FUMC Terrell

May HEADlines: General Conference seeks ‘vital congregations’

FUMC Terrell Pastor Keith Head The last Sunday of May is Pentecost Sunday when we celebrate the birthday of the Church as described in Acts 2. Birthdays for us as individuals tend to be benchmarks when we consider how far we’ve come and how far we have to go. Remembering the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus when the first Christians received the Holy Spirit should make us consider if we are being faithful as the Church today.

For us as United Methodists, that consideration is going on right now at the General Conference meeting in Tampa, Florida, April 24 through May 4. This gathering takes place every four years to do the business of The United Methodist Church and set the agenda for our congregations for the next four years — and that includes us!

I have attended many General Conferences over the years, serving as a reserve delegate from Oklahoma in 1984 and covering the event as an associate editor for the United Methodist Reporter. I volunteered in the Press Room at the last event in 2008 at the Fort Worth Convention Center. I kind of miss the hub-bub of activity and meeting the movers and shakers of our denomination and the memorable experiences that inevitably happen at each gathering.

Once, immediately following a vote on the issue of homosexuality, a protester attempted to leap from the balcony before being grabbed and pulled back by the people sitting near her. When Bill Clinton was president, Hillary spoke to the conference highlighting the work of the United Methodist Women, as she was herself. And, there was a tearful moment when the bishop from Liberia spoke with passion about his war-torn country and how he had narrowly escaped death because of his attendance at the conference. To see the 1,000 delegates and all the support staff and volunteers doing God’s work at an international scale gives one a whole new perspective on what it means to be the Body of Christ alive in the world continuing the task begun at Pentecost!

I want to briefly share with you one segment of what the delegates will be working on over these weeks that directly relates to our life here at First UMC. It’s part of a larger study titled “A Call to Action” that addresses what it means to be a “Vital Congregation.” Creating Vital Congregations Vital congregations are the heart and soul of a vibrant and fruitful United Methodist Church.

Congregations are the places where new disciples of Jesus Christ are being made; where people grow by grace and are nurtured; where the Church bears witness to the gospel and engages in partnerships for works of mercy and justice in communities and the world. Since the time of John Wesley, organizing communities of people involved in experiencing the means of grace and serving others has been a centerpiece for the Methodist movement.

It is time to reclaim that focus in a new way and to encourage one another; to be accountable to one another; and to empower one another for greater effectiveness in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

There are many places across the worldwide United Methodist Church where this is already happening. More than 20,000 congregations in the United States and Central Conferences have set measurement goals in five common areas:

The primary use of setting goals and tracking results is to provide opportunities for reflection and conversation that will strengthen ministry.

The Importance of Metrics

Metrics can be useful tools to help gauge the health and vitality of congregations. Jesus lived and taught by the numbers. He withered a fig tree because it was not bearing measurable fruit. It had leaves, but not signs of vitality—fruit. Jesus taught about talents and that multiplying talents was a sign of faithfulness. The scriptures often included numbers—5,000 fed, 10 healed, 12 disciples made. Jesus said, “You will know them (disciples) by their fruit.” (Matthew 7:16).

Metrics are a resource to measure vitality and to set appropriate goals that move the congregation toward health and move The United Methodist Church toward achieving its mission.

Key Drivers of Vital Congregations

From the Call To Action Report:

Effective pastoral leadership including aspects of management, visioning and inspiration
Multiple small groups
Programs for children and youth
Mix of traditional and contemporary worship services
High percentage of spiritually engaged laity who assume leadership roles.

Every church, regardless of its location or how many people attend on Sunday mornings, can be a highly vital congregation. The more our UMC resources are aligned and parts of the Connection work together, the greater our fruitfulness and witness to the world. The proposed legislation is important because it gives us greater flexibility, accountability and responsiveness to meet the needs of congregations and mission partners around the world. There are already many resources available to help churches become more vital. Visit www.umvitalcongregations.org for more information.

There’s more about General Conference at www.umc.org. Come to the Pastor’s Bible Study at 6:30 p.m., each Wednesday of May, for “An Introduction to The United Methodist Church” and a discussion on the work of the 2012 General Conference.

And, please pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to grow a faithful Church as we seek to be Christ’s body in the world.

Happy Birthday, Church!