Shifts in Conversation Workshop Dr. Evelyn Fulmore, facilitator

Transcription

1 Shifts in Conversation Workshop Dr. Evelyn Fulmore, facilitator The Bishop s School of Ministry Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel September 5-7, 2017

2 DISCLOSURE I am a Believer in Jesus Christ!

3 PURPOSE Shift the Conversation from Church member to Disciple for Jesus Christ What are people looking for in the Church experience? How can the Church meet people where they are to allow God to lead them where they need to be? How can the Church equip or make disciples for the transformation of the world? What must I do to become a Disciple of Jesus Christ? What does Faith-sharing look like? PACT, FAN, and Lay Servant Ministry

4 Where do we begin the Conversation? "SHIFT: Three Big Moves for the 21st Century Church" by Mark E. Tidsworth

5 People are not membership-minded People are looking for community and belonging People are looking for lasting satisfaction in personal relationships Shift in Conversation: Church Member to Disciple

6 Shift in Conversation: Church Member to Disciple We go to church so as not to be alone alone in our joys, alone in our suffering, alone in every-dayness of our lives, alone in the important passages of our lives....we go to church to tell people we love them, and hopefully, to hear them tell us the same thing. --Ronald Rolheiser

7 Shift in Conversation: Church Member to Disciple The Church must be able to extend radical hospitality: open the front door The Church must be able to show compassion: listen instead of fixin The Church must be able to connect with people where they are to where God is leading them: Making of a Disciple

8 Shift in Conversation: Church Member to Disciple The Church must be able to extend hospitality: Open the Front Door

9 Radical Hospitality - Definition Christian hospitality is the active desire to invite, welcome, receive and care for those who are strangers Radical describes that which is drastically different from ordinary practices; not the usual, extraordinary Radical Hospitality is the opening of our hearts to God s love, letting God use us to lead others to His welcoming Grace. Bishop Robert Schnase: Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations

10 Wesleyan Heritage Wesley preached to thousands on roadsides and in open fields Wesley organized societies and classes for mutual accountability, support and care Wesley taught of God s prevenient grace: the preceding, preparing grace that draws people to God Bishop Robert Schnase: Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations

11 Radical Hospitality - Practice Radical Hospitality begins with a receiving, perceiving, listening, opening, accepting attitude a readiness to accept and welcome God s initiative toward us. It is sustained with active behaviors that place us in the most advantageous posture to continue to receive God, welcome Christ, and make room for grace. Bishop Robert Schnase: Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations

12 Question to Ponder Overall how do you believe your church is doing in extending radical hospitality within the church and to the community? Give examples of areas where your church can improve.

13 Shift in Conversation: Church Member to Disciple The Church must be able to show compassion: Listen instead of Fixin

14 Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church Pastoral Assistant Care Team (PACT)

15 Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church Lake City SC PACT Ministry Team Outreach Ministry Team re-organized in March 2017 to focus on Member Care PACT Pastoral Assistant Care Team 13 members Chairperson of Nurture Training for 3 x 2 hour sessions led by Lay Leader Lay Servants Ministry Course Lay Pastoral Care Giving by Timothy M. Farabaugh

16 Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church Pastoral Assistant Care Team (PACT) After the initial training our goals are to serve: The members that are on our church bulletin s Prayer List The members that our Pastor identifies that are in need of special ministry services Assist the Pastor in member visitation and providing communion Mail or deliver Sunday Worship bulletin to those members unable to attend church on a regular basis Future plans are to serve: our young members that are away at college/school/military our members or member relatives who are incarcerated

17 Shift in Conversation: Church Member to Disciple The Church must be able to connect with people where they are to where God is leading them: Making of a Disciple

18 The Reason God Has Mingled You With Others It is the nature of the divine savour [salt] which is in you, to spread to whatsoever you touch; to diffuse itself, on every side, to all those among whom you are. This is the great reason why the providence of God has so mingled you together with [others], that whatever grace you have received of God may through you be communicated to other John Wesley

19 Shift in Conversation: Church Member to Disciple A Lesson on Vines Jesus Version Branches do NOT live apart from the vine Branches let the vine produce its life through them No branch tries to do anything Branches simply remain held by the vine yielding fruit

20 Shift in Conversation: Church Member to Disciple John Wesley s Practical Guide What did Jesus do? Go and do likewise: Communicate continually with God Acknowledge the significance of the Holy Spirit Obey the will of your Heavenly Father Resist temptation by steadfastness in the Word of God Reach out to those considered hopeless and sinners Serve others, humbling yourself before God and man Persevere in faith and love

21 Shift in Conversation: Spiritual Growth and the Christian Lifestyle Church Member to Disciple So don t lose a minute in building on what you ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing with others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. 2 Peter 1:5-8

22 Shift in Conversation: Church Member to Disciple Lay Servants are to serve the local church or charge in any way in which their witness or leadership and service inspires the laity to deeper commitment to Christ and more effective discipleship. This includes the interpretation of scriptures, doctrine, organization, and ministries of the church. We Lead, We Care and We Communicate Lay Servant Ministries The South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church

23 Lay Servant Ministries Broader Focus Leadership Development Spiritual Enrichment Skills Development Servant Leadership

24 How do Lay Servants serve the Church? Lay Leaders Committee Members Church Council Trustees Sunday School Teachers Ushers Evangelism Greeters Local Missions Musicians Lay Preaching Prayer Leaders Lay Pastoral Care Youth Leaders

25 Shift in Conversation: Church Member to Disciple? How many Lay Servants do you have in your congregation? Do you see the impact this ministry has had or can have in developing Lay leadership your the Church??

26 Risk-Taking Mission and Service Vibrant, fruitful, growing congregations practice Risk-taking Mission and Service. Risk-taking Mission and Service includes the projects, the effort, and work people do to make a positive difference in the lives of others for the purpose of Christ, whether or not they will ever become part of the community of faith. Bishop Robert Schnase: Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations

27 Risk-Taking Mission and Service Risk-taking Mission and Service involves the efforts to alleviate suffering and injustice to improve the conditions of others in the name of Christ. Risk-taking Mission and Service is one of the fundamental activities of church life this is so critical that failure to practice it in some form results in a deterioration in church vitality. Bishop Robert Schnase: Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations

28 Risk-Taking Mission and Service The place where your deep gladness and the world s deep hunger meets Wishful Thinking Frederick Buechner Bishop Robert Schnase: Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations

29 What is the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) Program? Helps churches to create a healthy church environment : Enlist Pastor & leader support Increase opportunities for physical activity and healthy eating at church Get FAN messages out to church members Set healthy guidelines (policies)

30 Why is FAN Important for the UMC? Caring for one s health and ministering to the sick and poor is part of the history of the UMC & Scripture John Wesley included physical health as part of his ministry Assured people that God desired their physical health Emphasized exercise & diet Source: Maddox, Divinity Magazine, 2014, 13(2), Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Matthew 4:23 (NKJV)

31 The FAN Committee Helps put the FAN program into place at church: Pastor FAN Coordinator (can be church Health Director) Health Director, Health & Welfare Chair, or Health Ministry Leader (if applicable) Church cook, kitchen staff member, or menu planners Other health champions

32 Meeting Your Church Goals FAN can help your church engage with the overall goals of the United Methodist Church Abundant Health 10,000 Church Challenge Physical activity Healthy diet and nutrition Tobacco and drug free living Mental health education and promotion 32

33 Questions to Ponder 1. What outreach ministries of your church push people out of their comfort zones to make a real difference in the lives of people? 2. What are the ministries that require hands-on, face-to-face engagement with the needs of people that your members might ordinarily not come to know? 3. How has a mission initiative or outreach ministry changed your church? Yourself?

34 Closing Prayer Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

35 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SPECIAL THANKS! Rev. Dr. Sheila Elliott, Pastor Wesley Chapel UMC, Lake City SC Rev. Jerry Louis Gadsden, Pastor Silver Hills Memorial UMC, Spartanburg SC

36 Shifts in Conversation Workshop Dr. Evelyn Fulmore, facilitator The Bishop s School of Ministry Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel September 5-7, 2017