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Rethink EPA. Town Hall Meetings. Why are we here?. To discuss. Refocusing Conference Goals Rebuilding Reserves and pensions. Psalm 90. Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth. Or ever you had formed the earth and the world
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Rethink EPA Town Hall Meetings
To discuss • Refocusing Conference Goals • Rebuilding Reserves and pensions
Psalm 90 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth
Or ever you had formed the earth and the world From everlasting to everlasting you are God
“O God Our Help in Ages Past” O God our help in ages past Our hope for years to come Our shelter from the stormy blast And our eternal home
Under the shadow of thy throne Still may we dwell secure Sufficient in Thine arm alone And our defense is sure
Before the hills in order stood or earth received her frame From everlasting Thou art God to endless years the same
A thousand ages in thy sight Are like an evening gone Short as the watch that ends the night, Before the rising sun.
O God our help in ages past Our hope for years to come Be Thou our guide while life shall last And our eternal home.
Agenda for this meeting Pray Celebrate Consider new direction Give feedback/ask question and….
Haiti Relief Offering $259,813 !!! And counting
Conference Administration Management System (CAMS) • Provides all churches with a website • New data collection system • Streamlines Charge Conference paperwork
Goals and Direction • Last summer the Strategic Plan (2005)was reviewed and discussed • Conference goals were reconfigured in line with ….
Foci #1 1. New places for new people, younger people, more diverse people and revitalizing existing congregations
Some of our objectives under Foci #1 • Plant new churches • Reach out into the community with new ministries • Hold training events to teach how to start new faith communities
Create a ministry renewal plan with measurable objectives. • Engage in multicultural ministry • Stewardship education • Maximize technology for effective communication
Foci #2 2. Developing principled leaders
Some of our objectives for Foci #2 • Recruit more diverse leadership • “Healing the Wounds of Racism” training continues • Spiritual Growth/Call to ministry Events • Engage Youth and Young Adults in ministry
Foci #3 Engage in Ministry with the Poor
Some of our objectives for Foci #3 • Engage in outreach with the poor • Training about the systemic reasons for poverty • Support UM missions • Paying World Service apportionment in full
Foci #4 Improve Global Health
Some of our objectives for Foci #4 • Holistic health training • Every church be involved in alleviating “killer diseases” (Malaria, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis) • Establish a council on “Wellness and Healing Ministries”
Why are we talking about financial reductions? 1. There is an immediate need to re-fund the pension program after the stock market crisis in 2008. We need to raise $1.2 million dollars by December 2011.
2. Lowering the budget will allow us to build reserves during this time of transition
3. Many churches are going part-time and future apportionment dollars will decrease 4. We are being proactive so we can accommodate the future income.
Town Hall meetings in March – all districts • Focus meeting 3/20/10 • Surveys • Meetings with staff • Meetings with CTT & CFA
Pre-Conference briefing April 25, 2010 (all districts on same day) • EPA Annual Conference May 20-22, 2010 - Lancaster
Adjourned Session of Annual Conference November 13, 2010 – Hempfield UMC 9 am-1 pm (approve budget)
Jan. 1, 2011 – begin to transition into new budget and new staffing model
Survey & Focus Group Meeting results : Highest Priority items • Revitalization of Congregations • Youth and Young Adult ministries • New Church Starts
Camping • Stewardship • Communication • Missions
You want to see changed: • Lower health care premiums • Improved administration and accountability • Improved communication and website
More emphasis on prayer and evangelism • A change in the apportionment formula • Reduce paperwork
Thank you for coming! • For a copy of this presentation go to the website: www.epaumc.org