NORTH ALABAMA MISSIONAL PRIORITIES
1. New Congregations

2. Natural Church Development: Growing Healthy Churches
a. an honest look at where we are (An analysis of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats to the congregation.)
b. gives a plan to succeed in ministry in this congregation in the future.

3. Effective Leadership for the 21st Century--pastors and laity
a. younger pastors (recruiting and training and releasing for vital ministry)
b. more elders (our conference is experiencing a drop in number of elders)
c. effective mentoring and supervision of our newest pastors to ensure that they have the tools they need to lead, in light of our priorities

4. Reach and empower a new generation of Christians in and for our church

RECRUITING YOUNG CLERGY
North Alabama sends three to four young pastors to seminaries at least once a year in our region to recruit seminary students to the mission and vision of the North Alabama Conference.

RESIDENCE IN MINISTRY (formerly Probationary Period)
Ensuring excellence in new clergy leadership

Our vision is to ensure an ongoing stream of high quality ministerial talent while maximizing professional preparation for effectiveness in ministry.
The Residency in Ministry Program maximizes professional preparation for effectiveness in ministerial leadership. This development program fosters covenant relationships with peers and provides needed skills for effective ministry. The North Alabama Conference refers to the years following commissioning for ministry and proceeding ordination as a Residency in Ministry. All the privileges and requirements for the period of probation as delineated in the Book of Discipline apply to Residents in Ministry or RIM.

Each Resident is a part of a covenant group of five to seven peers who work, worship, study and grow together during the three year period. Covenant group gatherings include commitment to a written covenant, processing specified studies, praying for and with one another, keeping each other accountable to professional growth requirements set by the Board of Ordained Ministry and being evaluated on their progress. Each Covenant group is led by a coach. This person is an ordained deacon or elder, specifically chosen for his or her communication and leadership skills to model, guide and evaluate residents.

Each year of the residency process is organized around a specific theme, chosen for its practical application and usefulness in the professional development of clergy. The first year of the residency process focuses on ministerial identity. The focus of the second year is ministerial leadership. The final year focuses on integration and ministerial effectiveness.

RIM Year 1 Workshops: http://www.northalabamaumc.org/page.asp?PKValue=1245

RIM Year 2 Workshops: http://www.northalabamaumc.org/page.asp?PKValue=1246

RIM Year 3 Workshops: http://www.northalabamaumc.org/page.asp?PKValue=1247

Clergy Appointments: Video with Bishop Willimon: http://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=473