Oasis Fellowships are part of a conference-wide initiative to join large, connecting churches in the Central Texas Conference with newly created fellowships (aka house churches) in areas in the conference where there isn't a near by United Methodist Church. This is an opportunity for persons who wish to remain Untied Methodist and/or those who want to experience all The UMC has to offer for the first time to be able to engage in Christian community, grow in their faith, experience and share discipleship and live at the hands and feet of Christ in their area and with the people in their community.
United Methodist Oasis Fellowships will gather in homes or other available locations which are set up to participate in worship live every Sunday via live stream broadcasts from their connecting congregation, with discipleship opportunities throughout the week. Congregational care teams will support Oasis Fellowship members during those "life moments" when pastoral care is so vital. Oasis Fellowships will also have the opportunity to participate in the sacrament of Holy Communion through partnerships with the connecting churches, the conference and retired UMC clergy.
_1.png?width=300)
Please view the short video below to learn more about this initiative from the CTC lead on this initiative, Dr. Will Cotton and Rev. Lance Marshall, senior pastor of our inaugural large connecting church, First UMC of Fort Worth.
United Methodist Oasis Fellowships will gather in homes or other available locations which are set up to participate in worship live every Sunday via live stream broadcasts from their connecting congregation, with discipleship opportunities throughout the week. Congregational care teams will support Oasis Fellowship members during those "life moments" when pastoral care is so vital. Oasis Fellowships will also have the opportunity to participate in the sacrament of Holy Communion through partnerships with the connecting churches, the conference and retired UMC clergy. Oasis Fellowships is an option for those that do not have a UMC Church close enough to where they live and can drive to on a regular basis, however, another option to #StayUMC is finding a nearby UMC Church that you may join and become an involved member of that congregational community.
The Membership of the Oasis Fellowship is held at the Connecting Church and tracked as an Oasis Fellowship.
Oasis Fellowships are by nature lay led, so there is not an assigned pastor. The Connecting Church provides a pastoral connection along with retired clergy in the area who lead monthly Holy Communion and are also able to share in the Sacrament of Baptism. The laity who lead in a fellowship are supported and coached by clergy and laity staff from the Connecting Church.
If you are a member of a church belonging to another demonimation - even another Methodist denomination - you are no longer in connection with The UMC nor the Central Texas Conference and are no longer a United Methodist.
Offerings go to the Connecting Church, but there certainly can be funds designated from those offerings for specific outreach and expenses of the Fellowship. It is expected that Oasis Fellowships will want to be in mission in the areas where they are located.
Working in partnership with the Central Texas Conference and retired UMC clergy, Oasis Fellowships will be offered the sacrament of Holy Communion monthly at the home fellowship gathering.
The pastoral care team of the connecting church is available to the members of an Oasis Fellowship. The connecting congregation and the Oasis Fellowship will set their own methods of how to best share the need for congregational care.
The connecting church will be the primary point of contact in getting the Oasis Fellowship connected to its live web streams and other ministry offerings. The Conference Communications and IT teams are also available as needed.