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Connectional Ministries
Our Shared Children’s Ministries Youth Ministries Young Adult Ministries Older Adult Ministries Campus Ministries 200,000 More Reasons Initiative Ingathering Ethnic Concerns and Initiatives Culture of Call Global Ministries Discipleship Disability Ministries Camping and Retreat Ministries Volunteers in Mission Disaster Relief United Methodist Men Lay Servant Ministries Religion and Race Church and Society Status and Role of Women
The Connectional Ministries of the Arkansas Conference are exactly that: ministries that connect us as United Methodists, ministries we share in common, ministries that are bigger than what any one church or group can do. Our connectional ministries provide opportunities for vital congregations to work together to make, equip and send disciples of Jesus Christ to transform lives, communities and the world.
Some of these ministries and programs – such as our children, youth and camp ministries – offer ways to enhance the disciple-making work of your church. Others – such as Global Ministries, Ethnic Concerns, 200,000 More Reasons, Volunteers in Mission and Disaster Relief – offer ways for the disciples in your church to reach out into the mission field to share the love and grace of Jesus, to be the hands of Christ. Some are global in scope, as with mission/missionary support through Global Ministries. Some are conference-wide ministries and programs, others can have a profound impact at the local church or community level, but collectively they show what we can do when we work together as United Methodists.
The Office of Connectional Ministry provides leadership in three major areas:
- Pursuing the trajectory of the Arkansas Conference (to make disciples of Jesus Christ, who make disciples equipped and sent to transform lives, communities and the world);
- Guiding alignment between Conference groups and the trajectory;
- Shepherding strategic plans for ministries, in collaboration with the Bishop and Cabinet.

Rev. Jim Polk
Director of Connectional Ministries and Assistant to the Bishop
jim.polk@arumc.org
The Director of Connectional Ministries serves as the Assistant to the Bishop, has major responsibility for guiding the alignment of The Trajectory and the structure of the Annual Conference, and fulfills the functions assigned to the Director of Connectional Ministries.

Sara Andrews
Assistant to the Director of Connectional Ministries
sara.andrews@arumc.org
The Assistant to the Director of Connectional Ministries supports all of the ministries within the center and supports the director in administrative functions.