Once a year, representatives of all Methodist churches in Arkansas gather to do the business of the church. This year, the Arkansas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church meets in Rogers. All United Methodist Congregations in Benton County act as hosts, helping with things like parking, shuttle buses, ushering, greeting and praying over delegates.

The conference is scheduled for Thursday to June 22 at the John Q. Hammons Center.

"The Way Forward: Live for God, Love as Christ, Lead With Excellence" is the theme for this year's event, and much of the meeting will focus on Arkansas Bishop Gary Mueller's mission statement and the Imagine Ministry Journey, according to Martha Taylor, director of communications for the conference.

The website of the Arkansas Conference presents the mission "to make disciples of Jesus Christ equipped to transform the world with excellence and passion." It lists the vision of "congregations and surrounding communities transformed by the Holy Spirit to demonstrate love of God and neighbor, holy living and justice."

"When the Arkansas Annual Conference began the Imagine Ministry Journey, you were reacting to a projected future characterized by financial unsustainability, decreasing membership and more and more churches focused primarily on survival instead of faithfulness," Mueller wrote in September.

"We are reimagining who we are," Taylor said. A task force looked at the demographics of the district and how the world has changed.

"What was successful in the past is no longer working," she said. "We must be intentional in restructuring.

"How is ministry done in the 21st century? How do we reach the 'nons' -- people who are spiritual but not religious? We need to connect better with one another and meet with the community around the local church."

The plan includes 10 steps for the conference, clergy and churches, currently focusing on spiritual renewal of Christians so they can renew others.

The Rev. Dixon Platt, pastor of Elm Springs United Methodist Church, guides his congregation with a two-night revival in October, connecting visitors, members and the community.

"They're tired. They're worn out -- physically, emotionally and spiritually," he said. "First, we need to fess up to our need to be revived. Once you do that, you recognize the need to put yourself in a position to be revived."

The Rev. Jaimie Alexander, pastor of Bella Vista United Methodist Church, agreed.

Christians today need revival because they are "lackadaisical" and "apathetic," he said. "So many things vie for our attention. We are exhausted and empty and need refreshing."

Alexander addresses his congregation with an August revival, guiding them "to realize they're not so stressed and things are not so imperative that we can't be rooted and grounded."

"We really have to think about revival in the personal heart," he said. "Renewed hope, renewed focus on faith and a personal experience with God."

Two Methodist ministers led their congregations in renewal and will serve as keynote speakers for the conference meeting.

The Rev. Adam Hamilton, founding pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kan., will teach three sessions focusing on leadership during the course of the gathering. Under Hamilton's leadership, his church recorded an average weekly worship attendance of more than 8,800, and church rolls list 18,000 members, according to the conference website.

The Rev. Jorge Acevedo, lead pastor at Grace Church, a multisite United Methodist congregation in southwest Florida, will speak on Jesus' commandment "to love each other as he has loved us," the website reads.

Taylor noted the delegates vote to approve resolutions, including the conference budget, restructuring the insurance plan for clergy and benefits for retired clergy in the district.

Delegates will consider a resolution on church trials, held for ministers who officiate same-sex blessings, Taylor said. "We would say the trials are not something that contributes to justice or healing," she said. Another is a statement that the Arkansas Conference supports private Medicaid expansion.

"This is also a time when clergy are ordained, and we are commissioning others called to ministry," she added. The churches also will discuss an initiative to fight childhood hunger.