CSP Review
Posted on December 10, 2007
I just read the book, REVEAL, which outlines the data and process of evaluation that rocked Bill Hybels and the
Willow
Creek
Church. Pastor Hybels was taken out of context in a quote, but they found the end result of what local church ministry should be producing in individual lives was deficient. When I read the book The Master Plan of Evangelism by
Robert Coleman came to my mind. The discipleship plan of Jesus had accountability and mentoring, which are now a major focus for Willow Creek. We need to give thanks to our Evangelical Methodist Men’s National Council and President
Larry McDowell for their emphasis and on accountability and mentoring in the local church’s men’s ministry. (Click over to the EMM to read more) The EMC through the General Council is seeking a new strategic course in streamlining the conference structure for greater efficiency in management and stewardship of personnel in a Comprehensive Strategic Plan (CSP). Willow Creek asked the same questions we have been asking ourselves for the last several years, “Where are we?” “What do we see?” “How do we get there?” Remember the S.W.O.T. analysis from last spring. The same questions were being asked for the EMC. Then the 2006 approved the General Council to conduct a study and make recommendations for strategic planning, etc. I was reluctant following the General Conference to take the denomination through another series of possible changes. In December 2006 I asked superintendents
Harold Thompson,
Atlantic, and Jack Conner, Mid States, for a non official personal meeting with me. I openly discussed my personal future ministry and the present ministry of the denomination. In that day long discussion I offered them a two page proposal for conducting a fresh strategic course in our conference structure. The option was to throw this idea in the trash can or with their agreement and commitment to proceed. After a few hours we all agreed this should be pursued. The end result was the spring Strategic Plan that ended in the General Council’s experience of unity in setting that plan aside and working on the ‘one’ conference concept. The Cabinet, which is the superintendents, was asked by the General Council to work on a draft CSP of what a one conference concept would look like. In turn,
Clyde Zehr, the author of the one conference concept, and me worked on an initial draft in
Portland two weeks ago. Today we shared this with the other Cabinet members on a Conference call. Following Christmas, Harold, Jack,
Clyde, and myself will meet to work further on the details for a presentation draft to the General Council. It is my intention, unless the General Council objects, to send each pastor the CSP draft. Following the National Pastors’ School in February 2008, the Council will finish a draft for distribution for all the annual District Conferences. The General Council will consider if the pastors and churches affirm this is from the Lord and that His guidance is evident. If not, I will ask the General Council to reconsider holding a Special General Conference this July. The General Council has the responsibility to report a Strategic Plan to a General Confernce Session in order to fulfill the assignment from the 2006 General Confernce.
The superintendents’ concerns are the same as yours for close fellowship among the churches and pastors, access to a superintendent, and maintaining the type of Pastors’ Retreats, Pastors’ Schools, and Indian Cave Youth Camp that have proven productive and vital to the ministry. I hope to share more with you later in the month on the ‘Fresh Wind’ two year prayer emphases that Loretta Williamson and Leona Zehr have prepared for the EMC
