Looking Ahead

June 1, 2009 marks the completion of my first year as District Superintendent. I want to share a few reflections on where we are and where we are going as a district. I believe a number of areas of ministry by the District are well developed and should be perpetuated without dramatic change. Our credentialing process is going forward with emphasis on encouraging young people to prayerfully consider vocational ministry. Administrative responsibilities continue including Camp Cedaredge which is being managed effectively. Our departmental leaders work diligently to provide our churches with resources and opportunities for Children’s Ministry, Royal Rangers, Girls Ministry, Youth Ministry, Men’s Ministry, Women’s Ministry, and Missions. Our leaders are always looking for ways to improve as we go forward in these areas.

There are also some areas of change. For example, we have reduced the number of Presbyter Meetings from four to two a year with Executive Presbyter Meetings in between. Of course, we will caucus our full Presbyter board whenever needed by phone or internet to take care of business requiring the action of the full board. Our goal is to make more time available for our Presbyters to work within their sections to promote fellowship, provide assistance to pastors and churches, and promote the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom. I believe our Presbyters and Sectional Committeemen can be strategic in generating church development and church planting in their sections.

Church Development has been an area of emphasis in the last year as Dave Argue and his team work to assist churches in need. Currently Dave is providing various levels of assessment for several churches, and I might note that strong churches are also represented as they seek further improvement in ministry. In addition, two special opportunities for pastoral growth and interaction are available. One gathering will be In the San Juan section the last weekend of May and another in the West Central section the last weekend of June. Contact your Presbyter for full details and schedule. We anticipate more events of this nature in the future. I also believe there will be Providential opportunities for churches to partner together to bring greater strength to a struggling church and I encourage us all to be sensitive to possibilities in this area.

Church Planting continues as an area of great importance. Due to budget realities we reduced staffing in this area, but remain committed to church planting. We have a good system in place for assessment and assistance. I want to retain the opportunity for individual church planters to start churches with the district’s blessing and assistance. I believe, however, that planting churches is most effectively done by parenting churches. That can happen in two ways. A parent church can plant a district affiliated church with a process involving District approval, or a parent church can plant a satellite campus that will remain under the governance of the parenting church. We have five churches I am aware of that plan to establish satellites in the future. One is making preparation to launch in September of this year. I encourage pastors to prayerfully consider the expansion of the ministry of their church by planting a district affiliated church, a satellite church, or assisting an individual church planter. No doubt, each pastor and church leadership team must determine God’s direction for them and I fully respect that process.

My heart is to see our ministers and their families healthy, our churches effectively ministering in their communities, and a spirit of collaboration in the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom. The bottom line is making more disciples of Jesus Christ. My goal is to help those who minister achieve this purpose.