Build God's World
Shepherd of the Hills
26001 Muirlands Blvd.
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
949/837-2941
info@sothumc.org
Quicklinks
Coming Events
Preschool Summer Camp
July 9-12 & 16-19
Vacation Bible School
Week of July 23-27
Cooperative Parish with SMUMC
In the Spring of 2011, Shepherd of the Hills adopted a Covenant for Cooperative Ministry with Santa Margarita 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 ministry staff, additional shared staffing, ministry teams populated with SMUMC and Shepherd people, and a new 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 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.
For more information about Santa Margarita UMC: www.smumc.com
Latest Cooperative Parish News
Plans move forward for our church's plan to merge with Santa Margarita UMC. The Cooperative Parish Leadership Team has set the following schedule through the beginning of July. All of these dates help our church take the incremental steps toward merger.
Sunday, May 6 - Final Cooperative Parish Checkpoint, 5:30 pm, Mission Viejo site.
Sunday, May 20 - Church Conferences: Santa Margarita UMC --‐following 11 am Worship, Vote on Resolutions for Dissolution and Discontinuance. Shepherd of the Hills UMC – 7 pm, Vote on Resolutions to Receive SMUMC Members & Assets/Liabilities
Friday, June 1–Potluck Dinner & Unified Church Conference, 6 pm. Approve New Multi-Site Church Structure and Elect 2012--‐2013 Officers.
Saturday, June 2 – New Church Governing Bodies Meet for First Time (Vision Retreat).
Sunday, June 17 –Annual Conference in Redlands, CA. Conference to vote on Bishop & Cabinet Recommendation on Merger
Tuesday, June 26 – Church Conference to Approve New Governing Documents & 2012-2013 Budget.
Sunday, July 1 – Inaugural Worship Celebration for the NEW Shepherd of the Hills UMC.
As you can see there are a large number of steps that move us toward July 1! Keep this process and our church’s leaders in your prayers during this season of change. Make plans now to attend these important gatherings that will chart the course of our church into the future.
