ART Vision and Goals

OUR VISION 

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the people of the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church seek to fulfill the word of God by committing to the full participation of people of all racial identities including their gifts, their worldviews, and their cultures. 

Being restored into the image of Christ, we claim our identity as an anti-racist, multi-cultural church where power sharing and inclusive decision-making are practiced through clear lines of accountability to racially oppressed people; redefining and rebuilding relationships; and working to dismantle racism in the entire community whereby individuals, congregations, communities and society are transformed toward God's design for creation.

OUR GOALS

GOAL 1 - IDENTITY CHANGE
By June 2008, a critical mass of the NORTH TEXAS CONFERENCE will understand, own, and affirm an analysis of systemic racism, with a readiness to formalize an anti-racist identity by transformation of the institution's identity documents, and to initiate a process of structural transformation.

GOAL 2 - LEADERSHIP
By June 2008, the Bishop and extended cabinet, elected leaders of the conference agencies, Conference Leadership Team, conference staff, and other key influencers, will understand, own, and affirm an analysis of systemic racism, and lead in the anti-racism work. Anti-racism training will be a formal requirement for all North Texas Annual Conference leadership.

GOAL 3 - OPENNESS
By June 2008, there will be a new climate of openness and trust across racial lines within the North Texas Conference, signifying readiness to build and accept new structures of culture and power.

GOAL 4 - SPIRITUAL CHANGE
By June 2008, there will be in the North Texas Conference a deeper and commonly affirmed spiritual and theological understanding for doing anti-racism work and claiming an anti-racist identity.

GOAL 5 - ORGANIZING
By June 2008, there will be an additional organizing (with additional anti-racism teams) within the Conference:

• 15 congregations
• 2 Wesley foundations
• the Perkins internship program

Also, there will be supplemental planning and organizing for additional teams.

GOAL 6 - COLLABORATION
By June 2008, there will be strategic connections, as well as collaboration, between anti-racism organizing that is taking place within the North Texas Conference structure and anti-racism organizing that is taking place within the larger community to which the North Texas Conference is connected by developing a "cross-structural consortium" to continue anti-racism work.