The following blog posting (“A Time for Courage: Part III) is the third and final section of my Episcopal Address given to the Central Texas Annual Conference on June 12, 2017. Part I was posted June 19th and Part II was posted June 21st. I remind the reader of the closing paragraph of Part II: “We are sailing on the Dawn Treader and not on the Titanic! In the immortal words of William Carey, “Attempt great things for God and expect great things from God.” In my words, breathe deep. Jesus is Lord and we are not. That is a really good thing! This is his church, not ours!!” --Bishop Mike Lowry, Resident Bishop of the Central Texas Annual Conference.
So let’s get c
oncrete about the work of ministry before us as lay and clergy together in the Central Texas Conference. Wherever you are on the continuum between a progressive theology and a traditional/evangelical theology, we need faithful and fruitful congregations. The Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the church, calls us to build vital congregations! Whatever the future brings, we need Christ-honoring, life-giving places of worship and service! This is why we are engaged in our God-honoring mission that emerges naturally out of the Great Commission of the risen Savior and moves forward under the power of the Holy Spirit.
When I came to the Central Texas Conference nine years ago, there was already a firmly implanted understanding of the mission of The United Methodist Church and in particular of the mission of the churches in the Central Texas Conference: “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”
Mission: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Our clear vision over the last nine years has centered on building faithful and fruitful churches in all kinds of locations, with wide and a variety missions fields including great diversity, and a deep sense of life transforming discipleship.
Vision: Vibrant and Vital local churches of all sizes, types and in all contexts all across the Central Texas Conference, which are fruitful and faithful in accomplishing the stated mission.
Yoked to the mission and vision has been a consistent core strategy which we have called simply “the Big Three.” Collectively they represent not only the core strategy but a set of driving values which give shape to our collective ministry.
Core Strategic Values: To engage deeply in the “big three” key strategic values
Strategic Focus: Increasing the number of disciples of Jesus Christ during the next 10 years through . . .
WIG MEASUREMENTS YOKED TO THE NARRATIVE:
Tactics:
From our core strategy, focused on the WIG, over the years we have looked at a number of important tactical ways to move towards this Christ honoring goal of vibrant, vital, faithful and fruitful local churches in fulfillment of the Great Commission of Christ to go and make disciples. This list includes but is not limited to:
On a full sea we are now afloat indeed but, this is not the voyage of the Titantic. Instead to the glory of God, the honor of Christ, and the celebration of the Holy Spirit moving among us, this is the voyage of some kind of combination of the voyages of the Mayflower and the Dawn Treader. It is combination only God could put together.
Our phenomenal good fortune, no … our phenomenal divine blessing and high privilege is being signed aboard as crew on the ship of the church captained by Christ himself! I challenge us to be who we are at our best … people of faith and not fear. This is a time for courage; quiet, persistent, resilient courage under the Lord’s leadership and the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
“God of grace and God of glory, On Thy people pour Thy power. Crown Thine ancient church’s story, Bring her bud to glorious flower. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, For the facing of this hour, For the facing of this hour” (“God of Grace and God of Glory,” Hymn Number 577, The United Methodist Hymnal, verse No. 1).
oncrete about the work of ministry before us as lay and clergy together in the Central Texas Conference. Wherever you are on the continuum between a progressive theology and a traditional/evangelical theology, we need faithful and fruitful congregations. The Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the church, calls us to build vital congregations! Whatever the future brings, we need Christ-honoring, life-giving places of worship and service! This is why we are engaged in our God-honoring mission that emerges naturally out of the Great Commission of the risen Savior and moves forward under the power of the Holy Spirit.
When I came to the Central Texas Conference nine years ago, there was already a firmly implanted understanding of the mission of The United Methodist Church and in particular of the mission of the churches in the Central Texas Conference: “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”
Mission: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Our clear vision over the last nine years has centered on building faithful and fruitful churches in all kinds of locations, with wide and a variety missions fields including great diversity, and a deep sense of life transforming discipleship.
Vision: Vibrant and Vital local churches of all sizes, types and in all contexts all across the Central Texas Conference, which are fruitful and faithful in accomplishing the stated mission.
Yoked to the mission and vision has been a consistent core strategy which we have called simply “the Big Three.” Collectively they represent not only the core strategy but a set of driving values which give shape to our collective ministry.
Core Strategic Values: To engage deeply in the “big three” key strategic values
- Christ at the Center
- Focus on the local Church
- Develop a new generation of lay and clergy leaders
Strategic Focus: Increasing the number of disciples of Jesus Christ during the next 10 years through . . .
- New Faith Communities
- Clergy and Lay Leadership Development
- Mission Focused Discipleship
WIG MEASUREMENTS YOKED TO THE NARRATIVE:
- Market share (as defined by average weekly worship attendance divided by total population; currently we are at 1.07%)
- 1.1% by 2020
- 1.25% by 2026
- Professions of Faith
- 3,500 per year by 2026 (At the end of 2016 the number of professions of faith was 1, 845.)
Tactics:
From our core strategy, focused on the WIG, over the years we have looked at a number of important tactical ways to move towards this Christ honoring goal of vibrant, vital, faithful and fruitful local churches in fulfillment of the Great Commission of Christ to go and make disciples. This list includes but is not limited to:
- Investigating our context (with Dr. Gil Rendle)
- Wrestling with Wesleyan Theology (Dr. Kenda Dean)
- Local Church Leadership (Rev. Adam Hamilton)
- Developing cultural and ethnic inclusivity (General Secretary Erin Hawkins & Rev. Rudy Rasmus)
- Building a Conference and Church culture that is open to experimentation (Bishop Robert Schnase – “Seven Levers: Missional Strategies for Conferences”)
- Understanding our Path to Discipleship (Dr. Candace Lewis, Bishop Scott Jones, & Dr. Phil Maynard)
On a full sea we are now afloat indeed but, this is not the voyage of the Titantic. Instead to the glory of God, the honor of Christ, and the celebration of the Holy Spirit moving among us, this is the voyage of some kind of combination of the voyages of the Mayflower and the Dawn Treader. It is combination only God could put together.
Our phenomenal good fortune, no … our phenomenal divine blessing and high privilege is being signed aboard as crew on the ship of the church captained by Christ himself! I challenge us to be who we are at our best … people of faith and not fear. This is a time for courage; quiet, persistent, resilient courage under the Lord’s leadership and the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
“God of grace and God of glory, On Thy people pour Thy power. Crown Thine ancient church’s story, Bring her bud to glorious flower. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, For the facing of this hour, For the facing of this hour” (“God of Grace and God of Glory,” Hymn Number 577, The United Methodist Hymnal, verse No. 1).