2012 Conference Goals Report

Dr. Larry C. Taylor

For me personally, 2012 has been a year of adventure, both with the transition to
governance for the Conference and regarding health issues. One thing is for certain,
living our lives with the commitment to follow Jesus Christ is anything but boring !t our
last "overnance #oard meeting, $ gave a verbal %review& of the progress of goals set for
2012, but $ want to ta'e this opportunity to share this %end of the year& written report. $n
order to do so, $ want to include the stated goals, with a recap of accomplishment,
progress, or lac' of progress.
Church Planting:
(he most effective way to advance the )ingdom of "od is through church planting
*proven statistically+. (hus, these goals are to intentionally and strategically advance
the )ingdom of "od through church planting by the Church of "od Colorado
Conference.
1. ,a'e a decision regarding the continuing efforts of -(he #ridge- church plant in
.amar. (he decision as to whether the wor' should continue will be made by
/aster0 !pril 1, 2012. This goal was accomplished in that I met with Rev. Mike
chneider and his wi!e "udy to discuss the situation. It was agreed to place
!unding !or the pro#ect $on hold% until the process could &e more clearly de!ined.
In the meantime' the church has grown to the point they have relocated !rom
$The Cow Palace (otel% to an o!!ice &uilding. They are in the process o! putting
a co!!ee shop in place which will &e used as an outreach ministry. )gain' the
comple*ity o! having an unde!ined $partnership% with the +rethren Church
involved in the ministry continues to make it di!!icult to understand how to
e!!ectively $plant a Church o! ,od% in Lamar.
2. #egin identifying locations for the ne2t 132 Colorado church plants. (he
demographics are to be completed by October 4, 2012. Due to several !actors'
including a lack o! input !rom (,C' this goal was not accomplished. I reali-e that
I have depended too heavily upon the relationship with (,C to produce church
planters.demographics !or us. Thus' it has &ecome apparent that I need to
actively recruit a $church planting team% in order to pursue church
planters.locations. That process was #ust &egun with the agreement o! one
person to serve on the team when my health !ailed and I have not &een a&le to
pursue the recruitment as I had planned. That will &e a ma#or goal !or /0123
5. $n partnership with 6"C *6ealthy "rowing Churches+, actively attempt to recruit
a church planter for the first location determined during the demographic study in
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72 above. 8lanter is to be recruited by 9eptember 1:, 2012. The response in 4/
a&ove is applica&le to this goal also.
4. ;or'ing with 6ealthy "rowing Churches, have a -people gatherer pastor- *or
team+ recruited and on the ground in "rand Junction, CO by October 1:, 2012
and begin the process of recruiting a core group. "ust a !ew weeks ago' Dr.
,reg 5iens 6(ealthy ,rowing Churches7 reported he has !ound a very via&le
candidate !or ,rand "unction. The assessments have &een done' and the
candidate has assessed very well. (e has also e*pressed a de!inite interest in
,rand "unction. I am scheduled to meet with the leadership team o! (,C during
the Regional Pastors8 Retreat in 9lorida' "anuary 1:;1<' /012. I look !orward to
the opportunity to hear more a&out their thoughts.plans regarding the ,rand
"unction plant.
Church Revitali-ation:
(he importance of these goals is to promote healthy new and e2isting congregations to
advance the love, acceptance, and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.
1. 6elp 132 churches ta'e an -identifiable step- toward launching a new life cycle<
Complete a C6!( *Church 6ealth !ssessment (ool+ with the !rvada Church of
"od to be completed by !pril 11, 2012.
=sing the C6!( report, begin compiling a profile for the !rvada Church of "od to
post on ,inistry Connector *Church of "od ,inistries, !nderson, $>+. (he
church profile is to be posted by June 1:, 2012.
;hile the !rvada Church of "od is going through the C6!( process, and the
follow3up steps of recruiting a pastor, the Conference will suggest an interim
pastor for them. (his position is filled by ?ev. @an "riffith who has signed an
agreement with the church until !ugust 1, 2012. )ll o! these goals have &een
accomplished with the calling o! "e!! and Deanna +ranaman to &e the co;pastors
!or the )rvada Church o! ,od. The outlined process listed in the previous goals
was truly an honor and a #oy to complete with the Pastoral earch Committee o!
the church. They had 100 people in attendance at the Christmas =ve service>
which is a $praise the Lord3% )lso' on their own initiative' the church agreed to
adopt the Leadership )ccounta&ility model o! governance to &e implemented &y
the end o! )pril. (ope!ully the model set &y this process will &e used &y other
churches as they encounter a time o! pastoral transition.
Continue wor'ing with any Colorado Church of "od while they are in pastoral
transition. $t is desirable that they conduct a C6!( assessment as a means to
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better develop a profile for their ne2t pastor. (he C6!( process is to be
completed by three *5+ months after the pastorAs departure depending upon the
churchBs cooperation. 5e continue to attempt a partnership with the La "unta
Church o! ,od and P=)? 69t. Collins7 during their time o! pastoral transition.
Rene Runge has &een the point person with La "unta. I have met with the P=)?
church leadership' &ut they are de!initely $doing their own thing% 6which is not
unusual !or that church7. Milo Miller 6!ormer state minister !or 5yoming7 is
serving as their counseling pastor. Milo and I have a good relationship' so
hope!ully' through that relationship' I will have the opportunity to have some
in!luence with their pastoral search process.
Leadership Development:
$t is in the conte2t of team ministry that the Conference will be most effective in our
mission. (hus, leadership development will be an intentional and strategic focus for us
to move forward together<
1. $n order to facilitate -9ustaining 6ealth !nd 8astoral /2cellence,- support the
96!8/ ministry with intentionality<
Continue to conduct Cuarterly 96!8/ coaches meetings *4+ for stronger
emphasis on coach accountability, connections, and to 'eep the clusters moving
in a transformational direction.
8rovide 96!8/ coaches with support when problems arise, assistance with the
@$9C assessments, and encouragement when necessary. (he @$9C will be
made available to the participants by !pril 1:, 2012.
$n dialogue with the coaches, plan and implement a 96!8/ retreat for both
clusters and spouses. Chec' with !l /lls as a resource leader for the event. (he
event is to be completed by @ecember 1:, 2012.
;ith input from the 96!8/ coaches, determine the future of the 96!8/ ministry
as our initial three year commitment ends by October 1:, 2012.

! decision regarding the future of the 96!8/ ministry is to be determined by
October 1:, 2012.
)ll o! the a&ove goals were accomplished. 5ith input !rom the ()P= Cluster
Coaches' it was determined not to continue !inancially supporting the ministry as we
have completed the initial three year agreement. everal o! the pastors e*pressed their
disappointment in the need to $!ollow prescri&ed curriculum'% and stated they would not
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continue to do so. Thus' I could not ethically agree to continue additional costs which
include investment &y Church o! ,od Ministries i! the prescri&ed !ormat would not &e
!ollowed. The clusters were encouraged &y me through their coaches to continue
meeting as $!ellowship groups'% &ut not as a !unded ministry.
2. /2pand the benefits of the C($ trained coaches in Colorado<
9end one of those coaches, Judy .enardson, to an -!dvanced Coaches
(raining- held in Orlando, F. ,ay D31, 2012. Judy will then meet with the other
certified coaches to share her e2perienceEtraining from the !dvanced (raining.
(he coachesB cluster training with Judy will occur before July 1:, 2012. "udy did
attend the training' and then shared her e*perience.learning with the other CTI
coaches during a meeting held at Rene Runge8s home "uly /@;/A' /01/. It was a
rich time o! sharing> "udy did a great #o&3 5e will continue to promote the use o!
these CTI trained coaches !or individuals.churches within the Con!erence.
5. /ffective leadership training for staff<
9taff training regarding how to better serve our local churches will be facilitated
by training from 6"C *6ealthy "rowing Churches+ during the meeting in
Orlando, F. held February 2F3,ay 2, 2012. This goal was accomplished &y
Linda Turner' Rene Runge' and I attending the network con!erence. The training
was e*cellent.
4. Conduct staff -meetings- via ;eb/2 at least Cuarterly. (he purpose of these
meetings is to promote leadership development for the staff, to develop strategy, and
to promote unity in our efforts in order to advance the goals of the Conference.
$dentifiable resources will be utiliGed for training during these staff meetings. $ta!!%
!or /01/ consisted o! Laura Bonte and Rene Runge. Thus' instead o! 5e&=*
meetings' communication was accomplished !ace;to;!ace or via telephone. )s
stated &e!ore' rather than $&uilding the plane while we are !lying it'% I &elieve this
year has &een a time o! &uilding the $runway% in order to launch the plane.
(owever' one o! our pastors commented a!ter hearing me say this that he
disagrees> he &elieves that as the ,overnance +oard we are &uilding the runway'
&ut the $sta!!% is the $plane% and they are $!lying.% I told him that I appreciated that
o&servation' as ministry is continuing while we are constructing the !oundation !or
the !uture o! our Con!erence.
:. Communication with pastors<
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$n order to better understand the position of pastors in the Conference regarding
their vision for the local congregation, as well as their perspective about the
Conference, have lunch with at least eight *1+ pastors this year *2012+ in order to
build common ground with them where our visions intersect so they can be -on
board- with the movement of the Conference. -(ell me about where we are as a
Conference- would be a good conversation starter. (he 'ey is to listen and tal'
less on my part. This goal was not accomplished. I did meet with at least !ive
pastors' &ut needed to meet with more. I will continue this goal in /012' and &e
more intentional a&out accomplishing the goal. )s demonstrated during the
)nnual Meeting &y the &ehaviors.statements &y some o! the pastors' this is an
important goal to pursue.
H. .eadership development for pastors<
9end as many pastors as are willing to participate to attend the -.eadership
9ummit- presented by the ;illow Cree' !ssociation and hosted at ;oodmen
Ialley Chapel in Colorado 9prings, CO !ugust F310, 2012. ! scholarship will be
provided for those pastors involved in our 96!8/ ministry. This goal was
accomplished in that we provided signi!icant !unds !or the pastors to attend the
ummit. Personally' I was very disappointed &y the lack o! participation. Cnly
seven 6D7 o! our pastors attended. I &elieve it is indicative o! a spirit o! apathy
that seems to &e a!!ecting too many pastors in our Con!erence. My !ear is that
their apathy is not only toward the Con!erence' &ut toward the ministry o! their
local church as well. I &elieve the key is to create a $tipping point% that will come
as some o! our pastors &ecome e*cited a&out what ,od is doing in their
personal lives and in their ministry. This will happen as our current pastors not
only e*perience $victories'% &ut as they see new church planters and turnaround
pastors e*cited a&out what ,od is doing in their lives and churches. 5ith the
si-e o! our Con!erence' we need a minimum o! three pastors to get e*cited
6according to the rule o! tipping points7. I &elieve /012 will &egin the process3
Crgani-ational:
!s /d 9tetGer states in Planting Missional Churches, -Churches do need #iblical
ecclesiology that enables them to function with efficiency and integrity.-
1. (hrough the .eadership !ccountability model of governance, the Church of "od
Colorado Conference is intentionally and strategically focused on being more
efficient and effective in our structure<
"overnance #oard to adopt #ylaws by ,ay 2:, 2012. This goal was
accomplished on "uly /A' /01/.
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"overnance #oard to adopt "uiding 8rinciples by July 20, 2012. The ,uiding
Principles were adopted "uly /A' /01/.
@ecision regarding the Conference boo''eeper to be made by !pril 2:, 2012.
This goal was accomplished with the agreement to have usan 5ilklow serve as
our Con!erence &ookkeeper.accountant. usan is a CP)' and has done a great
#o&3 )nytime Laura and I have Euestions regarding !inances' usan provides
answers in a very timely manner.
Financial organiGation *i.e. (reasurer, C8!, daily operations functions,
accountant communication, etc.+ to be finaliGed and in place by June 1, 2012.
5ith the structural organiGation o! having Rev. +o& )u&ery, usan 5ilklow'
Laura Bonte' and Larry Taylor involved in the !inances' security is provided &y
the process o! how are !inances are handled. The account with =BT is now in
the names o! "udy Lenardson 6chair7 and Larry Taylor 6C=C7. Dan ,ri!!ith is no
longer on the account.
2. Conduct regional informational meetings with pastorsEchurches prior to the !nnual
,eeting regarding the #ylaws and "uiding 8rinciples. (hese meetings will be led by
"overnance #oard members and will be held prior to the !nnual ,eeting, October
20, 2012. (he purpose of these meetings is to provide a forum in which Cuestions
can be as'ed, and for dialogue to occur that will effectively communicate the
dynamics of the %;inning On 8urpose& model. (he desired outcome of these
informational meetings is to have acceptance of the #ylaws in the !nnual ,eeting.
)s we know' this goal was not accomplished due to lack o! participation &y
Con!erence mem&ers. Thus' dialogue a&out how to e!!ectively
communicate.promote the &ene!its o! the model will need to continue.
5. "eneral !ssembly *"!+ to adopt the #ylaws during the annual ,eeting, October 20,
2012. Due to a lack o! participation in the planned $regional meetings'% and with
Euestions that arose during a Credentials Committee meeting and at the )nnual
Meeting' it was evident that more time and e!!ort is needed to move toward adoption
o! the +ylaws. 5ith the $Motion !or Transition% adopted during the /011 )nnual
Meeting' we have until the /01: )nnual Meeting to ask !or the adoption o! the
+ylaws. Contrary to the &elie! o! some o! our pastors' the +ylaws adopted &y the
,overnance +oard are legal' !unctional +ylaws that provide !or our continued
ministry as the Church o! ,od Colorado Con!erence. This has &een a!!irmed &y our
attorney' "im Rouse' as well as &y )l =lls.
Personal:
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$n the =motionally (ealthy Church, 8eter 9caGGero ma'es the following observation<
-(he overall health of any church or ministry depends primarily on the emotional and
spiritual health of its leadership. $n fact, the 'ey to successful spiritual leadership has
much more to do with the leaderBs internal life than with the leaderBs e2pertise, gifts, or
e2perience.-
1. (hus, it is important that, as the 9tate ,inister, $ intentionally and strategically
pursue courses of action that enable personal health for me as the leader of the
Conference.
(a'e all of my vacation time and holidays. ,oal accomplished.
9pin at the J,C! at least once per wee'. ,oal accomplished until the demise o!
my health !ollowed &y surgeries on Bovem&er <;F' /01/.
#e intentional about spending Cuality time with my wife and grandchildren. ,oal
accomplished.
;or' on my .!,8 *.ife and ,inistry 8lan+ with !l /lls. ! concerted focus on this
process will occur during my trip to meet with !l in 8hoeni2, !K February 21324,
2012. )s reported earlier' I did not spend time on my L)MP with )l. Instead' he
!ocused on $deep change% in my personal li!e that has &een li!e changing. I wish
each and every one o! our pastors could e*perience an encounter like the one I
had with )l =lls. (e truly is a man o! ,od who has the uniEue a&ility to see deep
into a person8s soul.
9pend at least three mornings per wee' with thirty *50+ minutes totally devoted to
Cuiet time, prayer, and meditation before the .ord focused on personal and
Conference issues. Gntil my surgeries' I was !aith!ully !ul!illing this goal.
(owever' a!ter the surgeries' my prayer time' meditation' and reading have
increased e*ponentially. I do not think there has &een a time in my li!e when I
have prayed so !ervently' so o!ten' or meditated and read like the past eight
weeks. )s !or reading' I was una&le to do so until two weeks a!ter my surgery'
&ut then I &ecame a voracious reader averaging a&out one &ook per day. It has
&een a rich time o! learning3
Continue a coaching relationship with @r. @oug (alley. Doug8s coaching has
&een invalua&le !or me. I hope to continue the relationship with the new
covenant' &ut will pro&a&ly go to one call per month rather than two per month.
That will &e !inali-ed with the new covenant once agreement has &een reached.
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