February 29, 2008

View from the Village

Announcing Wayne’s and Skip’s “ON OUR ELBOW” campaign and Annual Conference theme development, “Church for the Rest of Us.”

First some background: The theme for the 2008 annual conference session is “Church for the rest of us.” Our theme presenters happen to be two of the most popular speakers different denominational and local church leaders throughout the United States are seeking to hear. They present through research findings, practical insights and suggestions for how to “turn around” a local church and create a “church for the rest of us.” The presenters are Diana Butler-Bass and Jim Griffith. Diana Butler-Bass is well known for her work in sharing insight about, as she says,” the neighborhood church in transforming the faith.” And Jim Griffith is a leading expert on training pastors to start new churches or turn around old ones. Bishop Thomas Schol, Bishop of the Washington Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church, will join them. Bishop Schol will preach at the opening worship service. He is known for his creative work in conference organizing and leadership development for the renewing of the local church. It is going to be a great conference!

To prepare for this year’s conference session, I am asking we consider what steps can be taken, at this time in history, to keep our local churches vital or to turn around decline? One suggestion is that we read and discuss the books in the Bishop’s Big Read, Christianity For the Rest of Us, by Diana Butler Bass; and Adventures in Missing the Point, by Brian McClaren and Tony Campolo. Cokesbury can provide you both books. Christianity For the Rest of Us has a discounted price at the Denver Cokesbury store. Plus, you may want to bring additional church members to hear Diana Butler-Bass’s Thursday night, June 19th, presentation at the annual conference session.

Another idea is to attend one of the numerous workshops sponsored by the United Methodist Church and/or other groups that focus upon local church vitality. One example is the School of Congregational Development sponsored by the General Boards of Global Ministries and Discipleship. It will be held the same week, July 31-Aug. 5, 2008 in both Grand Rapids, Michigan and Orlando, FL. It will focus both upon starting new churches and turning around churches. The sites will have unique classes but will also be linked by video conferencing to offer common presentations.

Another option is to participate in the Wayne and Skip’s “ON OUR ELBOWS," campaign.

Jim Griffith, an expert in church growth, shares the best way to turn around a church or build a New Church is for everyone involved to bring someone on their elbow. We are issuing a challenge. Which small member (1-150), Middle sized (151-650) and Larger member (651+) churches can document the number of visitors church members have brought to worship, the percentage of growth in worship attendance during this time and the number of new members (excluding your confirmation class) that have joined from Sunday March 2nd until Sunday June 1, 2008. We will post a tally sheet on the web site soon, for you to use. The churches with the best ratio of these three factors will receive Donuts, Bagels or Muffins for your fellowship time provided by either Wayne Bettendorf or myself. Let the fun begin!

Oh by the way, thank you to all the churches who have sent in their tithe + one apportionment payment. While there may not be magic in tithing, during my career and in churches I served, where the value was to give to others first, there always seemed to be enough resources for ministry back at home. Also, don't forget to exercise your chance to participate in the Episcopal candidate process. At Annual Conference we will be choosing a person or person(s) to endorse for the Episcopacy and your suggestions start the process. You will find the nomination form on our conference web site <rmcumc.org>.

It is our wish here at the conference office that your journey through Lent will be a time of personal and corporate growth both for yourself and church community. One of the things we are learning from our church researchers is, for a church to remain vital, there needs to be a switch in focus, or at least more equity between presentations about God verses an experienced sense of the presence of God. May God be present in all your Lenten activities and in the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ, the one for whom we are a disciple.

Skip Strickland
Director of Mission and Ministry
Rocky Mountain Conference
United Methodist Church