Cabinet Recap - August 27-29

The Bishop and the Extended Cabinet met at the new Conference Center facility in Huntersville on August 27-29 to strengthen the alignment around and to act on our vision to strengthen ministry within the Western North Carolina Conference. We believe that every congregation can live into the mission of making disciples for the transformation of the world. Every congregation can be invitational and missional. Members of the Cabinet are working together to find adaptive solutions to the challenges facing churches in our conference and around the connection. 
 
Several key themes emerged from our days together: healthy pastoral leadership for churches, the importance of partnering with laity, racial inclusivity and creating new places for new people. From spiritual renewal and leadership development to financial literacy and debt reduction, conference offerings to help pastors continue to grow. Through the certified lay minister program, our Board of Laity is committed to growing the numbers of committed laity in churches across our conference. Across the conference, our district superintendents are seeing diverse churches come together for mission and ministry, rather than being segregated. The Connectional Table is also working to bring voices and perspectives together focused on our racial reconciliation efforts at the conference level. We are seeing incredible momentum in areas of Church Development. The number of churches and potential leaders expressing interest and commitment to Fresh Expressions far exceeded expectations. A new Church Development initiative, the Transformation Journey, is creating health, vitality and fruitfulness by walking with churches on the journey from good to great. Two pilot projects are underway this year with 10-14 expected to start their own journey next year.
 
The work of the Extended Cabinet is incredibly local, focused on strengthening the day-to-day ministry on the ground of the local church. Committed to Jesus’ Great Commission in Matthew 28, the Bishop and district superintendents are praying for and working on behalf of pastors and congregations across the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church.
 
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28: 19-20