Through our

Emerging Leaders

Initiative, we are

working to attract,

encourage, and

develop young people on their journey

to ministry. Because of the Emerging

Leaders Initiative, young clergy are

serving across all districts in the

Conference. At their churches, worship

attendance is growing, young families are

becoming members, youth outreach is

expanding, and stewardship campaigns

are yielding increased participation.

An endowment of $15 million will

permanently underwrite the operations

of the Emerging Leaders Initiative,

relieving the Texas Annual Conference—

and our member churches—from

ongoing annual fundraising efforts. The

funds will be available in perpetuity so

that shifting budgetary priorities and

emergency needs will never undercut

this investment in the continuing

vitality of our Church.

Together, we have made great progress

in raising funds for the Emerging

Leaders Endowment, but the need is

ongoing and vital to our mission as

disciple makers.

I implore you to join in this inspiring

effort, and thank you for your prayers

and support.

Yours in Christ,Janice Riggle HuieResident Bishop

Emerging Leaders EndowmentThe Office of Bishop Janice Riggle HuieThe Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church5215 Main StreetHouston, Texas 77002

E M E R G I N G L E A D E R S E N D O W M E N T

The number of young people entering ministry is rapidly declining. At the same time, we face a tidal wave of clergy retirements – more than half of the Texas Annual Conference clergy will be eligible to retire in this decade. Our United Methodist church must address this critical leadership shortage that threatens our collective spiritual future.

Our Emerging Leaders Initiative addresses this shortage.

About the Emerging Leaders Initiative

The four programs of the Emerging

Leaders Initiative emphasize the virtues

of courage, truthfulness, integrity,

compassion, wholeness, diligence,

humility, and imagination while forming

disciples of Jesus who will lead and

grow The United Methodist Church for

generations to come. Participants come

from diverse backgrounds, and while

not all will lead churches, all will develop

a deeper understanding of ministry

and church life that will benefit their

churches and pastors.

The keys to our Emerging Leaders Initiative

• Identify and recruit young, gifted, diverse people

• Develop their ability to serve as transformational leaders

• Equip them with practices and tools that will sustain them over a lifetime of ministry

TEXAS YOUTH ACADEMYThe Texas Youth Academy is a two-week advanced discipleship summer program for high school youth who show promise for clergy and lay leadership in the Church.

AMBASSADOR’S GRANTThe Ambassador’s Grant provides reimbursement for seminary tuition and fees incurred by the most promising young clergy entering the Texas Annual Conference. The funds provide encouragement to prospective ministers and financial stability to clergy who receive grants, since seminary graduates often have $20,000 to $60,000 in debt as they begin their career in ministry.

ADVANCING PASTORAL LEADERSHIPFor those young pastors who demonstrate the highest potential, this ministry provides a transformational experience of leadership development, beginning with their growth as disciples of Jesus. Through this accelerated process, which includes intensive clergy retreats over two years and annual follow-up retreats for three more, Advancing Pastoral Leadership expects to impact at least 75% of our 100 strategic congregations and cultivate visionary leaders for our United Methodist faith.

The future is counting on us. Please help support our emerging leaders initiative.

I have enclosed a check in the amount of

NAME

HOME CONGREGATION

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Thank you for your support of this vital initiative.

Emerging Leaders EndowmentThe Office of Bishop Janice Riggle HuieThe Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church5215 Main StreetHouston, Texas 77002

COLLEGE PASTORAL INTERNSHIP PROJECTThe College Pastoral Internship Project allows young people to immerse themselves for ten weeks in the daily life of a church and consider the possibility that God is calling them to serve as a pastor. $

MAIL THIS FORM & YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO:

“I’ve always enjoyed Bible study, mission work, and volunteering. I credit my ability to remain active in my faith during college to my experience with the Texas Youth Academy.”— Mary Ellen Weylandt, student

“Within my first week as a college pastoral intern, I was praying with one family in an ICU, helping another prepare for a funeral, and certain of my calling to vocational ministry.”— Brandi Tevebaugh, student

“Even as a single parent, my faith never wavered that a way would be made, as I incurred major debt studying for my Master of Divinity. The Ambassador’s Grant answered my prayers.”— Romonica Malone-Wardley,

Pastor

“I found a process and a life journey that helped me to see that ministry and being involved in a church is about being involved in the ever-growing and changing community of God.”— Preston Greenwaldt, Pastor

Please make checks payable to the Texas Annual Conference, with ELE in the memo.