Cooperative Parish with Shepherd of the Hills UMC

More Effective in Ministry

In the Spring of 2011, Santa Margarita UMC adopted a Covenant for Cooperative Ministry with Shepherd of the Hills UMC, outlining the relationship between SMUMC and Shepherd of the Hills during the 2011-2012 fiscal year. During this time, the two churches will remain separate entities, but will begin the process of sharing some ministry, staff and structures. The Covenant spells out the business plan of how the two churches will begin working together rather than in isolation. Currently in place is a single preschool operating at two locations, shared Youth and Children's ministry staff, additional shared staffing, ministry teams populated with SMUMC and Shepherd people, and a SMUMC Site Pastor. Budgets are separate, stewardship is separate, and apportionments are separate.

In July of 2012, if all goes according to plan, the two churches will merge. The new merged church will be called Shepherd of the Hills UMC and will retain its status as a California corporation. At that point, budgets will be united, staffing will be unified and more streamlining will occur between both campuses. Financial liabilities, including loans, will be unified as will Conference apportionments.

In the meantime, leaders of both churches are developing systems of financial health and viability. It is the expectation that the giving and financial generation of each campus will be more than enough to maintain the costs of operating at two locations.

By taking these steps, our two churches will become more effective in ministry together than apart. That is what this is all about - being effective in reaching our community with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us all continue in prayer toward that end.

The Cooperative Parish Team publishes a monthly newsletter, please view this here.

For more information about Shepherd of the HIlls UMC, please visit this website.

Sunday Info

This Week at SMUMC

This Wednesday we will have an Ash Wednesday service at 7 pm. Ashes are a sign of repentance and mourning. The Ashes traditionally are from Palm Sunday the year before and serve as a reminder that the joy of Palm Sunday can quickly turn to the betrayal and grief of the cross. The Ashes also remind us of the brevity of life. Let us begin the season of Lent with a clear focus on the gift of life and the correct use of that gift.

Featured

  • Cooperative Parish with Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church - Learn more about our Covenant for Cooperative Ministry here...
  • Dave Roberts, lead musician in our worship band, released his first CD several months ago. Recently, his music was picked up by UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, and used in a video they created and posted on their website! View the video here....

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