Transcript Document

The UMC
Vital Congregations Project
A collaborative project of
The United Methodist Church
VITAL CONGREGATIONS
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THE GOAL:
o To
fulfill the Mission of The United
Methodist Church by equipping
and empowering congregations
to become vital and healthy
congregations in their
communities and in our world.
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Matthew 28:18-20
Matthew 22:36-40
Romans 12 – “The Body of Christ”
Call to Action Report
The Critical Adaptive Challenge:
To redirect the flow of attention, energy, and
resources to an intense concentration on
fostering and sustaining an increase in the
number of vital congregations effective in
making disciples of Jesus Christ for the
transformation of the world. (p. 14)
Four Key Observations
• Our denomination is in need of more “turn-around”
leaders.
• Our denomination has an adverse reaction and fear
of metrics as a means of accountability.
• There is a serious lack of trust across the
denomination.
• Our denomination has not been effective in
reaching marginally churched and non-churched
people.
Setting Goals to Becoming Vital!
• The Call to Action Research indicated that there was a lack of
measures and accountability within The United Methodist
Church.
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“The primary elements that drive structure and process
effectiveness are: clarity of responsibility (goal and role clarity),
authority to carry out responsibility and accountability for results.”
(CTA Report p. 167)
“the lack of a Church-wide strategic plan or Church-wide strategic
plans focused on the Church’s mission objectives are a symptom
of the structures and cultural behaviors that “get in the way.” (CTA
Report p. 174)
A Vital Congregation IS:
• GROWING (Over the past 5 years have shown
statistical data of growth in Average Worship
Attendance and Professions of Faith.)
• ENGAGING PEOPLE (Over the past 5 years
have shown congregational engagement in
multiple ministries including small groups,
mission and outreach.)
• GENEROUS (Over the past 5 years have shown
increases in stewardship and giving within and
beyond the local church.)
Data from Call to Action research collected in 2010 by Towers Watson, Inc.
A Vital Congregation HAS:
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Inviting and inspiring worship
Engaged disciples in mission and outreach
Gifted, equipped and empowered lay leadership
Effective, equipped and inspired clergy
leadership
• Small groups that include children and youth
designed to encourage, support and hold
disciples accountable in their Christian walk.
Data from Call to Action research collected in 2010 by Towers Watson, Inc.
Metrics Research Study Found:
• 16 Ministries/Strategies that were common among the 16% of
churches noted as having indicators of vitality (growthengagement-generosity)
• 4 Primary areas of effectiveness:
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Engagement of disciples in small groups (which include children
and youth ministries)
High % of congregation who serves as lay leaders who are
effective, demonstrate personal faith, and rotate leadership.
Lead pastors who focus on developing, coaching and mentoring
lay leaders, are influential, goal-setters that inspire the
congregation through preaching and have a longer tenure in that
congregation.
Worship that is contextual, mixed and relevant.
The Metrics
• Set Goals based upon 5 measurable indicators of vitality:
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Disciples in Worship (Average Worship Attendance)
Disciples making new Disciples (Professions of Faith)
Disciples growing in their faith (Number of Small Groups =
Groups that meet together regularly in order to support,
encourage and hold one another accountable in their relationship
with Christ.)
Disciples engaged in mission (Number of Disciples doing
outreach in the community and in the world.)
Disciples sharing their resources for mission (Amount of
financial resources given to mission – including World Service,
etc.)
Strategic Planning for vitality!
• “Although structural change may be prerequisite to broader
strategic planning, best practices at the Agency, Annual
Conference and Local Church levels could at least be shared
and disseminated.” (CTA Report p. 174)
• The Vital Congregations Project is designed to EQUIP Annual
Conference Leadership (Directors of Connectional Ministries,
Conference Staff and Cabinets)
• The Vital Congregations Project is designed to EQUIP clergy
and lay leadership in local congregations!
The Strategic Plan
• Assess baseline health of every congregation. (Church Health
History – Community History and Needs – Stories or
circumstances that have affected the congregations health.)
• Current health assessment. (How is the church today? Clergy
Leadership – Lay Leadership - # of Small Groups – Average
Worship Attendance-Mission Participation-Missional Giving)
• Set GOALS for the future health and vitality of each individual
congregation.
• Goals collected and reported by Annual Conferences.
• Goals collected and reported at General Conference 2012!
Vital Congregations are everywhere!
UMCvitalcongregations.org
• Website resource designed to equip and empower leaders as
they foster, sustain and nurture vital congregations in our
denomination.
• SIMPLE
• USER-FRIENDLY
• EASILY ACCESSIBLE
CHURCH HEALTH HISTORY
• Each congregation has a history – a past that has affected
where they are at today. This webpage uses GBGM church
profiles research to help a congregation see it’s historical
report.
• Questions to consider when looking at historical reports:
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Pastoral Leadership – Was there a change in the lead pastor?
How long did the lead pastor stay?
What significant events in the church may have affected the
worship attendance?
What significant events in the community may have affected the
data of the congregation?
CURRENT HEALTH ASSESSMENT
• Current church health is important to assess in order to set
feasible and attainable goals.
• Multiple Methods of Church Health Assessment.
• Congregational Ministry Plan is available online for the use of
any congregation.
• Link to DCM and staff info for each Annual Conference.
• Link to any other Congregational Development staff for each
Annual Conference.
GOAL-SETTING
• Set Goals based upon the 5 measurable indicators of vitality:
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Disciples in Worship (Average Worship Attendance)
Disciples making new Disciples (Professions of Faith)
Disciples growing in their faith (Number of Small Groups =
Groups that meet together regularly in order to support,
encourage and hold one another accountable in their relationship
with Christ.)
Disciples engaged in mission (Number of Disciples doing
outreach in the community and in the world.)
Disciples sharing their resources for mission (Amount of
financial resources given to mission – including World Service,
etc.)
VitalSignsUMC.org
• http://vitalsignsumc.org/
• DASHBOARD – Allows congregations to track progress
towards their goals for health and vitality.
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Congregations receive a weekly email to record their metrics.
Weekly recording of data that will be directly linked to GCFA.
Everyone in the connection can view data.
There will be a place for congregations to share weekly success
stories via the website.
Leaders can celebrate milestones for the congregation regularly!
PROPOSED TIMELINE
• July 1st – Vital Signs Dashboard will be ready to be released to
the pilot congregations and conferences. (GCFA)
• July 15th – UMCVitalCongregations.org Website will be ready
to launch for Conference and Congregational use.
• August-December – Before charge conferences, congregations
will be invited to evaluate and assess current church health
situation (via website, general church resources and
conference resources, etc.)
• By Charge Conference – Each congregation will be invited to
set goals based on the metrics for the 2012-2016
quaddrennium, as a GIFT to God for the work of the church.
Role of the Dir. Of Connectional
Ministries
• Communicate the invitation to set goals to all congregations
throughout your conference.
• Equip conference staff or local church staff to help
congregations do health assessments as needed.
• Help congregations understand their health assessments and
invite them to set goals based upon their contextual health.
• Provide, offer or point to resources that will help them reach
their goals based upon these measurements. (Via
UMCVitalCongregations.org website or other
conference/general church resources.)
Role of District Superintendents
• Help DCM and Conference Staff identify churches that could
use a personal invitation to participate.
• Also communicate the invitation to churches throughout the
conference.
• See the health assessment report and be in prayer for
congregations.
• Help hold the leadership of the congregation accountable to
their goals.
D.S.’s can help clergy leadership by:
• Encouraging clergy through prayer and
discernment, when goals may seem
challenging.
• Praise and celebrate every little achievement
that moves a congregation closer to their
goal. (via website stories, etc.)
• Tell the stories of good ministry throughout
the denomination.
Vital Congregations Project Team’s
Role
• Provide training and support for DCM’s/Conf. Staff and District
Superintendents
• Provide VitalSignsUMC.org dashboard for weekly data
recording.
• Provide online resources and training for the congregational
health assessment.
• Provide the program for goal-setting and tracking via the
website.
• Provide a venue for story-collecting via the website.
Vital Congregations Project Team’s
Role
Offer opportunities to
CELEBRATE the successes of
congregations meeting goals VIA
Annual Conference, General
Conference and throughout the
world!!!
YOU ARE THE NUMBER 1
RESOURCE!!!
• Church vitality can not happen without YOU!
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Acts 2 – The outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the
Church.
1 Corinthians 12 – The healthy church is one body and it is the
body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:10-13 – Christ has gifted the church through a variety
of gifts.
Galatians 3:28 – All are welcome in the body of Christ.
Luke 10:25-37 – We are called to be like the Good Samaritan.
Micah 6:8 – Righteousness and justice are the expectation for
God’s people.
Luke 4:17-21 – Jesus announces his ministry, which is a calling
for the body of Christ TODAY!