A Campaign for Congregational Vitality and New Church Development
description
Transcript of A Campaign for Congregational Vitality and New Church Development
A Campaign for Congregational Vitalityand New Church Development
Campaign Leadership
Rev. Michael C. Murphy, Campaign ChairSenior Minister, Peoples Congregational UCC
Washington, D.C.
Campaign Teams in various regions of the Conference to visit with
congregations and invite participation
Statement of Purpose
“The purpose of the Conference in all its elements is to support, challenge and
strengthen local churches, bringing them together in community and mission and
in relation to the larger church and society…”
Primary GoalsCelebrate New Visions Sunday
April 21, 2013
Achieve $300,000 in pledgesAnd gifts by June 2013
Complete payment of pledgesBy December 31, 2014
Looking to the Future
Our diverse heritages are becoming the United Church of Christ, which…
•Listens for the “Still Speaking” God.•Proclaims extravagant welcome.•Seeks diversity and inclusiveness.
These Are New Times
• Churches are seeking renewal & vitality.
• Attendance is strong at workshops on renewal.
“Church in the age of Twitter”
“Seven Secrets of Vital Congregations”
“Church Crafts: Principles for Growing…”
• Interest in exploring new church planting has grown.
• Need for focused efforts in both congregational vitality
and in new church planting
Two Key Strategies 1. Establish partnership with the Center for Progressive
Renewal to coach renewing congregations and assist new church planting.
2. Establish new programming and staff in church vitality and new church development.
Two Exciting Opportunities
• To support programs forcongregational renewal and vitality;
• To plant new congregations in new and changing communities as well as in established ones.
Aim of the New Program
…to work with existing and new congregations to reach out in creative ways, using the “God Is Still Speaking”
initiative to tell the UCC story andinvite seekers into dialogue with
the Christian faith.
Promote VitalityWebinars and Workshops such as the
“Seven Secrets…” “Church Crafts – May 11, 2013
Arrange coaches for renewing churchesDevelop vitality programming in the Conference
Focus staff time on renewal programs
Some Renewing Congregations
• Hope UCC – Alexandria, VA
• Grace UCC – Frederick, MD
• Community Church of Mt Lakes – NJ
• Sojourners UCC- Charlottesville VA
Promote New Church Starts • Actively seek prospective new church planters
• Support discernment and training
• Recruit persons with skills for launch teams
• Secure coaches for church planters
• Assist coordination with Associations
Current New Church Starts
Grace UCC – Flemington, NJAsbury Park Community UCC – NJSix:Eight UCC – Baltimore MDNew Covenant UCC – Owings Mill, MDVeritas UCC - Hagerstown, MDCommunity Church of Washington D.C. - (UCC) Safe Harbor UCC – Sussex County, DECommunity Church of All People (UCC) - Reston, VA
Critical Campaign Aims
A. To support programming to promote congregational vitality and renewal
B. To actively start new churches by attracting capable new church planters
and linking them to Associations and the Conference.
A Third Critical Aim
To increase support for Our Church’s Wider Mission so that new staff in vitality and new church development can be sustained beyond 2014.
The guideline for churches is to create a multi-year plan to increase OCWM a specific amount until it equals 10% of the operating budget, i.e. total budget minus benevolences.
Campaign Goals• Raise $300,000 in pledges by June of 2013, to be paid between 2012 and 2013 to support church vitality and new church development.
• To increase Basic Support to Our Church’s Wider Mission to a level that is $125,000 above the current level by the end of 2014.
What Will“New Visions” Support?
• Funding for a new, part-time Conference position focused in new church development and vitality programming with congregations.
• Funds to assist in providing trained coaches for pastors of new church starts.
What Will“New Visions” Support?
• Assistance to congregations in wanting to start vitality programs.
• Leads and contacts for resources and materials
• Development of mutual support and information sharing via social networks and other media.
Campaign Plan
Seek gifts from individuals, including leadership gifts from $1,000 to $10,000.
Invite congregations to adopt a goal for support of the campaign.
Seek grants from grant makers.
Generous Gift Challenge
A challenge grant of $50,000 has been offered to the campaign. When fully
subscribed, new gifts and pledges will produce $100,000 of support for the
campaign.
An Invitation
Please consider making a generous a good faith commitment to the
New Visions Campaign.
Commitments may be paid during2013 and 2014
The Time Is Now
…to join together, creating“New Visions" of the “God Is Still
Speaking” spirit through congregational vitality and new church development
in the Central AtlanticConference.
A Campaign for Congregational Vitalityand New Church Development