The UMC Vital Congregations Project

1
The UMCVital Congregations Project

• A collaborative project of
• The United Methodist Church

2
VITAL CONGREGATIONS

• THE GOAL
• 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.
• Matthew 2818-20
• Matthew 2236-40
• Romans 12 The Body of Christ

3
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)
4
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.

5
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.
• 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
  Churchs mission objectives are a symptom of the
  structures and cultural behaviors that get in
  the way. (CTA Report p. 174)

6
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.
7
A Vital Congregation HAS

• 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.
8
Metrics Research Study Found

• 16 Ministries/Strategies that were common among
  the 16 of churches noted as having indicators of
  vitality (growth-engagement-generosity)
• 4 Primary areas of effectiveness
• 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.

9
The Metrics

• Set Goals based upon 5 measurable indicators of
  vitality
• 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.)

10
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!

11
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!

12
Vital Congregations are everywhere!
13
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

14
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 its historical report.
• Questions to consider when looking at historical
  reports
• 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?

15
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.

16
GOAL-SETTING

• Set Goals based upon the 5 measurable indicators
  of vitality
• 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.)

17
VitalSignsUMC.org

• http//vitalsignsumc.org/
• DASHBOARD Allows congregations to track
  progress towards their goals for health and
  vitality.
• 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!

18
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.

19
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.)

20
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.

21
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.

22
Vital Congregations Project Teams Role

• Provide training and support for DCMs/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.

23
Vital Congregations Project Teams Role
Offer opportunities to CELEBRATE the successes of
congregations meeting goals VIA Annual
Conference, General Conference and throughout the
world!!!
24
YOU ARE THE NUMBER 1 RESOURCE!!!

• Church vitality can not happen without YOU!
• 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 410-13 Christ has gifted the church
  through a variety of gifts.
• Galatians 328 All are welcome in the body of
  Christ.
• Luke 1025-37 We are called to be like the Good
  Samaritan.
• Micah 68 Righteousness and justice are the
  expectation for Gods people.
• Luke 417-21 Jesus announces his ministry,
  which is a calling for the body of Christ TODAY!