Enhancing and Expanding the Gospel of Jesus in the United Methodist Tradition

In February of 2023, shortly after being assigned as the episcopal leader of the North and Central Texas Conferences by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church, Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. began to work with clergy and lay leaders of both conferences to determine how to best move our disciple-making mission forward in the short- and long-term.

In June 2023, Bishop Saenz and Bishop Nunn began to work together in looking forward for a possible unification of the Northwest Texas Conference, North Texas Conference and the Central Texas Conference pending approval at Jurisdictional Conference in July 2024.

With an eye on what the world of 2050 will be like and need, the conference leadership set out to cast a vision that would energize and guide the people and local churches in our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. In August of 2023, the Central and North Texas Cabinets were joined by members of the Northwest Texas Cabinet for a vision retreat. After hearing from visioning experts, reviewing current and forecasted demographic data for each conference and much prayer, the set a vision and supporting strategic priorities for the conferences.

Our Vision

We are followers of Jesus, seeking the loving, just and free world God imagines for all people.

Our Strategic Priorities

• Multiply Jesus Followers

• Champion Children and Youth

• Maximize Care and Healing

• Pursue and Embrace Diversity

• Tell Our Story

Conference Unification

Another key initiative set forth by Bishop Saenz shortly following his assignment to the North and Central Texas Conferences was to consider how to unify and harness the collective resources of the Central, North and Northwest Texas Conferences to best serve the region. By working together as one body with a unified vision, we will be well-positioned to multiply Jesus followers as a unified conference following the widely anticipated adoption of new conference boundaries by the 2024 South Central Jurisdictional Conference.

The process for exploring unification began in earnest in February 2023. Throughout the spring and summer of 2023, Bishop Saenz and clergy and lay leaders from all three conferences worked together on a unification plan set for the second half of the year and into 2024.

Below is a video update from an initial leadership meeting held in November 2023 with North, Central, and Northwest Texas Leaders.

The conferences appointed Unification Project Managers Lisa Gafford (Central Texas Conference), Tim Griffy (North Texas Conference) and Randy Stutes (Northwest Texas Conference) and contracted independent consultant John Wimberly and a team from GCFA led by Caitlin Congdon. The consultants were charged with researching the conferences’ current organizational structure and culture, conducting interviews with conference staff, clergy and lay leadership and providing recommendations as how the conferences can organize moving forward.

Dr. Wimberly and the GCFA team delivered their reports in October 2023. Common themes revealed in both reports include prioritization of:

• Focusing on ministry with younger generations

• Actively engaging in community mission work

• Building connections within the larger geographic Annual Conference

• Prioritizing campus ministry, including commensurate funding

• Enhancing clergy and laity leadership development and programs that focus on growth strategies

• Supporting ministry in rural areas

• Investing in clergy wellbeing

After receiving these reports and summaries from the Unification Project Managers, the Cabinets began developing an organizational structure that supports the conferences’ strategic priorities and focuses on collaboration, communication and the flexibility needed to adapt to our rapidly changing world.

Frequently Asked Questions

We are currently still an Episcopal area with New Mexico. Bishop Schnase is currently over the New Mexico Conference, and NWTX is under Bishop Nunn. This will continue to be our episcopal leadership until a new one is decided at the Jurisdictional Conference in July 2024.

Bishop Saenz is the Bishop of North Texas and Central Texas Conferences. These are still two separate conferences.

We anticipate being unified with the North Texas and Central Texas conferences. In order for this to happen, it will have to be voted on by the Jurisdictional Conference attendees in July 2024. Traditionally, the changes would be in effect September 1, 2024.

A conference has to have 50 active elders in order to remain a conference. We anticipate these three conferences merging into one rather than remaining separate conferences.

How Jurisdiction will reassign the boundaries of the South Central Conference. There are multiple areas affected by disaffiliations.

Who will the Episcopal Committee assign as Bishop to the new conference? This will be decided at Jurisdictional Conference in July 2024. Bishop Nunn will retire September 1, 2024.

When a specific conference merger or unification will take place date-wise? It is anticipated for January 1, 2025 if everything transitions smoothly.