Strategic & Economic Analysis Task Force

Introduction

In November of 2010 Bishop Park formed a task force to carry out a resolution passed at the 2010 Annual Conference (cited at the bottom of this page) – a resolution that recognized that we, along with most of The United Methodist Church, are on a downward trend in terms of membership and finances. 

This resolution asked that we “initiate a broad strategic analysis of our connection including a careful examination of the conference's dynamic economic environment and competing priorities such as health care, pensions, personnel, program, resources for various commitments, income streams, apportionment obligations, etc.”   After a few meetings several task force members and others attended a Financial Leadership Forum sponsored by the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits (GBOPHB) and the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA). 

At this forum the task force learned more about the Financial Advisory Consulting Team (FACT), which was created by GCFA to help Annual Conferences respond to the significant challenges faced by the denomination at this point in our history. Read more about FACT>> Recently Bishop Park engaged the FACT team to assist our task force in carrying out the mission of this broad strategic analysis.

FACT

Our task force, which is now called the Strategic & Economic Analysis Task Force (SEATF), reported back to the Annual Conference in June 2011 and asked the Conference to extend its life for another year in order to complete its work.  FACT started their process with us this fall by interviewing approximately 20 leaders in our Conference and recently meeting with us  to share the results of those interviews and the statistical research they did for us based on available metrics.

FACT Report

The Financial Analysis & Consulting Team (FACT) report (link below) is their final report and it makes recommendations to our Annual Conference about possible goals and timelines. It is a joint report from select staff members from both GCFA and the GBPHB under the leadership of retired Bishop Bruce Blake, commissioned by the Council of Bishops, to assist conferences in assessing their current financial state and to make recommendations for improvement. Our committee (SEATF) is now in the process of working through the report with the aim of bringing a strategic plan to Annual Conference in June.  

Click here to download the final report from the FACT team>>

Text of the resolution approved at 2010 Conference

WHEREAS the New York Annual Conference is increasingly challenged to meet fixed and expanding financial obligations while desiring to advance the course of the gospel of Christ, BE IT RESOLVED that the Bishop convene a planning group to initiate a broad strategic analysis of our connection including a careful examination of the conference’s dynamic economic environment and competing priorities such as health care, pensions, personnel, program, resources for various commitments, income streams, apportionment obligations, etc. and report its conclusions and recommendations to the 2011 Annual Conference to determine the future direction, health and vitality of The New York Annual Conference.

SEATF Members 

Members of the committee (SEATF) are listed here with our emails.  If you wish to comment on the process, have questions, or want to make suggestions please contact us by email. 
 
Tim Riss, Chair umhicks@optonline.net
Sabrina Chandler ladypreacher95@aol.com
Oscar Destruge-Sandoval juan316@aol.com
Vicki Flippin vicki.flippin@gmail.com
Kristina D. Hansen pastorkristina@optimum.net
Wendell Harris wharrisassoc@aol.com
Richard Hayes revhayes@gmail.com
Wongee Joh wongeejoh@yahoo.com
Martin D. McLee   bishop@nyac.com
James W. Moore cathudnyac@aol.com
Kevin Mulqueen kmchfc@aol.com
Ann Pearson apearson@nyac.com
Bill Pfohl pastorbill@jesseleechurch.com
Gillian Prince startrek0925@aol.com
Ed Ruppmann edrupp50@gmail.com
William S. Shillady bshillady@umcitysociety.org
Renata Smith renata10553@yahoo.com
Ximena Varas ximenavaras@umcshelton.org
Bob Walker rwalker@nyac.com
Ross Williams rwilliams@nyac.com