EPISCOPALADDRESS

to the

Central Texas Conferenceof The United Methodist Church

June 4, 2012

Bishop Mike Lowry ©

EPISCOPALADDRESS

to the

Central Texas Conferenceof The United Methodist Church

June 4, 2012

Bishop Mike Lowry ©

Energizing and Equipping the Churches

of the

Central Texas ConferenceThe United Methodist Church

“The adaptive challenge for The United Methodist Church is:

To redirect the flow of attention, energy, and resources to an intense concentration on fostering and sustaining an increase in the number of vital congregations effective in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

Central Texas ConferenceCATEGORY 2010 2011 DIFFERENCE %

CHANGE

Churches with at least 1 Profession of Faith 152 195 43 28%Churches with at least 1 Baptism 151 189 38 25%Churches that held a Confirmation Class 50 101 51 102%Churches that showed a gain in Worship attendance 53 121 71 133%Churches with at least 1 Mission team sent into the world 74 124 50 68%Churches with at least 1 community ministry in Outreach, Justice and Mercy 146 206 60 41%Churches that paid at least 100% of their Connectional Mission Giving (CMG) 268 262 -6 -2%

What We’ve Learned1. The Cluster Group model doesn’t work

2. Healthy Church Initiative and Small Church Initiative (PLD, LLD)

3. Partners in Ministry4. Coalition of the Willing5. Strategic Focus6. Experimentation in parenting, multi-site cooperative

parish, etc.7. Leadership Development8. District Superintendents as mission strategists and

mission field appointments9. Recruitment of a new generation of clergy and lay

leadership

Remember the Future1. The top of page 31: “How does God’s grace

break though.” Middle of p. 32: “If your church has not experience such a change, what do you think it will take?”

Remember the Future1. The top of page 31: “How does God’s grace

break though.” Middle of p. 32: “If your church has not experience such a change, what do you think it will take?”

2. Now turn to page 39 and read the second full paragraph. Then flip to the bottom of page 41 and the top of page 42.

Remember the Future1. The top of page 31: “How does God’s grace

break though.” Middle of p. 32: “If your church has not experience such a change, what do you think it will take?”

2. Now turn to page 39 and read the second full paragraph. Then flip to the bottom of page 41 and the top of page 42.

3. One last exercise; flip to page 97.