VITAL CONGREGATIONS

for the 21st CenturyThe United Methodist “Call to

Action” District Days 2011

Realities, Challenges, & Opportunities

• An “Emerging Crisis of Relevancy.”Emerging Crisis of Relevancy.”- A dis-connect with our communitiesA dis-connect with our communities- A disparity between what we say - A disparity between what we say on on Sunday and what we do on Sunday and what we do on Monday.Monday.- An inability to “make” disciples.- An inability to “make” disciples.- The “missing generation.”- The “missing generation.”

Realities, Challenges, & Opportunities• An approaching “Death An approaching “Death

Tsunami”Tsunami”- Nehemiah 2:17- Nehemiah 2:17- Our life as a denomination can - Our life as a denomination can onlyonly be be sustained for sustained for another 10 years.another 10 years.

Realities, Challenges, & OpportunitiesThe “Death Tsunami”The “Death Tsunami”OUR REALITYOUR REALITY• The Growth in Money since 1968The Growth in Money since 1968o Local Church Net Assets: Local Church Net Assets: up 217%up 217%o Local Church Giving: Local Church Giving: up 178%up 178%o Local Church Total Spending: Local Church Total Spending: up up

144%144%

Realities, Challenges, & OpportunitiesThe “Death Tsunami”The “Death Tsunami”• The Decrease in Disciples since The Decrease in Disciples since

19681968o Membership: Membership: down 80%down 80%o Attendance: Attendance: down 78%down 78%o Professions of Faith: Professions of Faith: down 71%down 71%o Children & Youth: Children & Youth: down 57% & down 57% &

44%44%

Realities, Challenges, & OpportunitiesTABLE DISCUSSIONTABLE DISCUSSION1)1)What are the realities you are facing?What are the realities you are facing?2)2)Are any of these realities surprising Are any of these realities surprising

you?you?3)3)Which realities are being actively Which realities are being actively

addressed?addressed?4)4)Which realities will be easiest to Which realities will be easiest to

address?address?5)5)Which realities will be the most Which realities will be the most

difficult?difficult?

Realities, Challenges, & OpportunitiesThe “Death Tsunami”OUR CHALLENGE• Dramatic rise in death rate (2018)• Continued loss of membership• Inability to reach the “missing

generation.”• Increased crisis of relevancy• Misalignment of resources

Realities, Challenges, & OpportunitiesOUR CHALLENGEOUR CHALLENGEThe Unsustainability of the The Unsustainability of the

DenominationDenomination• Pension Program (General Church)Pension Program (General Church)• Health Care -Retiree & ActiveHealth Care -Retiree & Active

(Annual Conference)(Annual Conference)• Mortgages/Debt (Local Church)Mortgages/Debt (Local Church)• Number of ChurchesNumber of Churches• Number of Full-time ClergyNumber of Full-time Clergy

Realities, Challenges, & OpportunitiesOUR OPPORTUNITYOUR OPPORTUNITYFilling the Gap – A Re-SetFilling the Gap – A Re-Set• Positioning for ChangePositioning for Change• Aligning with RealityAligning with Reality• A 10 year windowA 10 year window• It’s now or never for a “Re-It’s now or never for a “Re-Set.”Set.”

Realities, Challenges, & OpportunitiesOUR OPPORTUNITYOUR OPPORTUNITY““Come, let us rebuild, . . .”Come, let us rebuild, . . .”• From preoccupation to vitalFrom preoccupation to vital

congregationscongregations• No finger pointing allowed.No finger pointing allowed.• The Mission Field is ChangingThe Mission Field is Changing• It’s a new day!It’s a new day!

Realities, Challenges, & OpportunitiesOUR OPPORTUNITYOUR OPPORTUNITY1) The Power of Agenda1) The Power of Agenda2) Getting the right people 2) Getting the right people in in the conversation.the conversation.

3) Direct our resources.3) Direct our resources.4) Provide Accountability4) Provide Accountability

Realities, Challenges, & OpportunitiesTable DiscussionTable Discussion1) How are you leading your 1) How are you leading your people into a renewed people into a renewed vision of vitality in their vision of vitality in their ministry?ministry?

2) What are the choices you 2) What are the choices you need to need to make in order to make in order to lead your lead your congregation congregation into a renewed vision?into a renewed vision?

The United Methodist Church

Making disciples of Jesus Christ Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation for the transformation of the of the world.world.

Matthew 28:18-20 –The Great Matthew 28:18-20 –The Great Commission Commission

Matthew 22:36-40 – The Great Matthew 22:36-40 – The Great CommandmentCommandment

A Call to Action

The United Methodist Church is The United Methodist Church is called to be a world called to be a world

leader in leader in developing and developing and starting new starting new vital vital congregations so that we congregations so that we make disciples of Jesus Christ make disciples of Jesus Christ

for the transformation for the transformation of the world. of the world.

What does a Vital Congregation Possess?• Inviting and inspiring worshipInviting and inspiring worship• Engaged disciples in mission and Engaged disciples in mission and

outreachoutreach• Gifted, equipped and empowered lay Gifted, equipped and empowered lay

leadershipleadership• Effective, equipped and inspired clergy Effective, equipped and inspired clergy

leadershipleadership• Small groups and strong children and Small groups and strong children and

youth ministryyouth ministry

How does Disciple-making & Transformation take place?• Through vital congregationsThrough vital congregations• Vital congregations are Spirit-filled Vital congregations are Spirit-filled

forward-leaning communities of forward-leaning communities of believers that welcome all people believers that welcome all people (Galatians 3:28)(Galatians 3:28), make disciples of , make disciples of Jesus Christ (Jesus Christ (Matthews 28:18-20),Matthews 28:18-20), and and

serve like Christ through justice serve like Christ through justice and and mercy ministries mercy ministries

(Micah 6:8; Luke 4:17-21)(Micah 6:8; Luke 4:17-21)

What about Vital Disciples?• A vital disciple is a changed follower of A vital disciple is a changed follower of

JesusJesus• A vital disciple follows the Great A vital disciple follows the Great

Commandment (Matthew 22:36-40)Commandment (Matthew 22:36-40)• Disciples worshipDisciples worship• Disciples make new disciplesDisciples make new disciples• Disciples engage in growing their faithDisciples engage in growing their faith• Disciples engage in missionDisciples engage in mission• Disciples give to missionDisciples give to mission

The Call to Action

Small Groups & Ministries for Youth & Children1.Vital churches have more

small groups for all ages.2.Vital churches have more

programs for children.3.Vital churches have more

programs for youth.

Lay Leadership4. Vital churches focus on increasing the 4. Vital churches focus on increasing the

effectiveness of lay leadership.effectiveness of lay leadership.5. Vital churches have lay leadership who 5. Vital churches have lay leadership who

demonstrate a vital personal faithdemonstrate a vital personal faith (regular (regular worship, intentional spiritual growth, worship, intentional spiritual growth, personal personal devotional life, and financial giving).devotional life, and financial giving).

6. Vital churches place an emphasis on rotating 6. Vital churches place an emphasis on rotating lay lay leadership in order to involve more leadership in order to involve more people over people over time.time.

7. Vital churches call, equip, use and support 7. Vital churches call, equip, use and support more lay more lay leaders than non vital churches leaders than non vital churches (20% or more of their worship attendees (20% or more of their worship attendees describe describe themselves as current or past themselves as current or past leaders in their leaders in their church).church).

Pastoral Leadership8. Vital pastors gives attention to developing,

coaching, and mentoring lay leadership to carry out their own ministries.

9. Vital pastors use their influence to increase the participation of others in order to accomplish changes in the church.

10. Vital pastors motivate the congregation to set and achieve significant goals through effective leadership.

11. Vital pastors inspire the congregation through preaching.

12. Vital pastors, when they are serving effectively, stay for a longer period of time (short term appointments of effective pastors decreases the vitality of a congregation) .

Worship13. Vital churches offer a mix of

contemporary (newer forms of worship style) and traditional services.

14. Vital churches have preachers who tend to use more topical sermon series in traditional services.

15. Vital churches use more contemporary music (less blended music that includes traditional tunes) in contemporary services.

16. Vital churches use more multi-media in contemporary services.

The Call to Action

Table Discussion

• Discuss the value of Discuss the value of these these sixteen drivers sixteen drivers in the life in the life and ministry and ministry of your local of your local church.church.

A Congregation

al Ministry Plan

Building Blocks of a Vital

Congregation

Purpose• Why does your church exist? Why does your church exist? • What does Christ call you to be and What does Christ call you to be and

do do in your community at this time? in your community at this time? • Does your church have a vision or Does your church have a vision or

mission statement? mission statement? • When is the last time these When is the last time these

statements statements were reviewed? were reviewed? • Do they reflect your current reality?Do they reflect your current reality?

Principles• What values guide your What values guide your

congregation’s decision congregation’s decision making? making?

• List the 4-5 key words or List the 4-5 key words or phrases phrases that describe that describe your values. your values. Start each Start each phrase with, we value…phrase with, we value…

Promise•What can the What can the community community consistently trust or consistently trust or

expect from you?expect from you?

People•Who is your church Who is your church

passionate about passionate about reaching? reaching?

Context for Ministry: CommunityDescribe the community surrounding Describe the community surrounding

your church – the community your your church – the community your congregation is called to reach and congregation is called to reach and serve. serve.

•   Who are the people?Who are the people?(age, race, educational (age, race, educational

background, etc.) background, etc.) •   What are the current needs of What are the current needs of

your your community? community? • What changes are occurring in your What changes are occurring in your

community community that may impact that may impact your future ministry?your future ministry?

Context for Ministry:

Your Church• What are the strengths of your church? What are the strengths of your church? • What are your challenges and threats? What are your challenges and threats?

(for example declining loss of key givers, (for example declining loss of key givers, needed building repairs, declining worship, needed building repairs, declining worship,

none or only a few new professions of none or only a few new professions of faith, faith, changing community, etc.) changing community, etc.) 

• What are the opportunities for ministry – What are the opportunities for ministry – for for children, for youth, for adults? children, for youth, for adults? 

• What does your congregation currently value What does your congregation currently value as its most important ministries? Would as its most important ministries? Would anyone miss these ministries if your church anyone miss these ministries if your church ceased to exist?ceased to exist?

Setting Vital Church Goals

S.M.A.R.T. Actions

• SPECIFICSPECIFIC• MEASUREABLEMEASUREABLE• ATTAINABLEATTAINABLE• RELEVANTRELEVANT• TIME BOUNDTIME BOUND

S.M.A.R.T. ACTIONS• Disciples worshipDisciples worship• Disciples make new disciples Disciples make new disciples

(evangelism)(evangelism)• Disciples engage in growing as Disciples engage in growing as

a a disciple (small disciple (small groups/children/youth)groups/children/youth)

• Disciples engage in mission Disciples engage in mission (justice & mercy)(justice & mercy)

• Disciples give to mission Disciples give to mission (stewardship)(stewardship)

S.M.A.R.T. ACTIONS• Lay Leadership Lay Leadership (What will you (What will you

do to develop do to develop laity to be laity to be effective spiritual effective spiritual leaders?)leaders?)

• Clergy Leadership Clergy Leadership (What will (What will you do to help notice, you do to help notice, name name and nurture others in your and nurture others in your congregation who have gifts for congregation who have gifts for

ordained ministry?)ordained ministry?)

S.M.A.R.T. ACTIONS Making

Connections

What are the steps, What are the steps, stories, stories, and hopeful and hopeful signs that signs that will be will be used with your used with your plans?plans?

Local Church Local Church VitalityVitality