Tip-Off for Ministry Clusters

What do we hope this new Indiana Conference will look like when we have completed putting it together?  Focused upon our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world  With an “inverted initiative” toward local congregations  Not “hierarchical” but an organic system of interdependence and “horizontal accountability” A New Indiana Conference

What we are doing is “assembling an automobile while driving it down the highway at 70 MPH.” - Dr. Gil Rendle consultant A New Indiana Conference

Disciples Three Simple Rules Congregations Five Practices Congregations Five Practices Clusters Congregations Working Together Districts Resourcing Clusters Conference Equipping and Connecting

Congregations and Disciples

Congregations will focus upon: 3 Simple Rules and 5 Practices Three Simple Rules for Individuals:  Do no harm  Do good  Stay in love with God Five Practices for Congregations:  Radical hospitality  Passionate worship  Intentional faith development  Risk-taking mission and service  Extravagant generosity

Ministry Clusters

Every Congregation will join a Ministry Cluster What is a “Cluster”?  A group of 4 to 9 local churches who choose to work together to accomplish the Gospel mission in their area  A group of local churches who share common ministry needs and who work together to learn from each other

Ministry Clusters Ministry clusters are to focus on answering two core questions: 1) “How are each of our congregations doing in our local church ministries toward accomplishing our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world?” and 2) “What can we do better and more effectively together in our ministries to impact our area for Christ than we can do as individual congregations?”

Ministry Clusters Churches in a Ministry Cluster will fulfill this by:  praying for each other by name during worship.  studying and praying for their shared mission area using demographic tools.  dreaming of ways to make an impact on their shared mission area through witness and/or mission, or possibly shared programs.  supporting each other, perhaps through sharing resources, expertise or best practices.  encouraging one another when faithfulness and fruitfulness is evident.  holding each other accountable when lack of faithfulness or fruitfulness is evident, including learning from ministries that have not worked.

Ministry Clusters Where does this idea come from?  Biblical model of sharing among Christians (Acts 2:44-49)  Wesley model of class meetings and societies  Covenant discipleship groups  Team ministry (started with Jesus calling two sets of brothers)  Other Conferences

Ministry Clusters The Bishop and Cabinet are hosting 10 different “Cluster Tip-Offs” where pastors and lay leaders will hear the concept, dialog, and help select their Clusters (February/March, 2009) Clusters will nominate Leaders (lay or clergy) to the DS who will name the Leader Clusters will help shape final lines of district boundaries.

Cluster Leaders and functions Characteristics of a Cluster Leader:  Lay or clergy  Time to serve  Willingness to learn about the churches, people, and communities  Convener and organizer skills  Communication with DS  Facilitate process  Willingness to be trained  Co-leaders are encouraged too

Clergy Covenant Groups

The Transition Team assigned this task to the Chairs of the Orders (Elders, Deacons, Local Pastors) and those persons are working on this assignment: Gathering information about current covenant groups “Our Life Together” retreat in April will be the launch of new groups On-going monitoring will be done

Districts

Proposed District Lines and Names 1 = North District 2 = Northeast District 3 = Northwest District 4 = West District 5 = Northcentral District 6 = Central District 7 = East District 8 = Southeast District 9 = Southwest District 10 = South District

2010 District Superintendents 1 = North District (Cindy Reynolds) 2 = Northeast District (Dave Michel) 3 = Northwest District (Craig LaSuer) 4 = West District (Judi Purvis) 5 = Northcentral District (Frank Beard) 6 = Central District (Bert Kite) 7 = East District (Dale Mendenhall) 8 = Southeast District (Brian White) 9 = Southwest District (Glenn Howell) 10 = South District (Charlie Wilfong)

District Staffing (instead of Resource Centers) District Superintendent Assistant to the DS Deployed Church Development Staff Other district staffing as determined by your district All focused upon resourcing congregations to be more effective in our mission

Conference Staff and Leadership

Conference Staffing Bishop Director of Financial Services/Treasurer Finance Staff Accounting Services Data Base Management Director of Administrative Services Administrative Services and Support Staff Pensions and Insurance Information Technology and Software Property/ Legal Service Director of Communication Web site, e-HUM, Together Public Relations Director of Connectional Ministries Youth, Young Adults, Campus Ministry Leadership Development Camping and Retreat Ministries Clergy Services and BOOM support Missions / Advocacy Director of Church Growth Deployed Staff to support local churches Deployed Staff to support new churches Cabinet (10) Executive Assistant

Conference Staffing Area Staff  Bishop – Michael Coyner Secretary to the Bishop  Executive Assistant to the Bishop – David VW Owen Receptionist/Assistant  Well-Lived Pastoral Life Director – Michelle Cobb Assistant, shared staff  Interim Director of Human Resources – Adolf Hansen

Conference Staffing (cont’d) Conference Staff led by 5 Directors:  Director of Administrative Services – Brent Williams Administrative Services and Support Staff Property and Legal Support Human Resources /Benefits Information Technology/Software Services  Director of Connectional Ministries – Jim Bushfield Clergy Services/BOOM Registrar Discipleship/Diversity / Missions Leadership Development Youth/Young Adult/Campus Ministries Camping and Retreat Ministries

Conference Staffing (cont’d)  Director of Communications – Dan Gangler Website, Advocacy, Public Relations (Assistant)  Director of Church Development – Mark Gough 5 Deployed Staff to support congregations  Director of Financial Services & Treasurer - Jennifer Gallagher Finance office staff Finance staff, Data base manager

Youth and Young Adult Ministry Director of Administrative Services Director of Communication Executive Assistant to the Bishop Cabinet Representative Council on Finance and Administration Communicati on Discipleship Leadership Development Mission Resource and Development Social Advocacy and Justice and Ethnic Ministries Camping and Retreat Ministry Congregation Redevelopment and New Congregation Development Pension and Health Insurance Board of Trustees Board of Ordained Ministry Prayer Team Leader UM Women UM Men Wesleyan Theologian Lay Leader Bishop Director of Financial Services and Treasurer Director of Connectional Ministries Director of Church Development.. Annual Conference Session Episcopacy Concerns Conference Leadership Team Cabinet Incapacit y Human Resources Administrati ve Review Nomination s Archives and History Institutional Relationships

Congregations, Clusters, Districts, and Conference Cabinet/Staff How will it all work?

Disciples Three Simple Rules Congregations Five Practices Congregations Five Practices Clusters Congregations Working Together Districts Resourcing Clusters Conference Equipping and Connecting

Congregations, Clusters, Districts, and Conference Cabinet/Staff  Churches will focus upon 5 practices  Every local congregation will be a part of a Ministry Cluster  Each Ministry Cluster will have a Cluster Leader who reports to the DS  DSes will supervise their churches and clusters of churches, but also work as a team with the other district staff, and deployed Church Development staff to resource Ministry Clusters and churches  Conference staff and leadership will support/connect the entire conference

Timeline October 4, 2008 – Special Session adopted final report on Imagine Indiana and Transition Team motions to create the Indiana Conference Winter/Spring, 2008/2009 – Directors began hiring new conference staff; the new CFA, Trustees, and Interim Committees began February/March 2009 – “Tip-Off” meetings to select Ministry Clusters March, 2009 – launch of new website April, 2009 – “Our Life Together” retreat for clergy will launch Clergy Covenant groups

Timeline (continued) June, 2009 – First Session of new AC, election of conference committees (Rethink Church) Fall of 2009 – Ministry Clusters and Clergy Covenant Groups continue; the two current Cabinets function as one Cabinet and begin preparing to move to 10 district model. January 1, 2010 – new conference office in place by this date (or sooner) January 1, 2010 – the new Indiana Conference begins to operate with a unified budget January 1, 2010 – launch of the new 10 districts to be finalized by July 1, 2010

God is doing a new thing in Indiana … we are moving forward one step at a time

Ministry Clusters are the next step  Time for questions and comments  Break  Start moving into Ministry Clusters of your choice  Your DS and Lay Leaders will help  Set the time for your first Ministry Cluster Team meeting  Nominate a Cluster Leader to your DS  Meet together as a Cluster Team, get acquainted, pray for each other