Transcript Preparing for the Membership Vote

Targeting the Faith Community
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Targeting the Faith Community
Presenter: Mark Hazlewood, P.R.A.Y. CEO
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Today’s topic is part of a larger series
It must be understood in context of the FBI
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The Faith Based Initiative is a comprehensive plan to
BUILD AND STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS between Girl
Scout Councils and the faith community
It’s all about WHY councils should work with the faith
community and HOW to approach them
The goal of the FBI is increased membership
1. Why Collaborate?
2. Cultivating the mindset for approaching the faith community
3. Faith-Based Awards – what they are, how to use them as
membership tools
4. Selecting the faith groups
5. Preparing for the call
Today’s webinar has a very narrow focus, but it is
essential that it rests against the background of the
bigger picture of the FBI.
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GS councils and congregations share common needs
(and hence common goals):
◦ Members, Retention, trained leaders, program, finances
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Collaborations will benefit the girl, the congregation,
and the GS Council
Religious Recognitions can be used not just for spiritual
growth, but as a tool for membership growth.
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New Recruiting model:
◦ First recruit the congregation (i.e. place to meet, adult
leaders)
◦ Then recruit the girls
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Goal: To involve the congregation with the Troop
◦ Ask clergy for names of potential leaders
◦ Explain that you will provide training, etc.
◦ Give congregation sense of ownership and if they are gaining
members, they will want to continue supporting Girl Scouts
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The FBI is not a “quick fix”
The key to the success of the FBI is long-term
relationships
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Use your Community Profile – know the congregations
that are out there
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www.thearda.com
The Association of Religion Data Archives
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– Excellent Faith Information by State,
Metro Area, County, etc. For instance, to get full county faith
information:
◦ Click on the “U.S. Congregational Membership” tab at the top of the
page.
◦ Then click on “Reports” in the drop-down window.
◦ Under “Browse Reports” in red type, choose either “counties,” “metro
areas,” “states,” or “United States.” A report will appear with complete
faith statistics for your chosen category.
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The ARDA provides statistics on the number of congregations by
denomination.
The next step would be to visit the denomination homepage to generate
a list of congregations
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Be strategic in selecting the religions/denominations
to approach
Be strategic in selecting the congregations to approach
Not all congregations will be a good fit for you
◦ Mega churches
◦ Conservative churches
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Don’t just do a community profile
Find the connections you may already have
◦ Survey your board and staff
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Find and recruit “cultural informants”
◦ To open doors
◦ Speak the language
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Find the congregations that are already using Girl
Scouting.
Remember: there’s a difference between a
congregation that has Girl Scouts meeting in their
basement, and a congregation that nurtures a Girl
Scout ministry
You as a GS council need to know (and be able to
articulate) the difference.
Peer-to-peer clergy recruitment
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Take advantage of the online statistical resources
This information can help you with planning and the
selection process
Caution: these tools cannot replace the value of the
inside information that comes from “cultural
informants”
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Don’t sell the Girl Scouts
Sell SOLUTIONS to the problems that
congregations face
 LISTEN!
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LISTEN! LISTEN!
Listen for the needs of the
congregation.
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Do your homework.
Research the
◦ Denomination
◦ Congregation
◦ Religious Recognitions program
What do you call the place of
worship? Clergy?
 How is it structured? Top down or
bottom up?
 Is it liberal or conservative?
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Quick Facts
Structure
Governance
Proper terms
Characteristics
Scouting
United Methodist Church
The UMC was the second largest charter
organization of the BSA
370,000 youth
11,400 units
6,500 United Methodist Churches
General Conference
The
only body that can set official policy and
speak for the denomination.
Made
up of approximately 500 lay people
and 500 clergy.
Meets once every four years to make
decisions/revise the Book of Discipline.
Bishops also preside at the General
Conference (non-decision-makers).
Special sessions may be called.
Structure
5 Jurisdictions
(for communication purposes primarily)
60 Annual Conferences
488 Districts
35,000 Churches
Structure
The
five jurisdictions are like super regions
There is a bishop (paid clergy) for each
Annual Conference
There is a District Superintendent (paid
clergy) for each District.
Districts are comprised of local churches
Role of the Pastor
To
facilitate a board of directors called the
Connectional Ministries (formerly
administrative board), a volunteer chair,
and committees that lead the church
Terms
Pastor
(or Reverend)
Congregation
Sanctuary
Evangelism, outreach, “to Make Disciples”
Christian Education & Discipleship
Youth groups = United Methodist Youth
Fellowship (UMYF)
Board of Directors = Connectional Ministries
Concerns
Losing
membership
Older congregations
Average age of men is 59
Trying to appeal to a younger generation and to
youth
Issues of homosexuality (pastors cannot be
practicing, self-avowed homosexuals); however, any
and all persons are invited into the life of the church
Positives
We’re
a Connectional Church and structured to
communicate very well
The Church has named Four Areas of Focus which
are the priorities for the next four years:
1. Global Health - i.e. Eliminate Malaria in our
lifetime in Africa
2. Poverty – seeing to the needy, i.e. mentoring
youth whose parents are incarcerated, Amachi
Initiative with Big Brothers Big Sisters
Positives
3.
Church Renewal – new church growth,
renew existing congregations
4. Leadership – developing principled
Christian leaders
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Larry W. Coppock
Director, Scouting Ministries
General Commission on United Methodist Men
http://www.gcumm.org/ministries/scouting/
“Scouting Ministry Specialists”
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Researching the denomination gives you the bigger
picture
Continue to do your homework by researching the
CONGREGATION
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Names of clergy,
staff
Size
Youth programs
Scouting families
Door opener
Decision maker
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Become familiar with the religious
recognitions program
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Become familiar with the religious recognition for
that particular faith
Each religion creates its own program
Eligibility requirements will differ from religion to
religion
Know the difference between Religious Recognitions
and the My Promise, My Faith pin
“Foot in the door” versus “foot in your mouth”
Become familiar with the religious recognitions
program before visiting a congregation
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The To Serve God
brochure is just a starting
point.
Use the Analysis Sheet to
become familiar with
each program
Gather information, but
then learn how to apply it
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FBI context: become familiar with the congregation
and utilize cultural informants in order to show how
Girl Scouting can address the needs of the
congregation
FBI context: become familiar with the religious
recognitions (not just MPMF) to show the congregation
its immediate connection to Girl Scouting
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Get a set of sample books
Leave a set with the congregation
Make a second appointment to retrieve your books
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The FBI takes time
But don’t settle for just a meeting place
Help the faith community to see the benefits in using
Girl Scouting
Then your council will benefit from more delivery
places and more volunteers
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[email protected]
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Resources:
www.praypub.org/partner_gsusa.htm
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Thank you for your interest in partnering
with the faith community.
www.praypub.org