The Episcopal Diocese of West Texas
Print  |   Email

Congregations Growing Together


Abide in Me: Congregations Growing Together Conference will be June 6, 2009 at TMI - The Episcopal School of Texas. This is a day-long conference, our congregations will be the presenters for many of the workshops, bringing and sharing their ideas that are working. We're also calling on some experts in their fields - both lay people and clergy. The day will include three workshop sessions, so participants will have the opportunities to learn from folks just like them. We'll start at 9:00 a.m. and conclude by 3:00 p.m. (Registration opens at 8:00 a.m.) Congregations will want to bring ministry teams so they can cover as much ground as possible.

Congregations Growing Together Catalog, click here.
Workshop Descriptions, click here.
Registration Worksheet, click here.
Use this worksheet to help before you register online.
Adult registration, click here.
Children's registration, click here.
  
Fran McKendree Concert - Friday, June 5:

 
Fran McKendree will preform a free concert at St. Luke's Church in San Antonio from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. To view flyer, click here. We would like to know how many people will be attending, please click here to register online.
  

What to Expect:
Abide in me: Congregations Growing Together is a day devoted to the congregations of our diocese sharing ministries with each other. In this day-long conference, our congregations will be the presenters for most of the workshops, bringing and sharing their most effective ministry ideas. Some 25 of our churches have agreed to present their “best practices” in several areas:
  • stewardship
  • communications
  • Christian formation
  • youth ministry
  • spiritual life
  • evangelism
  • world mission
  • congregational development
  • recovery ministries
  • music and liturgy
  • administration
Our hope, and our suggestion, is that congregations will use this day to strengthen their team ministry by reviewing this catalog thoroughly, then assigning specific persons to attend the workshops.
  
The day will include a total of 31 workshops in three workshop sessions, so each participant will have three opportunities to learn from folks just like them.
  
Our day will begin with worship in the new TMI chapel, where Fran McKendree, a well-known Christian musician, will lead us in some very special music. Bishop Gary Lillibridge will offer a homily to start the day.
  
Box lunches (cost included in registration fee) will be available for pick-up at 11:30 a.m. Participants will be free during lunch to explore TMI, compare notes as a congregational ministry team, or network with participants from other churches.
  
In addition to this catalog, our diocesan website will carry developing details about this conference. You may visit it  at www.dwtx.org.
 
Agenda for June 6, 2009:

8:00 a.m.  Registration in chapel portico
9:00-9:50 a.m. Opening worship with homily from Bishop Lillibridge and music by Fran McKendree in TMI chapel 
9:50-10:10 a.m. Break to Session A workshops 
10:15-11:30 a.m.  Session A workshops or World Mission Fair 
11:30 a.m.-12:10 p.m.  Lunch break
12:15-1:30 p.m.  Session B workshops or World Mission Fair
1:30-1:45 p.m.  Break to Session C workshops
1:45-3:00 p.m. Session C workshops or World Mission Fair
3:00 p.m.  Dismissal 
   

Clergy Worksheet:
  
Use the worksheet to review your choices before going online to register. Note that only the World Mission Fair is offered more than once.
  
Select both a first and second choice for each workshop session. If a session is marked full, it has reached seating capacity; please make another selection.
    
Upon your arrival at TMI on June 6, proceed to the chapel portico for your packet, which will include your workshop assignments and their locations.
  
Building Your Congregational Team:  
Encourage many members of your parish to attend. Be intentional about recruiting representation from a diversity of ministries and interests. Invite all church members, especially those serving in leadership positions, to attend.
  
Meet as a team prior to the conference
  
• Explore how this conference can support your congregation’s mission and goals.
    
• Discuss how being a team can help you be the body of Christ more effectively.
  
• Talk about how to bring conference ideas back to your congregation.
  
  
    
Assign specific persons to attend specific workshops
  
• A worksheet is available for this purpose, click here.
  
  
  
Follow up after the conference
  
• Explore how to put the ideas and  information gained at the conference to work in your parish and community as you plan your upcoming fall program.
  
• Relate workshop learning to specific areas of congregational life, problems to be solved, opportunities to be grasped, new visions to be explored.
  
• Prepare a written report to your entire congregation and/or plan to address it from the pulpit.
  
For Children: 
The children’s program for youngsters entering kindergarten through fifth grade in fall 2009 will be held on the TMI campus. The day will include arts and crafts, music, story telling, free time, and more. Signs at registration will direct parents to the children’s program location. The children's program will be open from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
  
Nursery care will be available onsite at TMI for babies and children under four. The nursery program will be open from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
    
Parents must send children with a brown-bag lunch and drink, as age appropriate. Lunch will not be provided in the children’s program or nursery.
    
All children must be pre-registered online, click here.
  
World Mission Fair:
In 2008, about 800 people from the Diocese of West Texas, making up 60 teams, went to 14 different countries to do world mission work. 
  
In Honduras, Mexico, Russia, Belarus, Uganda, and Ecuador
these teams:
•dug water wells          
•built churches               
•visited orphanages
•taught health care      
•played with children     
•taught children
•built homes                
•developed microenterprise
•awarded scholarships                                                          
•built a women’s maternity center
•staged medical, dental, and veterinary clinics
•supported a women’s vocational center  
  
In addition, the diocese also supports 14 long-term missionaries in as many countries.
  
At this conference, Betty Chumney and Marthe Curry, of the diocesan World Mission Department, will give an overview of this work and discuss how to begin world mission work in your church. Then mission team leaders will be stationed around the workshop room with information on their work and for one-on-one conversations about selecting team members, what preparations are necessary, how to fund the work, the position of a spiritual director, and more. This workshop session will be offered three times.
  
Use the registration worksheet on page 11 of this catalog to review your choices, then register online below:
  
For Adult registration, click here.
For Children's registration, click here.
  
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is this conference all about?
Abide in Me: Congregations Growing Together is a conference for the clergy and leadership of the Diocese of West Texas in which churches of the diocese will present their “best practices” in a variety of ministries. These are not theoretical, but practical methods for doing ministry that our congregations have found to be successful.
    
What will I come away with?
Information, inspiration, maybe some new friends, and a sense that you are part of something larger than the local church.
   
Who should attend?
Church wardens, vestry and bishop’s committee members, heads of ministries, emerging leaders, anyone interested.
   
What is the cost?
$20 per person, including lunch and materials. No cost for the children’s program or nursery care.
   
How do I register?
Register online, click here. You may use the worksheet on page 11 of this catalog to review your choices before you go online.
    
What about childcare?
Children entering kindergarten through fifth grade in the fall of 2009 may register for the children’s program, to be held on campus at TMI. Nursery care will be provided for younger children. All children must be pre-registered using the registration form, click here. There is no cost for the children’s program or nursery care.
    
What about lunch?
Box lunches will be provided, and cost is included in your registation. There is only 40 minutes for a lunch break, so you will likely not have time to leave campus. Send a brown bag lunch and drink for children.
    
Where can I stay overnight?
Participants coming from The Valley or Corpus Christi may want to arrive late Friday and/or stay over Saturday night. San Antonio and Boerne churches will welcome you Sunday morning. A partial list of hotels and prices is on page 10; more can be found by clicking here. Make reservations on your own; no diocesan block has been reserved.
    
Where do I park?
There is ample parking on the TMI campus. You will be directed once you arrive.
    
What if I have special needs?
Please let us know if you have accessibility or dietary needs. E-mail to            leslie.mixson@dwtx.org
    
What is the dress for the day?
Casual.
    
Where can I find out more?
Visit the diocesan website at www.dwtx.org and review the catalog for the most up-to-date information. Or e-mail Leslie Mixson at the diocesan office at leslie.mixson@dwtx.org
  
Hotels:

For a list of hotels and prices, click here.
 

Map & Location:
TMI-the Episcopal School of Texas:
20955 Tejas Trail West
San Antonio TX 78201-1000
Website: www.tmi-sa.org
Campus Map: click here.

 
Questions:
E-mail Leslie Mixson at the diocesan office at leslie.mixson@dwtx.org or (210/ 888) 824-5387

Back  |  Return to Top