Council Executive Committee Affirms Unity, Moves Forward
United Methodist Council of Bishops
     Meeting in Chicago last week, the Council of Bishops' Executive Committee approved a framework for implementing the Commission on a Way Forward and took a step toward a called session of the General Conference in 2018.
     The Council acknowledged that the landscape of the church has changed dramatically since the General Conference approved the Council's proposal in May, but re-affirmed their commitment to lead the church forward.
     "The reported declarations of non-compliance from several annual conferences, the intention to convene a Wesleyan Covenant Association and the election of the Rev. Karen Oliveto as a bishop of the church have opened deep wounds and fissures within The United Methodist Church and fanned fears of schism," said Bishop Bruce R. Ough, Council president, in a detailed statement outlining the actions taken. "The church finds itself in an extremely fragile, highly contested season."
     The statement further reads, "We affirm that, as disciples of Jesus, we are all called to maintain unity in the bond of peace.  As a Council, we re-affirm our commitment to lead the church in discerning and charting a way forward. We intend to do so with prayerful attention to both urgency and thoughtful preparation."
     The Council adopted a purpose statement for the Commission, including its mission, vision and scope, and determined that it will be composed of 20-25 members to be identified by August 31 with a target of October for an initial meeting. Each bishop will nominate up to five persons, and names that have previously been submitted to either the president or executive secretary of the Council will be considered as well.
     A search is already underway for a professional facilitator to design and guide the Commission's discernment process.  Bishops Ken Carter, Sandra Steiner Ball and David Yemba have been selected to serve as a team of moderators to preside, provide spiritual guidance and pastoral care. Updates on the Commission's actions will be provided through regular press releases every 4-6 weeks.
     An invitation to prayer for the Commission involving the entire church, called "Praying Our Way Forward," will be launched in October. More details regarding that initiative will be forthcoming.
The Executive Committee will bring the matter of a called special session to the full Council for consideration in November. Only the full Council could authorize such a session.
     In a related action, the Council further voted to urge the Judicial Council to include the South Central Jurisdictional Conference's request regarding the election of Bishop Karen Oliveto on the docket for their fall meeting on October 25-28.
Off to a Creative, New Start
By Rev. Dr. William D. Gibson | Director of Strategic Faith Community Development

     In a 2015 report, Professor James Wellman of the University of Washington, noted that more than 60 percent of the population in the Northwest are "Nones" or "Dones" - those who are spiritual but not religious, and those disconnected from the church out of frustration. Through our work of creating new places for new people, we can see our ministry context as either the greatest challenge or the greatest opportunity. Wellman argues that the "None Zone" should be renamed as the "Abundant Zone." I agree with Wellman. God has blessed us with a unique, abundant opportunity.
     The work of starting new churches in the None Zone of the Pacific Northwest just got a bump. In the wake of Annual Conference, we are off to a creative, new start in many neighborhoods and communities, in our efforts to reach marginalized and disconnected people. Many of these efforts specifically target millennials, which make up the largest demographic in the U.S., falling between the ages of 18 and 35.
     With the onset engagement and release of the new Pokémon Go App for smartphones, Casey Banks, who leads a new church expansion site initiative out of First United Methodist Church of Vancouver, recognized a unique intersection of technology and community.

Rev. Wendell Horn Appointed the NWTX Interim Director
of Mission & Administration

Rev. Wendell Horn has been appointed by Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe to serve as the Interim Director of Mission and Administration of the Northwest Texas Conference. Wendell will begin serving in this interim appointment on September 1, 2016 and will serve as the interim until July 1, 2017, when a permanent Director of Mission and Administration will begin serving. Rev. Horn most recently served as the senior pastor of Oakwood United Methodist Church in Lubbock, Texas. His ministry and service in the Conference has included serving as a District Superintendent, as well as serving on many Conference and District Boards, Committees and Teams, most recently serving as the Chair of the Conference Board of Trustees, as a member of the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and as a member of the Conference Leadership Team. Wendell follows, in the interim, Rev. Dr. Jimmy Nunn, who served as the Director of Mission and Administration for five years, as Bishop Nunn goes to serve the Oklahoma Annual Conference and the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference as their episcopal leader, effective September 1, 2016.

FREE MissionInsite Seminars in September!
MissionInsite is a demographic program that provides churches with instant access to community information.  You will get desktop web-based access to demographic data for a variety of geographic levels.  Discovering your church's ministry opportunities has never been easier.  The system also provides local churches with the ability to locate their church members and others affiliated with their church on your map.  
Who should attend:  Pastors, church staff and laity leaders responsible for discipleship ministries and others interested in helping people grow as disciples. 
Facilitator: Peter Wernett 
Logistics: 
Wednesday, Sept. 21 - FUMC-Clovis 
Thursday, Sept. 22 - El Paso District (tbd) 
Friday, Sep.t 23 - St. Paul's-ABQ

Contact Cheri Lyon at cherilealyon@gmail.com

 Click here for all the information

TED Book/Video List


There are only a few more weeks before "summer vacation" is over.  Here is your last minute just-for-fun book list.  Plus, if you do not have the time to read yet another book, there are aligned TED Talk video ideas for each book.   
Click here for the full list 

  Creating a Culture of Renewal - Track 1 Training
Opening - Sept. 15th - 17th at St. Paul's UMC - ABQ
Deadline to sign-up is August 15th.
Questions?  Contact Randall Partin - randall@nmconfum.com
 

Natalie Grant - "Held"
An oldie, but good for the soul - When tragedy beyond understanding occurs, we can gently remind others that God is with us even in the darkest times. 
Natalie Grant - Held
Natalie Grant - Held

Conference Subsidized Coaching Training Opportunities Available!
If you have ever considered training to become a coach, now is the time to do it.  To benefit our members and expand our cadre of coaches, the NM Conference is subsidizing the cost of attending the Coaching4Clergy Coaching Certification Programs.  Modules DO NOT have to be taken in sequence.  Module 2 will be offered in Jan/Feb.  There are 2 levels of training to be offered this fall:

Professional Coach Training - Coaching Foundations
(Module 1 of Coaching4Clergy Coaching Certification Program)
October 19-21, 2016 at Grace UMC - ABQ
$250 (Conference subsidy - $500/person)  Attendee covers travel costs.
Registration deadline - Sept. 7th
Description:  20 hour course:  Overview of core coaching competencies, coaching intact teams and groups, common coaching scenarios in ministry, deep listening and powerful questions.  Note:  This is a stand alone course and you do not need to be interested in becoming a certified coach in order to attend. 

Preparation for Professional Coach Certification
(Modules 3 & 4 of Coaching4Clergy Certification Program)
November 7 - 11, 2016 at Sacramento Camp & Conference Center
$700 (Conference subsidy - $1550/person)  Please contact Sacramento directly to arrange lodging & meals - attendee covers cost. Click here for Sacramento website
Registration deadline - Sept. 7th
You DO NOT need to complete modules 1 & 2 to attend this course.
Description: 64 hours of coaching training
  • 40 hours on-site
  • 8 hours of asynchronous self-paced coaching training provided online
  • One individual Mentor-Coaching Session for PCC written review
  • Modules 3 & 4 graduation & exam fee

If you have any questions, please contact Cheri Lyon at cherilealyon@gmail.com or 505-440-6849.  Click here for the C4C website. 


 
UPCOMING EVENTS & IMPORTANT DATES 
>Aug. 6 & 20 
>Aug. 26-27
>Sept. 9-10 
>Sept. 9 
>Sept. 9 
>Sept. 10-11
>Sept. 10
>Sept. 12
>Sept. 13 
>Sept. 15-17
>Sept. 21
>Sept. 22
>Sept. 23 
>Sept. 23-24
>Sept. 23-25 
>Oct 2-5
>Oct 19-21
>Nov. 7-11  
Lay Servant School
Lay Servant School
Lay Servant School
Movementum
Church Historian Training
Heritage Tour
Movementum
Movementum
Movementum
Creating a Culture of Renewal - Track 1
MissionInsite Training
MissionInsite Training
MissionInsite Training 
CLM Training Begins
UMM-Fall Conference  
Fall Clergy Retreat
Coaching - Basic Training
Prep for Prof. Coaching Cert.Training
FUMC-Roswell
FUMC-ABQ
St. Paul's-El Paso
St. Luke's-El Paso
St. John's-ABQ
Albuquerque
St. John's-ABQ
Center Street-Tucumcari
FUMC-Artesia
St. Paul's-ABQ
FUMC-Clovis
El Paso District
St. Paul's-ABQ 
FUMC-Roswell
Sacramento 
Sacramento
Grace UMC-ABQ
Sacramento C&C Center
 

Classifieds
Conference Calendar
UMC website
 


RELEVANT, PASSIONATE, AND LIFE-CHANGING CHURCHES

New Mexico Annual Conference  

11816 Lomas Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87112

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Receptionist Hours: 9:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.

(800) 678-8786 toll free; (505) 255-8786; (505) 265-6184 fax

 Click here to view our staff listing  

 

 

Please send photos, articles, events, etc. to Alli Costello, Communications Director at alli@nmconfum.com.  Send classified ads to frontdesk@nmconfum.com.