ABOUT New Church Development Team
New Church Development Team 2.5 is a risk-taking arm of the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference. We serve to live into a vision that glorifies God; following a mission that focuses our faithfulness; and using values that guide our work and way of serving.VISION:
The TWK unleashes, establishes, and generates faithful strategies for the fulfillment of the kingdom of God on earth. Our MISSION is to establish new faith communities in the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference for the glory of the resurrected Christ; faithfully using what God has placed in our basket. We are confident that God equips us for what we are invited to do for God’s glory in the Tennessee-Western Kentucky. That involves all the people in the TWK, and some who are particularly called to take these risks in collaborative, faithful and courageous ways. This is for God’s glory, not our own. Our team holds shared VALUES that guide our work and that we believe are important when discerning and following the Spirit that is always making “all things new.”Values
• Process and strategy
• Openness to new ideas
• Courageous decision making
• Integrity of our team members
• High trust supports high risk for God
• Being there in the ditch. Suffering and sacrifice are part of the redemptive process.
• Honesty; acknowledge excellent mistakes
• Collaboration with others for the fulfillment of the kingdom of God on earth.
• Diverse people and perspectives
• Innovation
• Willingness to share resources for the kingdom of God. We will model it.
• The clear call of God on peoples’ lives
• Belief that God is doing the work and we need to look for it. Join it.
• Letting go without fear
Frequently Asked Questions
TEAM MEMBERS
Rev. Dr. Erin BeasleyTeam Leader of Commission on Religion & Race; Pastor at Burdette UMC Rev. Melinda Young Britt
TWK Connectional Ministries Officer Rev. Dr. Rob Martin
Assistant to the Bishop Rev. Scott Aleridge
Cumberland River District Superintendent Rev. Dr. Michelle Maldonado
United Methodist Communications Sally Oglesby
Member at Murfreesboro FUMC Rev. Chris Thompson
Pastor at Selmer FUMC Rev. Dr. Vona Wilson
NCD Team Leader; Senior Associate Pastor at Franklin FUMC
CURRENT PROJECTS
Bluff City in Memphis - Tom Fuerst, Pastor
https://bluffcitychurch.org
Circle of Grace - Sandy Shawhan, Pastor
Connection UMC in Nashville. Melisa Derseweh, Pastor
https://connectionumc.org
https://www.cosecha.community
Ebenezer Metodista Iglesia - Myriam Cortes, Pastor
https://www.facebook.com/iglesiametodista.ebenezer.1
Fresh START - Dedra Campbell, Executive Director
https://www.freshstartcolumbia.org/
Hamilton Egyptian Ministry
Hermitage UMC Celebrate Recovery
https://humc.org/celebraterecovery/
Home Church Nashville - Jason McAnally, Pastor
https://www.homechurchnashville.com
Jacobs Well in Memphis - Russell Morrow
https://jacobswellmemphis.org
Open Table Nashville, Outreach Coordinator
http://opentablenashville.org
Lighthouse Church - James Luvene, Pastor
Trinity Community Commons - Nate Paulk, Executive Director
https://www.trinitycommunitycommons.org
Collaborative Visioning
North-West Corridor Visioning Team – Red River District
Madison Corridor Visioning Team – Cumberland River District