By the Rev. Dr. Beverly J. Jones, Connectional Table member
The Connectional Table, in its efforts to steward The United Methodist Church’s mission to create disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, divides its efforts into two working groups. Each group focuses on a different but equally vital component of the Church: its worldwide nature and its vital congregations.
The Vital Congregations through the Four Areas of Focus Working Group is further divided into two advisory groups: Agency Evaluation and Connectional Assessment. The work of both aims at developing collaborative relationships for intentional leadership to further our ministries through the Four Areas of Focus. The Four Areas of Focus—developing principled Christian leaders, creating new places for new people, ministering with the poor and promoting health and wholeness for all—were developed by the Council of Bishops and General Secretaries to respond to a deep and urgent yearning across the church for common, united focus on mission and ministry.
Watch now: Learn more about the Four Areas of Focus and the Connectional Table.
The Agency Evaluation Advisory Group works with four lead agencies, each representing an area of focus, to evaluate the ways our commissions and agencies are working within their areas of expertise and the life of the Church.
Phase 1 of this evaluation involved the development of the logic model approach to evaluation. The logic model emphasizes developing and integrating results-oriented outcomes aimed at continuous improvement and partnership and is a key part of our work. Insights learned through the process are integrated into action and reflection on the successes and challenges of ministry in the four areas of focus.
In Phase 2 of the process, the advisory group hosted learning dialogues with agency leaders and others in ministry through the four areas of focus in July 2018. Advisory group members met separately with individual agencies to learn more about how each agency approaches specifics of the evaluative processes and some of the challenges they face. They also discussed key questions and themes.
These learning dialogues showed increasing evidence that measurable data flowing out of the evaluation processes is shaping decision-making. They also affirmed the role of the Connectional Table in fostering dialogic and strategic conversations for developing shared missional priorities and to address adaptive change that the church may better live into its identity and calling.
The Connectional Assessment Advisory Group works to assess the effectiveness of our connectional networks for fostering and communicating about ministries in the Four Areas of Focus at the local church and conference levels. To help the Connectional Table learn about the opportunities and challenges of strengthening communications and partnerships throughout the connection, this group produced a series of key questions that are now being used to facilitate conversations and gather data.
Information and data from the beta testing of this series of questions took a dialogue format with five annual conferences in the U.S. jurisdictions and one central conference. Summary reports of the beta test have been discussed with the leaders of those conferences tested, and the Connectional Table will review them to develop recommendations and next steps.
It is hoped that our many United Methodist groups will take this information and find fresh connection and unity with each other in our joint mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
The Rev. Dr. Beverly J. Jones—who has served the church as a local church pastor, university chaplain and district superintendent—is an ordained elder in the New Mexico Conference of the United Methodist Church. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Princeton Theological Seminary and the Claremont School of Theology, Dr. Jones brings an array of skills and gifts to the ministry. She has participated in strategic planning efforts in the local church, annual conference and university settings and is pleased to serve on the Connectional Table as the convener of the Vital Congregations through the Four Areas of Focus Working Group.