Webcast about ’06 initiatives sparks
queries from leaders

Southwest Texas leaders asked many questions March 18 about four proposals coming to the annual conference session in June.
The questions followed a 24-minute webcast video presentation. It provided a basic introductory overview of the four proposals:
n A funding plan from the Board of Pensions for the new Clergy Retirement Security Program. The 2004 General Conference established that plan. It goes into effect Jan. 1. Southwest Texas must determine how it will pay for its share.
n A call from the Board of Ordained Ministry for a clergy effectiveness task force. The task force is to develop methods for implementing a clergy effectiveness plan. That plan is to be presented to the 2007 annual conference session.
n A clergy wellness program. The Board of Ordained Ministry is proposing to establish a voluntary comprehensive health and wellness program for clerics serving full-time appointments.
n The Bishop’s Initiative on New Church Development. That’s a concerted effort, proposed by the Commission on New Church Development, to form partnerships to establish new congregations and ministries.
Following the webcast, people at 11 sites across Southwest Texas discussed the proposals.
At First UMC, Victoria, the clergy wellness proposal, the call for a clergy effectiveness task force and the Bishop’s Initiative on New Church Development all prompted questions.
The 61 church leaders in Victoria wanted to know:
n How incentives for clergy participation in the wellness effort would work.
n How the clergy effectiveness proposal differs from any evaluation system now in place.
n How the bishop’s new church initiative would revitalize existing congregations.
At University UMC, San Antonio, the new church initiative and pension funding plan generated the most discussion.
The 34 church leaders there were interested in the partnerships proposed for starting new churches and alternatives for funding the new clergy pension plan.
In the 90 minutes after the web-cast, six representatives of agencies offering the proposals fielded 19 questions about the initiatives by telephone from San Antonio. At times four people were on the phone at once.
The Rev. David Seilheimer, conference treasurer, represented the Board of Pensions.
The Rev. Austin Frederick Jr., assistant to the episcopal office, and the Rev. Frederick B. “Rick” Waters Jr., director of health education, represented the Board of Ordained Ministry.
Jay Brim, conference lay leader; the Rev. William B. Henderson, chair of the New Church Development Commission; and the Rev. Harry G. Kahl, congregational growth director, represented the Bishop’s Initiative on New Church Development.
Calls came in from eight of 11 gathering sites and represented all seven districts. In addition, one person called from his home.
Seven inquires about the clergy pension funding plan led the list of call-in questions.
The new church development and clergy effectiveness proposals each drew five questions.
The voluntary clergy wellness program generated two questions.
The webcast, which can be seen on any computer with high-speed Internet access and Windows Media Player, is to remain at www.umcswtx.org through mid-April.
Information about all four initiatives is available at http://www.umcswtx.org/06acinitiative
Links on each Web page allow people to submit questions, comments or other feedback.