Five Areas of Focus

Our belief is that God will make a significant difference in our world and church if we work in committed and cooperative ways around these five areas of focus. 
Find out more about the areas of ministry focus...

(1) Developing Principled Christian leaders for the church and the world.  The church must recruit young people for ministry and provide them with the skills necessary to be effective in this new time of opportunity.  That includes women and people of color the world over.  Similarly, we must offer leadership training for lya people who are in ministry in countless ways.

(2) Creating new places for new people by starting new congregations and renewing existing ones.  If we are to remain faithful to our commitment to transform the world, we will reach out with genuine hospitality to people wherever they are.  We will make them feel welcome as we start new faith communities, seek to renew existing ones and inspire faithful discipleship.

(3) Engaging in ministry with the poor.  As an expression of our discipleship, United Methodists seek to alleviate conditions that undermine quality of life and limit the opportunity to flourish as we believe God intends for all.  As with John Wesley, we seek to change conditions that are unjust, alienating and disempowering.  We engage in ministry with the poor, and in this, we especially want to reach out to protect children.

(4) Stamping out killer diseases by improving health globally.  Conditions of poverty cause illness and death.  The lack of access to doctors, nurses, medications and appropriate facilities is deadly, especially among those who live in conditions of poverty.  But the diseases of poverty are not inevitable. We believe the people of the United Methodist Church can play a significant role in educating others about diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria, and treating and preventing their devastating effects.

(5) Dismantling racism.  We are committed to creating a culture of inclusiveness.  The reality of racism keeps many persons way from fellowship with us.  We are richer with diversity and we will continue to find ways to witness with full inclusion and the embracing of all our sisters and brothers of color.