Conference ProfileConference ProfileA. Geographical Location & Description. Yellowstone Conference encompasses the state of Montana, northern Wyoming and two churches in Idaho for a total of 184,318 square miles.
B. Demographics. The population of this geographical area is 1,055,367 persons (2002 census). There are 4.1 persons per square mile in Yellowstone Conference. There are 134 churches with total membership of 17,000 persons. Twenty churches have membership over 250, 32 have membership between 100-250, 38 have membership between 50-100, and 44 are under 50 members. Clergy include 69 active elders (49 under appointment in local churches, 21 in extension ministries or on leave). There are 9 associate members under appointment, 18 local or supply pastors, 6 elders of other conferences under appointment, and 70 retired pastors.
C. Conference Mission Statement. We send leaders to serve disciples who offer the gospel to the world. The primary purpose of the Conference is to serve and support local churches in their ministries.
D. Political Makeup. The political makeup tends to be conservative, incorporating the mystique of western independence with a desire for smaller government, reduced taxes, individual rights, and state and local control. Politically, the Republican Party currently dominates both legislative and executive leadership in the three states. There are pockets of more liberal attitudes and a full range of political perspectives are evident in the life of the Conference.
Political Issues. Environmental issues around the extractive industries of mining, forestry, coal bed methane, oil, gas & coal. Gay rights came to the forefront in recent years with the murder of a gay college student in Wyoming and the question of University of Montana health benefits for same sex couples. Traditional family issues such as abortion and parents’ rights, agricultural issues such as subsidies and global free trade, Native American issues of self-governance, water rights, substance abuse, health issues, and generally, poverty, war and peace are all issues of importance.
Church Trends. Population trends and therefore, church attendance trends,
are suggested by an observation from the District Superintendent of Northern
Plains District. An update of the 2000 census shows every town with a United
Methodist Church presence in the District lost population between 2000 and
2003 except one small community which increased by two persons!
Social Environment. Ethnically the geographical area includes 93.4% of the
population white, 3.1 % Hispanic and 3.4% American Indian. Other ethnic populations
are less than 1%. This is reflected in the Annual Conference. There are 8 Indian
reservations within the bounds of the Conference representing 13 tribes. US
Census projections regarding age of the population for the next 15 years indicate
the “graying” of the residents of this geographical area. The economy
is based on agriculture, extractive industries, tourism, service industry,
government, education and health services. The per capita income ranges from
$15,086 to one county of $38,260. There are pockets of poverty in the area
as well as areas of comfortable middle and upper income persons. The Indian
Reservations experience unemployment as high as 80% in some cases. The largest
city in the geographical area is Billings, MT, population 89,847. .
Ecumenical Environment. Yellowstone Conference representatives are active in the Montana Association of Churches and the Wyoming Church Coalition. Pastors are active in local ministerial associations, and United Methodist laity work ecumenically in food banks, community-wide church schools, Hospice, and other community organizations. Many of our small membership churches are “ecumenical,” serving as “community” churches with laity representing a diverse background of denominations and theologies.
E. Financial Status. 2004 clergy minimum cash compensation for elders with no experience is $21,454; for 20 years of experience $26,817. The Conference average compensation for clergy is $33,521. The 2004 Conference budget is $1,640,933. The budget has not been met through apportionment giving for the past several years. General church and jurisdictional apportionments are paid on ratio according to the percent received from local churches (about 70%). In 2002, 60 of 134 churches paid their apportionments in full.
F. Issues. A major concern for the entire Conference, both lay and clergy,
is the future of Yellowstone Conference. The 2003 Annual Conference session
mandated the formation of an ad hoc committee, known as the Ad Hoc Task Force
on the Yellowstone Conference Future. Its assignment is “to thoroughly
research the possible merging with another conference or the restructuring
of our own conference organizational structure and to present recommendations
to the 2004 Annual Conference…:”
Clergy Issues. Most clergy are immersed in the realities and issues of their
local church community. Many deal with survival issues, inter-church squabbles,
time management. They are concerned about the future of Yellowstone Annual
Conference and how changes will affect their lives and ministry. Pastors are
concerned about conference apportionments. There is some anger toward churches
and other ministers who do not seem to make much effort to see their apportionments
paid. The rising cost of health insurance is an issue.
Lay Issues. Most lay people are mostly concerned about their local church issues.
The church for them is the local church. The primary issue seems to be that
Conference apportionments are too high.
Conference Strengths. Our good and dedicated clergy. Our remarkably dedicated
lay persons who stick with the church through great difficulties. The goodness
of our geographical location and lifestyle, affirmed by national acknowledgment.
There is even a frontier mentality that is proud of doing well in the face
of difficulties including economics weather, isolation, financial problems,
and on and on. We are problem solvers often reaching unconventional solutions.
Because of our small numbers we can see the results of those solutions more
quickly. We have gifted the general church with a disproportionate number of
talented individuals in national and jurisdictional leadership positions.
Areas for Improvement. We need to see ourselves as we really are--as a place
of mission on the frontier, rather than yearning for the “old days.” We
need to give more—to be better stewards. We need to recognize we have
pockets of poverty as well as individuals of average and great wealth. We need
to work more together, i.e., pastors need to see themselves as a team working
toward common goals. We need to develop churches in the growing regions of
the state while developing alternative forms of ministry in areas that are
losing population. We need to deal with churches who historically refuse to
pay apportionments, allowing us the freedom to avoid the hard choices between
honoring connectional commitments or funding our own Conference programs, i.e.,
world service apportionments or campus ministry.
G. Conference Episcopal Leader Expectations. A high profile bishop who sees the Conference as a priority and will spend time in the Conference building relationships, listening to and learning about us. A flexible and creative person who can guide us through these difficult transitional times, clearly stating and keeping before us our specific goals that will move us toward viability. A strong leader who can articulate the importance of a committed faith in Jesus Christ, and how we as a church need to respond in faith. An experienced bishop. A person interested in learning about and developing relationships with Native Americans.
H. Elements of the Jurisdictional Vision Statement Scale of 1-5 (1=mastered; 2-doing much of the time; 3-mixed results; 4-needs work; 5-no work begun)