Archive for March, 2008

Gulf Coast Visit

Tuesday, March 18th, 2008

On Sunday I had the privilege of preaching and leading a planning workshop for the Biloxi United Methodist Church in Biloxi, Mississippi. Located just blocks from the Gulf of Mexico, one can still see the devastation wrought by Hurricane Rita 2 1/2 years ago. I saw empty lots along the coast where once stood houses and churches. During worship, the congregation welcomed back Mrs. McIntyre who had returned for the first time since the hurricane. She was able to move back into her house last week. “I lost everything I owned,” she said. “But I am grateful that the Lord spared my life and that I have returned to my beloved church family.” I also met several members from a volunteer-in-mission team from Connecticut. This was the 65th such UMVIM team from the New York Conference to stay at this church while working to help people repair their homes. I had a glimpse of hands-on connectionalism where United Methodists have reached across distances to help in time of need. We all need to give thanks to UMCOR who has helped so many affected by the hurricanes.

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Model and Organic approaches to revitalization

Tuesday, March 11th, 2008

At a Northern Shore District Resource Day recently, Rev. Dr. Jack Stephenson, Senior Minister at the Anoona United Methodist Church in Florida, helped frame approaches to church development. He spoke of two categories: model and organic.

The ‘model’ approach, sometimes called ‘mechanistic,’ focuses on what the church does. Books like The Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations by Bishop Robert Schnase help churches improve what they do. In the case of Schnase’s book, we improve five essential practices: hospitality, worship, faith development, mission and service, and generosity. Schnase challenges church leaders to examine each of these practices (what they are doing) and urges them to ramp up. Our hospitality should be radical in its impact, for instance. Our generosity extravagant.

The organic approach starts with whom we are as a church. We ask questions related to the very nature of the church. We take a look at ourselves and ask, “Who are we and what is God calling us to be?” Organic approaches to church development include Natural Church Development and The Discovery Church Journey. These are processes that help a church be honest with itself and to make changes in the way they are which then leads them to change what they do.

The church needs both organic and model approaches. We need to look honestly at ourselves and we need to focus on what we do to bring about a greater measure of health and vitality to our congregations. Both approaches underscore that we cannot continue to do business as usual if we are to be faithful stewards of the gospel in the twenty-first century.

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