Transition team, task forces begin work

08-05-2011

Transition team, task forces begin work

By Amy Forbus
Editor

On July 9, a transition team and three task forces met to begin discerning how the new mission, vision and core measures of the Conference will drive our actions.

The transition team has divided into four small groups to address 1) the organization of districts and the property belonging to each; 2) leadership structure of the Conference; 3) personnel issues and 4) budget recommendations for 2012.

The three task forces attending the July 9 meeting will focus on ethnic ministries, young adult ministries and ministry with children and youth.

Each group is asked to consider ministry needs, benchmarks for accountability and effectiveness and potential strategies for moving forward. Other task forces will deal with the formation of the Center for Clergy and Laity Excellence, the Center for Technology and the Networks for Personal and Social Holiness.

Bishop Charles Crutchfield made it clear to those present that the work ahead will take time, and that he expects no quickly-devised proposals.

“The expectation is that you will be providing an interim report in early September and, if possible, sharing something of the journey your task force has made with the called session of the Annual Conference on October 29,” he told those gathered at the initial meeting.

The September and October reports will include information on the direction of each task force’s conversations, but no action items requiring a vote of the Conference.

Names of the transition team and task force members will be listed at arumc.org/imagineministry, as will updates on their work as the process unfolds.

Each task force includes a member of the original Imagine Ministry team, which will remain in place, says Bishop Crutchfield, “until the ‘new way’ is embedded in the Annual Conference culture.” He requests that United Methodists in Arkansas keep the members of all teams and task forces in their prayers.