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 relationships 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
Today, we are launching the second part of the new Arkansas Conference mission statement: “Loving People.” The following scriptures are shared to remind us of God’s love for us and the love we should seek to show others.
Psalm 36:7-9 – How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
Luke 10:26-28 – He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”
John 13:34-35 – I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Please view the videos linked below from clergy around the Conference who have expressed what “Loving People” means to them.
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How Arkansas United Methodist Churches are #FollowingLovingSharing
Pinnacle View UMC
by Melissa Simpson
Members of Pinnacle View UMC are “loving people” by partnering with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, which provides beds for kids who don’t have them. The church raised over $5,000, and a team built 18 beds recently on a Saturday morning.
Monticello First UMC
Rev. Bryan Diffee and Monticello First UMC used the #followinglovingsharing tag on their Easter post to encourage others to remember the true meaning of Easter:
“As we gather to celebrate, let us remember the true meaning of Easter—a time to reflect on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice and triumph over death bring us hope, renewal, and a promise of eternal life. May this Easter morning fill your hearts with joy, peace, and the profound love that Jesus has for each of us. #followinglovingsharing”
White Hall UMC
Rev. DeAnna McCormack and the people of White Hall UMC are already using the Conference’s mission statement within their local mission field.