VITAL CONGREGATIONS 

Vital Congregations central

For all information regarding United Methodist Vital Congregations, please visit www.UMVitalCongregations.org

Here, you can:
- gain all insight into UMC Vital Congregations
- how Vital Congregations relate to A Call To Action
- SET YOUR GOALS
- TRACK and ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS

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Vital Congregations - Next Phase (Press release, 11/10/11)

from The Vital Congregations Team (a collaborative effort of the General Agencies, the Connectional Table, and the Council of Bishops)

We are well info Fall and recognice that God is continuing to transform, enliven, and inspire our world in a multitude of different ways. We would like to celebrate God's great work through Vital Congregations Project in these past few short months.

We have had over 200 participants on the conference calls or webinars that were conducted in May-June and August-September. Participants included District Superintendents, Bishops, Congregational Developers, Directors of Connectional Ministries, and Conference Lay Leaders. All but two U.S. Annual Conferences participated in one of the two calls, and one Central Conference has already submitted all of their goals for 2012-16 for every congregation in their conference.

God is good and is moving in us and through us to inspire us as Disciples of Jesus Christ!

We would like to bring to your attention to a few new resources available on the UMVitalCongregations.org website and through the Vital Congregations Project.

First, there is a video demonstration of "How to Set Your Goals." This is located under the "Setting Your Goals" tab on the website. There is also a document (.PDF) that can be printed with step-by-step directions to help congregations set their goals (also found under the "Setting Your Goals" tab).



Second, we are now on Facebook and Twitter. We also have a regular blog post that shares information, ideas, thoughts, and theological articles each week. Please go to the UMVitalCongregations.org home page and you can follow us on Twitter (@UMVitalCong), like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/VitalCongregations), or read our blog posts (http://blog.umcvitalcongregations.org/).

     

We would love for you to contribute! Please email us (VitalCongregations@umc.org) with your contribution, link, video, study, or more.

Third, the "Resources" tabs are now live! You will find resources in a multitude of categories. Also, there is a document (.PDF) on principles of resourcing under the "Achieving Your Goals" (.PDF) tab. There are also several resources available in the "Best Practices" tab.

However, we still need your help populating both of these places. If you have a best practice working for you that seems to be producing health and vitality in congregations, please take a minute to send us a response on these 3 questions:
1) Please list your favorite resource (book, curriculum, website, module, etc.) for:
- Worship Planning
- Evangelism
- Spiritual Formation
- Mission Planning
- Stewardship Planning

2) What advice do you give a new clergy on using resources

3) What congregational assessment tool does your conference use? (i.e. Natural Church Development, Mission In-Site, etc.)

Your feedback is essential for us as we seek to help congregations make and meet goals for the vision of God's church.

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5 ways to better equip Vital Congregations (from GBOD's Five Better Ways eBlast, Dec. 2011)

Every month we send you just 5 ways you can better equip Vital Congregations and make disciples of Jesus Christ. Here’s this month’s issue! (SUBSCRIBE to Five Better Ways)

1. Gather your new church start team for a free retreat webinar. Train your new church launch teams in effective collaboration, visioning and planning through a free virtual retreat Jan. 20 – 21. The Launchpad Retreat Webinar will help teams and projects move toward launch or re-launch. Local retreats are led by the new church planter in or near the community of the new faith community. GBOD’s Path1 New Church Starts team leads the retreat, providing three live web-based presentations and a guide with a suggested schedule and activities. To learn more, go to http://bit.ly/i9h7ua.

2.Join college students and other young adults for a Motown Mission. During the upcoming service week, March 11-17, collegians and young adults will work on rebuilding, greening and feeding projects in Detroit during the day and explore the city each evening. The Motown Mission is a United Methodist-connected organization that offers an experience deeply rooted in Wesleyan theology and the contemporary UMC's call to mission and service. For more information, go to www.motownmission.org.

3. Start the New Year with a clean planning calendar. This free resource from GBOD contains lectionary readings, holidays, seasons and special days from both the church and civil calendars for 2012. Your church staff, committees, leaders, teachers and musicians will find it helpful as they plan in the coming year. To download the calendar as PDF file for free, go to http://bit.ly/rpf1XS.

4.Think differently about your ministries with children and families. Attend the 2012 Children’s Ministry Forum Feb. 21 - 23 at Calvary UMC in Nashville to learn about creative programming with children of special needs, with tweens and more. Sponsored by GBOD’s Large Church Initiative team, Sing a New Song: Recreating Your Ministry is designed for children's ministry leaders in larger congregations. For more information, go to www.gbod.org/cmf. or contact Connie Schmutz at cschmutz@gbod.org or call 615.340.1761.

5.Nourish your spiritual life and strengthen your discipleship. Attend the two-year Academy for Spiritual Formation beginning Feb. 7 at the Lindenwood Retreat Center in Donaldson, IN. The Academy offers a place for spiritually hungry pilgrims (both lay and clergy) to be part of a spiritual community that practices a rhythm of prayer, worship, instruction, silence and rest. The Academy meets for five days in residence (once every three months) eight times over the course of two years. For those seeking a short-term experience of spiritual formation, the Five Day Academy is also available. For more information, go to www.upperroom.org/academy or call 877.899.278 x7233.

> SUBSCRIBE to Five Better Ways

> A.N.O.W.: Outreach, Congregational Development; TNUMC.org: Vital Congregations

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Vital Congregations Weekly Word for Jan. 4-10 (from TNUMConnects 1/4/12)

Here's another way to view the Vital Congregations goals.

Bishop Mike Lowry (Central Texas) draws parallels among The 5 Fruitful Practices, Vital Congregation Goals, and Membership vows:

5 Fruitful Practices	Vital Congregations Goals	Membership Vows
Passionate Worship	Disciples Worship (average attendance)	Presence
Radical Hospitality	Disciples Make New Disciples (professions of faith)	Witness
Intentional Faith Development	Disciples Grow Their Faith (small groups)	Prayers
Risk-Taking Mission and Service	Disciples Engage in Missions	Service
Extravagant Generosity	Disciples Give to Mission	Gifts

About Weekly Word | The Vital Congregations Weekly Word is compiled by Jason Brock, Dir. of Church Vitality and Justice for the TN Conference for distribution in the TNUMConnects weekly eBlast - a service to TN UMC clergy and laity.

> A.N.O.W.: Outreach, Congregational Development
> TNUMC.org: Vital Congregations

This article was featured in the TN Conference weekly eBlast TNUMConnects. FREE to your INBOX weekly!
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UPDATED: Important "Call To Action" info, must submit goals by 1/15 (from TNUMConnects 1/11/12)

UPDATED 1/13/12: Although it is encouraged to submit your goals as soon as possible, the January 15 deadline below is not necessarily applicable to those in the TN Conference. For example, the Nashville District has set a District-wide deadline of January 31, 2012. More information about this will be distributed next week. Thank you.



Remember that Sunday, Jan. 15 is the Bishop's deadline for churches to enter their goals for the Call to Action.
 
1. To learn how to set your goals for the Call to Action, please click on the link below where there is a video that explains the process: 
> CLICK HERE
 
2. To set your goals for the Call to Action, please click on the link below: 
> CLICK HERE
 
Note: weekly data will not be entered until later in the spring.

This article was featured in the TN Conference weekly eBlast TNUMConnects. FREE to your INBOX weekly!
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Important Vital Congregations training events, mark your calendars today! (from TNUMConnects 1/18/12)

Call To Action/Vital Congregations - upcoming transformation training for leaders

Webinar: PRINCIPLES OF CHURCH RENEWAL - January 18 at 1:30 pm cst
> Key factors for setting a path toward renewal of district congregations
> Register at www.gbod.org/committee_resources

Webinar: GOAL SETTING FOR VITAL CONGREGATIONS - January 31 at 6:30 pm cst
> A guide for setting realistic numerical goals for your congregation on the website umvitalcongregations.org
Also, will include information on filling out vital congregations chart Betsey Heavner, Director of Leadership for Renewal, GBOD
> Register at www.gbod.org/committee_resources

Webinar: 10 COMMANDMENTS FOR CHURCH WEBSITES - February 9 at 6:30 pm cst
> A website is the new front door to your church. Patrick Steil, Webmaster for the North Texas Conference and owner of ChurchBuzz.org, will walk you through 10 Commandments that transform your website into the BEST outreach and communications tool that has ever been possible.
> Register at www.gbod.org/committee_resources

Webinar: HEALTHY CHURCH LEADERS - KEY FACTORS - February 23 at 6:30 pm cst
> SPRC has a key role for health of body, mind and soul for your pastor and leaders. GBPHB's Center for Health shares key factors for a healthy ministry environment.
> Register at www.gbod.org/committee_resources

Training for new church leaders is also available.
One-hour recorded modules are available for the Church Council. Trustees, Nominating Committees, Finance leaders, and S/PPRC. Individuals can watch at home or church groups can view the modules when they meet.
> These modules are posted at www.gbod.org/committee_resources

Have you submitted your goals to the Vital Congregations website? Unsure how?? Check out the video below for information on how to enter your data...it's really easy!

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Still working on Vital Congregations goals, there's a webinar for that! (from TNUMConnects 1/25/12)

Join Betsy Heavner of the General Board of Discipleship by webinar on Tuesday, January 31, 6:30 – 7:30 pm cst and she will give a helpful introduction on where to start as you set S.M.A.R.T. Goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely), which is mch more than just placing in numbers into a virtual box. You can participate in this webinar one of two ways:

1: Participate in the webinar online from a location of convenience. To do so, please REGISTER NOW

2: As a special inviation to those in the TN Conference, you are invited to attend the live remote broadcast. This will take place at the time of the scheduled webinar at Brentwood UMC (Haney Hall A).
 
To attend remote broadcast, please email Jason Brock (jbrock@tnumc.org) and meet at Brentwood UMC at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Enter main sanctuary/narthex entrance, turn left, Haney Hall A is located oto the left past the bathrooms.
 
> The webinar will be available for download AFTER Tuesday, Jan. 31. Details for downloading the webinar will be released on February 1, 2012.
 
If you have any questions about this webinar or Vital Congregations, please contact Rev. Jason Brock, Dir. Church Vitality and Justice (jbrock@tnumc.org or 615.329.1177).

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Free training for congregational leaders - March 2012 (from TNUMConnects 2/22/12)

    

> Register for these webinars and more: www.gbod.org/committee_resources

March 1 at 6:30 PM CST: S.M.A.R.T. GOALS FOR 2012
Churches have set numerical goals on the umvitalcongregations website. This event will help leaders use the SMART acronym to meet those goals. Includes examples and tips for specific ministry goals.
 
March 6 at 1:30 PM CST: INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP PROJECT FOR DS’S
Help congregations in a district respond to the Call to Action by developing goals for the future through the Innovative Leadership Project. District Superintendents and Conference Leaders will learn about connecting congregations through this 7-month process for strengthening leaders and developing skills for successful ministry.
 
March 8 at 6:30 PM CST: TELLING OUR MISSION STORY: PUT A FACE ON YOUR APPORTIONMENTS
Many United Methodists hear the word "apportionment" and think only of a burden placed upon the local church, but they have only seen it from one side. What if they could see the countless ways lives are touched, and the how their church has made a difference by participating in our global shared ministries? Find out how you can help tell those stories!
 
March 13 at 1:30 PM CDT: INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP PROJECT FOR CONGREGATIONS
The ILP is a 7-month process for congregations to respond to the Call to Action by developing ministry goals for the future. Pastors and Leaders will learn how to renew leadership by launching the process.
 
March 29 at 6:30 PM CDT: WHAT DOES A LAY LEADER DO?
Responsibilities vary for this position! This webinar will share examples from congregations of all sizes, the Book of Discipline, and actual experiences to make this role effective in your congregation.
 
Training for new church leaders is also available. One-hour recorded modules are available for the Church Council, Trustees, Nominating Committees, Finance leaders, and S/PPRC. Individuals can watch at home or church groups can view the modules when they meet.

> Register for these webinars and more: www.gbod.org/committee_resources

> A.N.O.W.: Outreach, Congregational Development
> TNUMC.org: Resources, Webinars

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