Welcome to Adelante!
Adelante is a program of renewal and assessment offered to full-time Rio Texas Conference clergy every eight years, counting from the date of ordination or licensing. The purpose is to give space and resources for clergy to reflect on their call and to plan their next steps toward growth and health, professionally and personally.
Learn more about Adelante.
Contact Robert Lopez, Alicia Leyva, or Eve Albert at the conference office for further clarification.
Adelante (aðeˈlante) means
1. forward! 2. come in! 3. go on; go ahead!
Also can be received as word of encouragement!
Working Timeline
November - Opening session: Begin to develop path towards renewal and growth and understand the process for the next six months. Gather in person.
December - June - Regular check-ins with peers both zoom and in-person. Group guided and developed process. Great place to receive support and accountability. Access available resources for development
May/June - Possible check in session, online, in-person, or group learning trip/experience, etc.
By June 1 - Submit written plan to District Superintendent and assistant to the bishop for discussion and support.
Self-assessment work
Free - Emotional Intelligence tool. Produced by the Harvard Business Review; consists of 25 questions. Once you have completed the self assessment, you are encouraged to ask several other people to rate you with the same instrument, following the instructions at the end of the test. As the instructions indicate, these should be people who know you well and will answer honestly, for the sake of your growth. See the tool itself for further information.
Assessment tool:
LPLI (Lewis Pastoral Leadership Inventory) - Cost covered by the conference
This tool is designed for pastors serving congregations. It will require input from observers in your congregation. The results of this assessment will be sent only to you, for your use in discernment and crafting your plan. This tool is available in a printed format in Spanish; however, the resulting report will be delivered in English.
Information and registration link provided below.
Readings - These are not required but may serve as food for thought as you prepare for our opening session and crafting a plan. Additional readings will be added.
“Your Surge Capacity is Depleted—It’s Why You Feel Awful” - Tara Haelle
“Leading Beyond the Blizzard: Why Every Organization is Now a Startup” - Andy Crouch, Kurt Keilhacker, and Dave Blanchard
“Singing the Lord’s Song in a Strange Land: A Call for Resilience in Uncertain Times” - Bishop Janice Riggle Huie
Resources
Adelante Learning Resource Guide - Organized by category, this is a beginning list of resources for use in crafting and living out your plan. Categories are: spiritual, physical, social and relational, emotional, financial, and professional wellbeing, plus cultural awareness and competency. We welcome your suggestions of resources to add to this list.
Spiritual Directors - This page lists the current spiritual directors with whom the conference has experience. A list of additional names will be added soon.
Clergy Coaches - This page provides the name of a clergy member of the Rio Texas Conference who is a trained and credentialed coach (Associate Certified Coach) through the International Federation and is endorsed by the United Methodist Endorsing Agency as a Life Coach. He is also able to make referrals to other credentialed coaches outside our conference.
Starts Thursday, September 28, 2023
Diabetes Prevention Program/Omada - Don’t be thrown off by the word “diabetes;” Wespath is offering two program options for anyone seeking greater overall health, free to HealthFlex participants. The online option, Omada, combines the latest technology with ongoing support so you can make the changes that matter most—whether that’s around eating, activity, sleep, or stress.
Funds to support components of a growth plan can be secured from the following sources:
Individual accountable reimbursement accounts
Individual wellness incentives for physical, spiritual, and emotional wellness; apply at riotexas.org/wellness.
BOM and conference clergy development funds; apply using this form.
Reporting
Written reports of work progress will be due June 1. Please send your report to your district superintendent and to the assistant to the bishop. Here are questions to guide the final reporting out. Also creative ways of reporting out might be fun. Continued conversations around the final reporting out during the journey.
Celebration
The ministry and progress of Adelante participants will be celebrated at the annual conference session following their completion of the program.