Both clergy and lay members of the Rocky Mountain Conference are committed to translating this exciting vision into new community ministries serving the entire Rocky Mountain region.

How exactly will this be possible in eight years?
It will require that every United Methodist congregation embraces the vision, working with clergy and lay leaders to identify potential ministry settings and key leadership to get new ministries up and running.

Your church may wish to be a 'parent congregation.'
St. Lukes UMC in Highlands Ranch was parented by St. Andrew UMC, which in turn was parented by Littleton UMC. Broomfield UMC is currently exploring starting a new congregation. Ethnic start-ups can use existing churches such as Brentwood UMC which has Hispanic and Vietnamese congregations sharing their facility.

Or you can help with your prayers and gifts
Even if you don't have the resources to parent a church or have the opportunity to start an ethnic ministry, you can certainly assist with your prayers and financial gifts. Your gifts will be used by the New Ministries team to help finance new start-ups. If you would like to help in this way, make out your check to RMC -- memo: 'New Ministries.'

All churches need to embrace the evangelism of church growth
Every church in the Rocky Mountain Conference is asked to emphasize new ministries development by opening its dors and pulpit to receive this evangelism of church growth and diversity on at least one Sunday during theyear -- and before the 2005 Conference.

Starting 12 urban churches
12 rural churches and
12 ethnic ministries by 2012

A little background
The Rocky Mountain Conference New Ministries Team introduced a special petition at the 2004 Rocky Mountain Conference that outlined the vision of establishing 36 new ministries over the next 8 years. It passed overwhelmingly -- which showed that those present embraced the vision. The petition also spelled out the initial steps necessary to transform vision into a bricks and mortar reality.

What Finance is already available?
Currently, the New Ministries Team has a budget of just $125,000 to assist with new starts throughout the Conference -- a two-thirds reduction from the 2002 budget. While this amount is helpful in supplementing start-up expenses of five to seven new congregations, it won't even begin to undersrite the actual costs involved. It's obvious that if the 12x12x12x12 vision is to become reality, it will require a tremendous effort on behalf of all United Methodists and congregations throughout the ROcky Mountain Conference.

What other action is planned?
Part of the effort required will be for each sub-district to identify the following no later than January 1, 2005:
1. 5 potential opportunities for developing new ministies in their area.
2. Identifying potential lay and clergy 'new ministry' leadership.

Bishop Brown will designate a person in each district and sub-district for the task of spreading the gospel of new ministry growth.

What safeguards are in place to ensure a new church succeeds?
A promise will be made to the potential members of new churches that no new church will be started without a comprehensive ten-year plan for encouraging and supporting that church. This plan will include involvement by the United Methodist Churches in the surrounding communities, district and at the Annual Conference level.