New Church Development is an elected committee of the New Mexico Annual Conference. Members are listed under the Program and Ministry area of the 2005 Journal on pg. 11
Bill Boyd
Barry Dickens-CL
Rick Jones
Cheryl Hicks-X
Sterling Mathias
Brad Reeves
Scott Penrod
Bryan Simpson-C
Terry Schul
Janis Trone
James Large-X
Job Description
The 1987 Journal printed a statement of purpose for a "Task Force on New Church Growth": (a predecessor to the New Church Development Committee named in 1999)
"THE PURPOSE OF THE TASK FORCE IS TO ASSIST THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND DISTRICTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF IMMEDIATE AND LONG TERM STRATEGIES AND CRITERIA FOR THE PLANTING OF SUCCESSFUL NEW CHURCHES. WE UNDERSTAND THIS TO INCLUDE GUIDANCE AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE AREAS OF PROPERTY AQUISTION, START UP, LEADERSHIP, BUILDING, AND FUNDING."
The Job Description below updates this purpose statement for our current task in 2004.
Job Description (2nd Revision)
Identifying New Church Areas
Demographic study of communities
Collaborative effort involving:
The Cabinet
District Superintendent
District Committee on Church Location
District boards
Putting together sub-committees in each District that can tap into local talent, ie.City planners, real estate agents, etc.
Leadership Development for Pastors
Recruit, develop, and sustain pastors who are identified to start new churches.
Articulating a description of the kind of pastoral leadership needed to start a church.
Sending new church pastors to training events.
Re-sourcing New Church Starts
Developing critical checklists for new church starts.
Spiritual life support
Demographics support
Marketing and Timing of Marketing
Staffing issues and support
Provide positive support during times of crisis
Working with the District Superintendent and the New Church Pastor to hold the process accountable.
Funding New Church Development
District Fund Raising groups
Grant writing
Managing conference funds set aside for this purpose.
New Mexico Annual Conference
of the United Methodist Church
