Conference Core Team

1. Conference Core Team David Alexander & Andrew Nunley

2. Core Team ReportFound on Pages 26-36 of Preliminary Journal

3. What is the make up of Conference Core Team? • Conference Lay Leader • One lay representative from each of the five geographical districts • Three at large persons appointed by Bishop Lowry • Ex Officio members comprised of; three Executive Directors of the Centers plus Dean of the Cabinet • Bishop Lowry serves as chairperson

4. What does Conference Core Team Do? • Keeps Annual Conference mission, values and core strategies in the forefront • Spearheads and coordinates long range planning • Monitors progress and is proactive in implementation of Exodus Project • Provides critical review, from a big picture perspective, on alignment of budget, deployment of resources, major policy issues, and center outcomes • Creates a culture of accountability • Identifies emerging missional needs • Oversees Annual Conference planning team • Makes recommendation for changes to CTC Guiding Principles and Best Practices

5. New Church Starts Increase Worship Attendance New CTCSC Clergy Deployment P&HB and CMG Clergy Credentials & Compliance 2014 CTC Thematic Goal Defining Objectives for 2014 Standard Operating Objectives

6. Consent Calendar-Key actions to note • Hired outside consultant to evaluate progress being made on implementation of Exodus Project & report findings to Core Team and 2015 AC • Set October 4, 2014 for Seven Levers Summit at Waco Convention Center • Recommend 2015 AC to be held at White’s Chapel UMC June 7-10, 2015 • Recommend 2016 AC to be held at Waco Convention Center June 5-8, 2016 • Reviewed and affirmed 2015 proposed budget for alignment towards mission

7. Main Focus TodayWhere are we in implementation of the Exodus Project ?

8. Conference Core Team Update on Exodus Project Timeline

9. What Criteria Will Be Used? Three Broad Criteria • Is statistical progress being made? • Is the culture beginning to shift? • Is CTC doing what it said it would do?

10. How Will the Evaluation Be Done? Four Recommended Types of Activities • Analyze the data • Survey constituents • Synthesize narrative interviews • Interview key stakeholders

11. Proposed Statistical Measures Standard metrics • Average worship attendance • Baptisms and professions & reaffirmations of faith • Small group attendance • Involvement in service • Giving Possible additional metrics • New church starts • New clergy • Churches that are growing

12. Indicators of Culture Shifts If a church is _____, we believe that this will produce the desired outcomes. • Assessing local mission field • Launching a new initiative to reach the mission field • Conducting a discernment/planning process • Making a major change based on this plan • Changing Sunday school/small groups to focus on spiritual growth and/or involve more people • Engaging in a new mission effort • Teaching on evangelism • Teaching on Wesleyan tradition • Creating new worship services/communities • Redefining the pastor’s role to focus on mission field

13. Markers of CTC Action Items • Perception of services provided by CTC • Perception of shift in DS role and impact of this shift • Completion of approved structural changes • Perception of equipping and support for pastors

14. Next Steps • Survey Task Force meets in June-July • Data Task Force meets in July • Begin evaluation in September 2014 • Complete evaluation project and submit report to Core Team by April 2015 • Report findings & recommendations to Annual Conference 2015