Process revamped to broaden field for leadership roles
By RICHARD HEARNELay Leader
During the 2011 Annual
Conference, some North
Texas Conference members
expressed concerns about the
Nominations Report, fearing
that certain people and groups
were excluded from election to
leadership positions. Although
I heartily disagree, it became
obvious to me, as chairman of
the Nominations Committee,
that we needed to respect these
views and work to end this
perception.
The NTC is establishing a new process that puts nominations in the hands of the members of the Annual Conference and not a small group serving on the Nominations Committee. The focus and responsibility for being nominated is now shifted from the committee to individual members, clergy and laity of the NTC.
NOMINATIONS TIMELINE
Jan. 9: The Nominations Booklet and profile sheet are posted on NTC website, sent to the district superintendents and made available to the Annual Conference.
Jan. 9-Feb. 12: The signed profile sheets are submitted to the Office of the Assistant to the Bishop.
Feb. 20-March 2: The Office of Assistant to the Bishop compiles the Profile Sheet Booklet.
March 5: The Profile Sheet Booklet is made available to the Nominations Committee.
March 5-April 13: The Nominations Committee meets and completes its report, to be made ready for review by the Extended Cabinet and Core Leadership Team .
May 9-16: The Nominations Committee report is finalized and made ready for the District Conferences.
May 20: The Nominations Committee report is presented at the four District Conferences as a supplement to the Annual Conference Workbook.
June 3-5: The Nominations Report is presented to the Annual Conference for confirmation or other nominations from the floor.
Here's how it works: An information booklet detailing all the committees and positions available will be placed on the NTC website. Those interested in a position can research the opportunities and decide where they would like to serve, based on position requirements and an individual's gifts and graces. This booklet will also include the Discipline paragraph that covers the position, the responsibilities and work of a committee, how often and where the committee meets and other pertinent information.
Interested candidates can submit a profile sheet for a position or positions. The profile sheet provides basic information that will allow the Nominations Committee to place the most qualified person into a spot – with a commitment for an inclusive leadership.
The profile sheet will go to the district superintendent for clergy and the local pastor for laity for approval/comment and then will be sent to the Nominations Committee. The committee will flesh out the Nominations Report, which will then go to the Extended Cabinet and Core Leadership Team to assure that the report is inclusive and represents NTC membership. The Nominations Report will then be presented at the District Day preceding Annual Conference.
Of course, nominations will be allowed from the floor when the Nominations Report is presented to the Annual Conference.
The Nominations Committee is making every attempt to make sure everyone within the NTC is aware of this process. Because of unforeseen circumstances, the timeline for the process has been shortened, so responses must be prompt.
A great burden falls on the clergy to decide what role they would like to serve and, more important, which laity in their church they feel have gifts and graces to serve on these committees. Mailings will be sent to all clergy, 2011 NTC lay members and the different caucus groups across the Annual Conference.
Please contact me at rbhearne@sbcglobal.net or 214- 505-2324 with any questions.
NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
|
Chairman: Richard Hearne,
NTC lay leader
The Rev. Dr. Clara Reed, Metro District superintendent The Rev. Paul Gould, East District superintendent The Rev. Dr. Marvin Guier, Northwest District superintendent The Rev. Dr. Frank Alegria, North Central District superintendent |
Billy Ratcliff, Metro District
layperson
Judy Gilreath, East District layperson Pat Deal, Northwest District layperson Jeff Bouis, North Central District layperson |






Margaret Ellen "Peggy"
Railey, 63, died Dec. 26 in Tyler,
at rest after a painful chapter
that touched Dallas-area United
Methodists.
The NTC General and Jurisdictional
Conference delegation will hold an
Information and Listening Session
from 10 to 11:45 a.m. Saturday,
March 3, at
Dont forget to make your reservations
for "Simplify Your Life," this
year's Clergy Spouse Retreat that will
be held Feb. 3-4 at
The United Methodist Women are
holding a spiritual retreat open to
all women of the North Texas Conference.
It runs from 3 p.m. Friday,
Jan. 13, to 3 p.m. Jan. 14 at 














