Over the last twelve months, the Extended Cabinet, Directors, and Leadership Table of the Arkansas Conference have worked with Bishop Laura Merrill to develop a new mission statement to guide the Arkansas Conference into a hope-filled, grace-filled, joy-filled future. After much prayer and discernment, today we are ready to share with you the results of that work:
Mission Statement for the Arkansas Conference of the UMC:
Working together to build vital faith communities by following Jesus, loving people, and sharing grace.
#FollowingLovingSharing
Vital faith communities are marked by:
- Welcoming, Spirit-filled worship
- Lay leadership identified and equipped for ministry in the church and the world
- Disciples engaged in relationship and service with diverse neighbors
- Small group and intergenerational ministries
- Relevant ministries with children, youth, and young adults
- Connectional work in partnership with others
- Intentional work for healing and reconciliation
As a member of the cabinet, a director, and on the Leadership Table, it was always evident to me that the focus of this mission statement would be on working together to develop vital faith communities. Wherever we are, however we worship, when we go to our jobs, we hope that we are all constantly seeking opportunities to work together with others. We already see this mission statement coming alive through the ministries of so many different churches that are seeking partnerships with their community, other United Methodist churches, and their ecumenical friends and neighbors.
We have most recently experienced the soft whispering of Lent and the loud celebration of a resurrected Christ Jesus during Easter. Hopefully, we have reached a fresh new perspective on how we discipline ourselves to connect with God. This has prepared us well for the first action item in the mission statement: Following Jesus.
Bishop Merrill and the teams who worked to develop this mission statement knew that “Following Jesus” had to be the first actionable item because, without Jesus and the cross, nothing else is possible.
The following scripture passages clearly illustrate this truth and represent that the Holy Bible will continue to be our primary connection to God.
#Following
- Matthew 4:18-20 – As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” Immediately, they left their nets and followed him.
- Luke 9:23-24 – Then he said to them all, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.
- John 8:12 – Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
This year, the Annual Conference planning team determined that this mission statement will also be the theme of our 2025 Annual Conference, taking place on June 18-20 in Hot Springs.
Even during the dark times in 2020, when COVID-19 arrived in Arkansas, and through all the difficult times of disaffiliation, the light of Jesus Christ has continued to shine on us. Today, we have churches that are growing exponentially. Today, we have laity leaning into new leadership options and spiritual growth. Currently, we have church communities making great strides in doing ministry in new ways. We are hard at work to bring a focus to clergy health and wellness. God is everywhere in the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church, and Arkansas United Methodists are a resilient people, thanks be to God.
Next week, there will be a story and video on the second part of the mission statement: “Loving People.” Please send your photos, videos, or words representing how you love people. We would love to share!
To help us launch this campaign before Annual Conference, we encourage local churches to use the hashtag #followinglovingsharing when posting on social media to show our united efforts to live out this mission as United Methodists in Arkansas.