Unification Focus Groups
UPDATE: All three of the scheduled CTC Unification Focus Groups are full and registration is now closed.
As Bishop Saenz outlined in his 2023 Episcopal Address, a consultation process is underway to work toward unifying the Central, North and Northwest Texas Conferences so that we are prepared and well-positioned to move forward in our disciple-making mission as a unified conference following the widely anticipated adoption of new conference boundaries by the 2024 South Central Jurisdictional Conference.
The first phase of the process, which began in mid-June with more than 60 hours of interviews of the lay and clergy Conference staff members, is now complete. Phase II will seek input from lay and clergy Conference members via Zoom Focus Groups facilitated by consultant Dr. John Wimberly. John is a member of the Unification Consultation Team announced by Bishop Saenz to make recommendations to Conference leaders regarding the organizational design of a new Conference. Dr. Wimberly brings more than a decade of consultation experience along with 40 years of experience as a local church pastor.
The three Central Texas Conference Unification Focus Groups are scheduled for Thursday, July 20 at 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 25 at 10 a.m., and Saturday, July 29 at 10 a.m. Each of the Focus Group Zooms will be 60- to 90-minutes in length, and will focus on the following two questions:
The first phase of the process, which began in mid-June with more than 60 hours of interviews of the lay and clergy Conference staff members, is now complete. Phase II will seek input from lay and clergy Conference members via Zoom Focus Groups facilitated by consultant Dr. John Wimberly. John is a member of the Unification Consultation Team announced by Bishop Saenz to make recommendations to Conference leaders regarding the organizational design of a new Conference. Dr. Wimberly brings more than a decade of consultation experience along with 40 years of experience as a local church pastor.
The three Central Texas Conference Unification Focus Groups are scheduled for Thursday, July 20 at 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 25 at 10 a.m., and Saturday, July 29 at 10 a.m. Each of the Focus Group Zooms will be 60- to 90-minutes in length, and will focus on the following two questions:
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What do you appreciate most about your Conference?
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How would you like to see a new Conference carry out its mission in the future (staffing, programs, budget, etc.)?
Each of the three Focus Groups are now full and registration has been closed. At this time, no new Focus Group times are planned; however, that may change. Please continue to watch the unification page of the conference website (ctcumc.org/unification) and/or the conference Facebook page (facebook.com/ctcumc) for updates as they are available.
The goal of unification is to build a new, more adaptive, agile, faithful and fruitful way to do ministry that will accelerate our growth and collective missional impact. Our 21-century organizational design will provide the structure and foundation of the churches we serve today and for those churches future generations will receive, value and grow. Bishop Saenz and all of the CTC leadership hope you will participate in these important conversations about the future of the UMC in our region – the fastest growing population-wise region in the U.S.