Creating Congregations shares new approaches to growth

BY REV. KENNY DICKSON
Custer Road UMC, Plano

Creating Congregations Team chair Rev. Matt Gaston, First UMC, Denton, reported that 30 churches have been planted in the 10 years since Bishop William B. Oden first challenged the conference to establish 100 churches by the year 2020 through the VISION 20/20 campaign.

In that time vibrant ministries have been birthed in a variety of ministry settings and cultural traditions. Rev. Edgar Bazan reported for the Hispanic Ministries team and asked that the conference endorse legislation submitted to the 2008 General Conference to maintain current Hispanic ministries funding through 2012.

Rev. Ouida Lee, Church of the Disciple, DeSoto, reported on the Five Year Black Church Initiative, asking that the Annual Conference reallocate $75,000 currently budgeted for the Black Church Initiative be reallocated with $25,000 going to the Black Church Initiative, Hispanic, and Asian ministries respectively. Rev. Ken McIntosh, coordinator of Project Pentecost, the conference's Asian and language outreach, celebrated the development of ethnic fellowships throughout the annual conference. Rev. Owen Ross, Christ's Foundry Fellowship, Dallas, also reported on a new approach to designating and supporting congregations deemed "missional."

Rev. Gaston concluded by announcing a new strategy for planting churches. The New Church Leadership Institute led by Rev. Don Smith systematically trains potential church planters. Currently 28 persons have graduated and are available for district superintendents to consider when they seek to plant new churches. Local congregations are then asked to partner with these newly planted churches. While the annual conference celebrates the 30 new congregations planted thus far, 70 additional churches must be established in the 13 years remaining if the goal of 100 churches by 2020 is to be accomplished.