Strategic Plan for the North Texas Conference

The North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church has been engaged in a process of strategic planning for more than a year now. A broad-based group of laypersons and clergy have listened to the feedback of many persons in the Annual Conference during the past calendar year.

They have held a series of district meetings to share their results. Their work and the work of the Bishop and Cabinet, have resulted in a new "strategic plan" for the North Texas Conference.

Delegates to the Annual Conference will be asked to consider a dramatic and creative restructuring to our annual conference agencies and to the "Cabinet."

The Strategic Planning Committee has created a website where folks can learn more about the plan. It's called "Holy Conferencing," and you can find it here.

You can download and read a copy of the entire strategic plan here. (pdf format)

The plan would establish Four Areas of Focus of The United Methodist Church as the Strategic Priorities of the North Texas Conference

1) Developing principled Christian leaders for the church and the world.
2) Creating new places for new people by creating new churches and renewing existing ones.
3) Engaging in ministry with the poor.
4) Combating the diseases of poverty by improving health globally.


To do this, the Vision Team and Cabinet Suggest Four Specific Strategic Changes:

1. Establish the four areas of focus of The United Methodist Church as the strategic priorities of the North Texas Conference.
2. Re-vision the role of the District Superintendents and reduce the number of districts of the North Texas Conference.
3. Streamline and realign the conference structure and staffing to address these priorities most effectively.
4. Realign our financial resources to reflect these priorities.

Northaven members are encouraged to become familiar with this proposed plan, and to offer feedback to our elected delegates to Annual Conference who will vote on this proposal.

Eligible voting delegates from Northaven are:
Shirley Cooper (lay delegate)
Eric Folkerth
Shannon Hamrick
Karan Marshall
Robin Lovin
Bill McElvaney
Ben Marshall