Your Church Can Grow

I am reading David Maister’s Strategy and the Fat Smoker: Doing what’s Obvious But not easy. He likens strategic planning to going on a diet. If we do so, why do we remain fat? It seems that we would rather trade short-term indulgence for long-term stability and health. Is it not the same for churches? We know that we should be about the business of Jesus: announcing good news for the poor, proclaiming release to the captives, recovering sight to the blind, setting at liberty those who are oppressed and proclaiming the year of Jubilee (cf. Luke 4:18-19). And yet, we are reluctant to embrace newcomers into our circle of faith and even more reluctant to go out and engage those outside of the walls of our church in meaningful relationships. How can we have the resolve to do what we need to do?

I just came back from the School of Congregational Development, which was held from July 29 through August 2 in Nashville, Tennessee. We heard inspirational speakers such as Tony Campolo, Rudy Rasmus, David Owens, and Dottie Esobedo-Frank, among others. Seven of our Lay Missionary Planters attended a special session and got to know other LMPNers from East Ohio. All in all it proved once again to be one of the best training events our denomination offers. Next year’s school will be held in Dallas, Texas from July 28th to August 1st. Mark your calendars now.

Many people have asked me why my book, Roadmap to Renewal, was not available for sale at the Cokesbury display at Annual Conference. Unfortunately, the shipment of my book and several others never arrived to Valley Forge. In addition to my book, Marjorie Kimbrough’s books did not arrive. You can still get the 25% discount if you order a copy today at the Cokesbury display today. Otherwise, order it online at Cokesbury.com.

Roadmap to Renewal: Rediscovering the Church’s Mission was published yesterday, March 31, 2009, by the General Board of Global Ministries. It is available online at the Cokesbury website. I thank all of the well-wishers who have sent me notes via email and Facebook. In the book “Acknowledgments” I thank those who were so kind to read the manuscript prior to publication and gave insightful feedback. I want to thank Bishop Devadhar for his review of the book and his endorsement that appears on the back cover as well as the helpful comments made by the Rev. Varlyna Wright and others. My prayer is that this resource will help our local churches in their ministry of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

It was good to be with the folks of the Raritan Valley District on their day of learning today. Laity and clergy alike gave great input in the workshops on “I Refuse to lead a dying church” and “Roadmap to Renewal.” It heartens me to see how conscientious these folk are in the effort to make disciples.

Today I attended the funeral of Marcos Canfield. Only 26 years old, he died in his sleep just a few days after his father’s funeral. We don’t yet know the cause. Rev. Bob Costello presided at the funeral and at the committal service that followed at the cemetery giving testimony to our faith in Jesus Christ. Even in the midst of such sorrow, Bob reminded us of the everlasting God who loves us and comforts us. My heart breaks for this family that has suffered the loss of Estevao, the father, and now Marcos, the son, all in a week. Rev. Costello articulated what many of us felt in our hearts–we just don’t know the answers in these times. What we do know is that God knows and God accompanies us even in the midst of such tragedy. What gives us comfort is the presence of many brothers and sisters in the faith who surround us with love. We all need to keep the Canfield family and the New Canaan United Methodist Church in our prayers.

Tonight I was privileged to see the installation of the Reverend Fran Lawrie Noll as District Superintendent of the Northern Shore District of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference. It was a beautiful worship service and a testimony to years of solid, faithful ministry on the part of Fran. I wish her many blessings during her tenure. Blessings to her husband, the Rev. Bill Noll, for his beautifully composed song sung during the service.