Make disciples

of Jesus Christ

 

The River Valley

 

It is official.  The Southeast District will become The River Valley District.  Indeed, all the churches and all the districts will be going through change beginning July 1, 2008. The new districts will be: Twin Cities (metro), North Star (northwest), Big Waters (northeast), Southern Prairie (southwest) and the River Valley (southeast). We welcome the following churches to the River Valley District.

Burnsville: Grace                                           Burnsville: River Hills

Cannon Falls: Christ                                     Castle Rock

Cottage Grove: Peaceful Grove                   Eagan: Advent

Farmington: Faith                                           Hastings

Inver Grove Heights: Mount Bethel           Jordan: Immanuel

Lakeland: St. Croix Valley                            Lakeville: Crossroads

Little Prairie                                                   Lydia: Zion

New Prague: Heritage                                   Newport

Northfield                                                        Prior Lake: Holy Trinity

Rosemount                                                      Savage: Glendale

Shakopee: Calvary                                         Stanton

Woodbury: Minnesota Christ Korean         Woodbury

 

The following churches will be going to other districts:

Albert Lea                                          Alden

Austin: Fellowship                            Austin: First

Blooming Grove                                Ellendale

Geneva                                               Glenville

Kiester: Grace-Rice Lake                 Lansing

Waseca: Evangelical                        Waseca: Faith

Waterville: Evangelical                    Wells

 

What does all this change mean?  Our hope is that we will see our connections differently.  Rather than having such a strong district identity, we hope that pastors and churches will take advantage of any event taking place across the conference.  We also hope that pastors and churches can establish new working relationships with churches that share similar interests or needs.  In short, we hope that we will enlarge the scope of our connectional relationships. 

As superintendents, we have learned to work across districts as well.  We work together in appointments, strategies, difficult conflict situations, and helping each other with support and care.

 

What would happen if all of the churches tried to work beyond themselves?  Rather that just creating something better in our churches, towns, or districts; what would happen if we tried to create something greater than ourselves across the entire state?

 

Blessings,

Mike Wuehler

Published monthly for the leadership of the United Methodist Churches in the SE District

SE District News

2008