagant generosity?

How are developing leaders – as individuals & collectively? Developing Leadership

shifts in thinking los cambios en el pensamiento

Now that you have seen this video and the presentation: What phrases or images catches your attention from this presentation? Of the 4 areas of focus? Of the conference mobilization plan?

What excites you about this?

Where do you feel challenged?

Where in you church or CMT are you already connecting to the 4 areas of focus ?

What “bright lights” are you seeing emerge in your congregation that can be places of learning for us?

In what way does our leadership need to grow / expand to engage in the opportunities before us?