FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2/5/2018
Director of New Faith Communities to Begin
Our Conference Trajectory is “to create vital congregations that make disciples of Jesus Christ who make disciples equipped to transform lives, communities and the world.” Our new reality is an increasingly secular and diverse state and declining churches. Research clearly shows that in our current context the best way to reach new people is often through new places – “Fresh Expression,” new faith communities, second campuses, satellite campuses and new church starts.
It is becoming increasingly clear that engaging existing churches in the work of reaching new people and developing new churches, faith communities and places for new people are two of the most important challenges facing the Arkansas Annual Conference. Indeed, “Maximizing strategic coverage of congregations” has recently been identified by the Extended Cabinet as one of the four critical robust systems of the Arkansas Annual Conference that must function at a high level.
Reverend Maxine Allen, who currently serves as Assistant Director of Connectional Ministry for Mission Field Engagement, will be retiring effective July 1, 2018. This creates an opportunity for the realignment of this position in order to provide strategic leadership in the effort of creating new places for new people.
A full-time position – Director of New Faith Communities – has been created to provide strategic leadership, development and oversight to engage existing churches in the work of reaching new people and to develop and nurture new churches, faith communities and places for new people. There will be no net impact on the conference budget.
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For more information about this new position or for information about how to
apply, go to http://arumc.org/2018/02/director-of-new-faith-communities