Advisors

Advisors

 

Donald R. House Sr., PhD., ILCG President

DonaldHouse2011-200x250House earned a PhD in economics from Texas A&M University. He taught economics at Texas A&M and Auburn University for seven years. He currently serves as president of RRC, Inc.—an economic research firm established in 1977.

He has served as a delegate to General Conference of the United Methodist Church since 1996. He has led the Texas Annual Conference laity delegation to General Conference for sixteen years.

He served on the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) of the United Methodist Church for eight years. He has served as Chair of the Conference Council on Finance and Administration of the Texas Annual Conference for two four-year terms. He currently serves as Chair of the Economic Advisory Committee of GCFA, Chair of the South Central Jurisdiction Episcopacy Committee, and Chair of the Investment Committee of the Texas Methodist Foundation.

His research focuses upon patterns of giving to the local church, payout rates for apportionments, spending benchmarks for growing churches, local church affinity populations, clergy leadership training, effective judicatory structures, and forecasts of worship attendance and spending.

 

Board Members

Rev. Gil Rendle, ILCG Chair
Rev. Lovett Weems, Jr., ILCG Vice Chair
Rev. Jeff Dungan, ILCG Secretary (chair of the support and resources team of the West District)
Rev. Kim Cape, ILGC Board Member
Rev. Tim Bias, ILCG Board Member
Rev. Katherine Lyle, ILCG Board Member
Kay Yeager, ILCG Board Member
Rev. Wanda Bess, ILCG Board Member (district superintendent of the West District)

Why We Do It

Why We Do It

The world is missing out on the hope, truth, and power of the Gospel.  The local church remains the best vehicle by which its message is spread.  The secular press continues to challenge the work of the Church with its predictions of decline and rejection among the younger generations.  Instead, the local church can grow and prove its capacity to change lives and communities.  Growing Christian churches among our mainline denominations and beyond is a real possibility.

What We Use

What We Use

  1. Local Church Geodata
  2. Local Church Indicators: Worship Attendance and Congregational Giving—past 5 years
  3. Local Church Spending Patterns—Past 5 years
  4. Pastoral leadership—Past 10 years
  5. Establishment of Benchmarks
  6. Statistical projections—Next 5 years
What We Do

What We Do

ILCG works side by side with local church leaders to identify internal deficiencies through comparisons with thriving peer group outcomes.  Comparisons bring broad solutions that are refined or customized by local church leaders.  In the end, the local church becomes more effective in ministry to community and in making disciples of Christ.

How We Do It

How We Do It

ILCG takes a comprehensive approach to measuring and understanding the impacts of the changing composition of churches.  Based upon statistical analyses of over 1 million local church records—about 32,000 churches over 28 years —  sophisticated simulation models have been developed to scrutinize past experience, clarify present standing and discern the factors that provide the foundation for a vibrant future.

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