Inside Staying UMC 3 Church Grief First Responders 9 Second Mile Pledges: Q&A 7 Weekly Advent Devotions 12 You, the Journalist 15 What Does an Anchor Church Look Like in the UMC? 17 Make Your Church Findable 20
Say So OKUMC SPIRIT IN ACTION
November 2023 - No. 10
Communications Ministry Staff
Joe Harris
Andrew Himes
Jena Barber
Tabitha Beckman
Director of Communications
Multimedia and Web Ministry
Editor of Publications
Communications Specialist
Say So OKUMC SPIRIT IN ACTION
Publication Credits Cover photo and feature graphics: Deposit Photos Original magazine logo: Jaime Claire Media Feature graphics: Deposit Photos “Staying UMC” photos by Jena Barber “Weekly Advent Devotions” photos: Via Deposit Photos Stories and layout by Jena Barber
Inside Little Church, Big Impact - 3 | The Church Daycare Center - 7 | Safe Sanctuaries - 12 Lighthouse Congregations - 14 | General Conference News 15
May 2023 - No. 9
Say So: OKUMC Spirit in Action, (USPS 954-500) is published quarterly by The Oklahoma Conference of The United Methodist Church, 1501 NW 24th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73106. Periodical postage paid at Oklahoma City, OK. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to “Say So OKUMC Spirit in Action”, 1501 NW 24th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73106.
remain abide bolster pause hold persist rest stick persevere bind Stayingstick unite UMC root reside
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he dust has mostly settled, and many congregations are now healing from rifts which began years ago. The aim now is to return to the real work of the church, which is making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Staying connected to The United Methodist Church holds profound significance for many individuals, offering a sense of community, spiritual growth, and a platform to enact positive change. Amidst the evolving landscape of beliefs and values, remaining within the UMC can be a deeply personal and impactful choice. One group of grassroots organizers - a mostly-millennial group of 25 clergy and laity - came up with a radical plan to help heal the hurt of those who suffered loss with the decision to remain with the UMC. This cohort had the foresight to plan an uplifting event for a weekend only a few weeks after the final disaffiliation vote of the Oklahoma conference.
headed in the right direction. For many of them, they reported that the festival was just the sign of hope that they needed.” Additionally, Lashley added, “something that was important for me to see was that our conference staff - district superintendents, Connectional Ministries, etc. - got a chance to be re-energized by a United Methodist gathering that is forward-thinking and dreaming. Saturday was equally as moving, with over 225 people registered and the same number attending. Everything from the worship, breakout discussions, tent talks, and general fellowship was outstanding. The vast majority of people’s feedback about the festival was that it was very healing for them and gave them hope for the future of the UMC in Oklahoma.
“We believe that the festival went really well,”said Stephen Lashley, one of the event’s planners. In terms of logistics, there were not many hiccups. This was due to the hard work of 25 volunteers who helped organize, set up, and oversee the event.
“People kept wanting to know if we would do the event again,” noted Lashley. “I take that to be a sign that there is a hunger and need for gatherings like the festival to help us grow into a new culture as United Methodists in the Oklahoma conference. The vast majority of people I have spoken with would like this to be annual, but we will see what everyone’s thoughts are when we debrief.”
Eighty people registered and participated in Friday evening worship and fellowship time. “Friday’s worship was a huge highlight for me,” remarked Lashley. “What stood out to me was that there were a significant number of people on Friday evening whose church disaffiliated but they wanted to remain United Methodist. They shared about how they felt spiritually orphaned by their churches and needed a sign of hope that the UMC was
Lashley concluded, “For now, I am simply happy with the fact that this festival helped a lot of OKUMC leaders turn a corner after
Children and youth were not left out. Programming for young people was dynamic, keeping them busy and engaged all the way up to and through the final worship service. Meals were tasty and filling; no one walked away hungry. One seven-year-old girl asked to spend all next summer at the festival.
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the disaffiliation season we have been in. It felt like a mental and ritualistic turning point that, for me at least, helped us focus on where we are going. I believe we need to see visions and dream dreams for the future of what it means to be a follower of Jesus in the OKUMC. The festival was certainly a step in that direction.”
Tent Talk: Five Affirmations for Continuing United Methodists Rev. Dr. Ted Campbell, professor of Wesley studies and Methodist history at Southern Methodist University Perkins School of Theology, spoke at a tent talk during the festival. He implored attendees to define themselves by talking about “who we are - not who they are.” He offered five affirmations for continuing United Methodists. We are Christians. “Jesus was not just a nice guy. He was and is God almighty. We need more help than nice guys can offer. We need God.” We believe in the holy catholic church. “You might not have thought about it like this, but ‘catholic’ implies ‘inclusive’: ‘through the whole’ of the world and embracing all of the world’s people and cultures.”
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We form believers in a Wesleyan/ Methodist way of being Christian. “The Wesleyan way of Christianity seeks the complete sanctification of believers and of the world around us. We are called to be holy as God is holy. We are called to participate in Christ’s work of bringing in the Kingdom of God on earth.” We believe the Bible contains everything necessary for salvation. “But it is important to notice what is not said in this doctrinal affirmation: our doctrine does not affirm that the scriptures contain everything necessary for science or history or medicine or technology or for any number of other fields of human learning. The scriptures teach what is necessary for salvation.” We believe that the mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. “It is our sacred calling to be part of Christ’s sanctification of this world when God’s goodness will eventually prevail.” Campbell concluded, “We need to be clear in this time about who we are and what we stand for positively as continuing United Methodists. Our faith is not a wimpy, compromised, watered-down faith.”
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Second Mile Pledges: Q&A WHAT
is it?
The pledge system is a way for churches to choose which ministries to support financially through their apportionments. It’s not really new. Churches have already been supporting these historically-connected ministries - Circle of Care, Cookson Hills, Criminal Justice and Mercy Ministries, Neighborhood Service Organization, Restore Hope, and Skyline Urban Ministry - through voluntary apportionments. This system simply puts the church into the driver’s
WHY
seat and allows them to choose which program(s) they would like to directly support. After election, pledges will be added to churches’ apportionment statements; the conference office will serve as a conduit and allow churches to pool their resources to support these vital ministries. Churches can raise these funds with special offering days (like Mother’s Day or Easter); hold small group fundraisers; or invite the organization to send speakers.
are we doing it?
Each local church has leaders who know best which ministries its members are most enthusiastic about supporting. Where one church might prefer to serve children, another may prefer homeless adults as a ministry. While there is no right or wrong answer for which organization to support, each organization can
HOW
directly reach churches with their message, and churches can have closer relationships with the organizations they serve. This allows the organizations to be supported by local churches rather than a denominational body. The pledge system allows the supported organizations to budget for expected gifts.
(and when) do we pledge?
Churches can choose how to make their pledges. Their yearly apportionment form has a suggested amount tailored to their giving history. Church leaders can change those amounts. The apportionment form has a tear-off section which can be mailed in, or they can go online here to make those designations. The six organizations will now have the capacity to
reach out directly to churches and cultivate working relationships with their members. The pledge system will be available through January, but churches are encouraged to complete it before Dec. 15. If you have any questions, please reach out to Derrek Belase at dbelase@okumc.org.
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WHERE
is our support going?
Six ministries that your church can support Circle of Care is a faith-based agency providing foster care and prevention services throughout the state of Oklahoma. They are committed to keeping families together through intervention, prevention, and restoration through children and family-focused programs. These include foster care services, intervention to keep mothers and children together, transitional care for those entering adulthood, and more. Learn more here. Hills Center is a project of the United Methodist Church. It is the only COOKSON HILLS Cookson rural mission program in Oklahoma and the only mission program that is a joint CENTER effort of the Oklahoma Conference, the Oklahoma Indian Mission Conference, the United Women in Faith, and the General Board of Global Ministries. Cookson
United Methodist Hills serves Adair, Cherokee and Sequoia counties, with services for low-income families like a Christmas store, Native American services, classes, and more. Mission Learn more here.
Criminal Justice and Mercy Ministries has a mission to break the generational cycles of incarceration. Through residential housing programs for recently incarcerated individuals (like Exodus Houses), summer camps for children with justice-involved parents, and wraparound services, CJAMM focuses on reuniting parents with children while providing a foundation for reentry into the community. Learn more here. Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO) has a rich history of serving those at risk and homeless in the OKC community, with transitional housing for women escaping domestic violence and young men aging out of foster care, plus others; permanent, supportive housing for homeless adults; rental assistance programs to prevent homelessness; a low-cost dental clinic for those with low incomes or no insurance; and a WIC clinic. Learn more here. Restore Hope Ministries, based in Tulsa, has three aims: homeless prevention, hunger reduction, and hope promotion. This is carried out with rental assistance, food distribution, and emotional and spiritual support. Other distributions include school supplies, Thanksgiving groceries, basic cleaning supplies, and family Christmas sponsorships. Learn more here. Skyline Urban Ministry is on a mission to serve those living in the shadows of the community by bridging the gaps in their resources with kindness and respect. Programs include a food resource center, including a shoppable food pantry and a mobile pantry; an eye clinic providing basic services for free; a style shop offering second-hand clothing at affordable prices to those who need them; and a garden program offering fresh produce and gardening classes. Learn more here.
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Church Grief First Responders
Using your church resources to care for those whose churches disaffiliated Church-related distress has been written about extensively over the past few years. Never has this subject been more applicable to Oklahoma United Methodists than since this recent season of disaffiliations and lawsuits. Compounding these troubles is the lingering effect of the Covid-19 pandemic that often pitted members against one another in debates on masking, vaccinations, and even when to return to in-person worship as the Covid pandemic dragged on. Many congregations are still stinging from divisions, whether disaffiliations actually happened or were only considered, as churches voted whether to remain with the denomination. The United Methodist connectional system relies on affiliations among clergy, congregations, and conference personnel. When schisms happen within conferences, no one comes out unscathed.
to Roger Parker, lead pastor of Conference Connections and pastor of The Gathering UMC, an online worship community for individuals and groups whose churches left the denomination but who wish to remain United Methodist. “The past faith experiences with that church are times when God worked in their lives,” counseled Parker. “They [the disaffiliating congregation] are a part of God’s mighty acts of salvation in their lives.” He continued, “It’s important not to discard those things God has done in your life; they are your strength.”
Even churches who didn’t vote on disaffiliation have watched in despair as members of their family of faith took votes, made moves, and, in 127 cases, decided to leave that family.
In this time of grief and division, it can be difficult to remember how to be welcoming and sympathetic when visitors enter the safe spaces created by intact congregations. This, however, is exactly the time when members should be most vigilant and intentional about how they interact with those visitors.
While the pain is real, it is not the end, according
Parker’s top three pieces of advice for clergy
Say So | 10 and laity alike are, “Listen, listen, and listen.” He intoned, “You don’t have to have solutions. They don’t need solutions. They just need to know that you’re listening.” He recommends active listening techniques. A 2021 Harvard Business Review article by Robin Abrahams and Boris Groysberg describes active listening as having three aspects: cognitive, where the listener pays attention to all aspects of communication; emotional, which includes compassionate attitude and managing the listener’s own emotions; and behavioral, which involves “conveying interest and comprehension verbally and nonverbally.” See the chart to the right to learn more.
Harvard Business Review’s Top Tips for Active Listening ☐ Repeat people’s last few words back to them. ☐ Don’t “put it in your own words” unless you need to. ☐ Offer nonverbal cues that you’re listening – but only if it comes naturally to you. ☐ Pay attention to nonverbal cues.
Consider becoming a Lighthouse Congregation
☐ Ask more questions than you think you need to.
Churches which are designated as Lighthouse Congregations are safe havens for members whose churches have left the denomination.
☐ Acknowledge shortcomings.
Now, more than ever, Lighthouse Congregations are a welcome respite for members missing their church connections. To learn more about what Lighthouse Congregations are all about, and to begin the process of becoming a Lighthouse Congregation, go to the website. Trauma Informed Faith Communities
☐ Minimize distractions as much as possible. ☐ Don’t rehearse your response while the other person is talking. ☐ Monitor your emotions.
The above is an excerpt from an article in the Harvard Business Review. Learn more here.
destruction of trust in many cases - and trust is a building block of our relationships,” explained Mary Gaudreau Hughes, executive director of Hughes. “The grief that comes with disaffiliation Crisis Care Ministries, is a Licensed Professional can certainly come with the loss of community Counselor and a deacon ordained in the UMC. and a disconnection from the symbols that helped She has worked in trauma and disaster settings us in the past.” since 1995, starting with the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building here in Oklahoma City. Examples of those symbols might include the cross a person stared at from their earliest memories of Hughes spent 10 years working with the US church; the baptistry where they received their Disaster Response office of UMCOR, too. Now baptism; the place where they were married or she consults and leads multiple efforts, including buried their most beloved relatives. Trauma-Informed Faith Communities. Though originally created for congregations working “The loss of sacred space and objects - those are through natural disasters and losses related to not small things,” Hughes asserted. “It’s hard. You death, the lessons are applicable. lost symbols that were important to your life. It’s a big deal. It’s grief, it’s lament, it’s sorrow.” “This is certainly distressing, and we’re seeing a
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The community at New Hope has been fantastic to welcome new participants in multiple areas – not only worship, but also with mission, small groups, music ministries, and more. Lobo’s particular areas of responsibility are adult discipleship and One resource that Hughes says every church mission, so she shared some practices in that should equip itself with is the workshop series arena. from Trauma Informed Faith Communities. The webinar series is available here. For more “As a visitor’s story unfolds, I’ll begin inviting them information on this crucial program, go to the to explore the ministry and mission opportunities at New Hope,” she said. “I don’t expect them to website. do anything other than show up – until, and if, Advice from a seasoned pro they are ready. Some folks only need a couple Marla Lobo, associate pastor at New Hope of months before they are ready to say yes to UMC – which has seen a major influx of new volunteer opportunities – others take far longer.” Treating the situation like grief, suggests Hughes, is a way to put the loss of a church into context. Echoing Parker, Hughes advises offering grief support for those in need of it.
visitors and members in the past year and a half – recommends not asking what brought people to the church that day. “I let them, often over a series of encounters, unfold what they want me to know,” she explained. “A lot of times, I am just listening compassionately as they relate their feelings and story.” New Hope UMC, located in northern Oklahoma City, has seen an influx of members from disaffiliating churches. Lobo and the other clergy and members at New Hope have had extensive experience since disaffiliations began.
At every level, members and clergy at New Hope practice intentional hospitality. Building community and connection are priorities. Sunday School class leaders are intentional about inviting and welcoming guests to their class. “When we start new small groups, we assign two leaders - someone who has been at New Hope a long time and someone new and ready to dive in,” Lobo explained. We’ve also started new groups, such as a women’s monthly book club that was suggested by women new to New Hope.”
New Hope also hosts intentional mixers that People have come to New are low barriers to entry. Hope in the last 18 months “For example, we hosted for all kinds of reasons: their a ladies’ game night in church disaffiliated, or they August,” described Lobo. were tired of fighting at their “Participants brought a church – some even before snack to share and we played the disaffiliation upheaval. To make it easier for visitors to ease in, New Hope UMC games such as dominoes, Others shared that they did in Oklahoma City hosts easy-to-join events, like this UNO, and Apples to Apples. not like the direction their women’s game night. Photo by Marla Lobo. Participants switched church was going, or that tables every 30 minutes they are finally getting back to church activities for two hours. The table host was provided after the pandemic. several icebreaker questions to weave into the “Many arrive hurt, skittish, traumatized, and/or conversation while playing the game. It was a angry about their previous church experiences,” great success and 35 women participated!” explained Lobo.
They plan to host a women’s fellowship event featuring brunch and Bingo in January.
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Weekly Advent Devotions Reflections on the lectionary readings First Sunday - Gifted Lectionary Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
control.
It’s hard to believe that the Advent season has arrived. This seems like it has been an extraordinarily busy year for me and my guess is that others have felt the same way. I don’t believe that I’ve done any Christmas shopping yet and may be in a bit of denial on where we are in the calendar!
How would it be to begin to define ourselves by these each day during Advent? To remind ourselves that we are already gifted in the Spirit and have much to share with the world through these?
As we share in the devotional readings each week from the epistle lesson featured in the lectionary for Sunday, I have pulled out themes from each reading to help us spiritually in our waiting for Christmas. What stood out for me in today’s reading of Paul’s letter was the idea that we are already gifted in the Holy Spirit. While Paul goes on to lift up charismatic gifts later in his correspondence, we also know about the fruits of the Holy Spirit from the apostle. In the fifth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he extols the following as attributes that Christians should be multiplying in their own behavior: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-
As I examine my own behavior, what would it mean to give these gifts to all we meet during Advent this year? And if I am to take it a step further, what would it mean to begin to look for this fruit on display in others? Prayer: Gracious God, we give thanks for this time of waiting. May the fruit of the Holy Spirit flourish in us and may we begin to look for this fruit in the behavior we see all around us. It may be that the more we look, the more that they abound. Give us eyes to see! We pray this in the name of the Christ, who was and is and is to come. Amen.
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Second Sunday - Patience Lectionary Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-15a The lectionary readings for Advent often have apocalyptic themes in them. Growing up, I had relatives and other adults that I would encounter that looked at the end times scriptures more literally and believed that we were living in the final days. One way these folks would have adjusted REM’s well-known song about “the end of the world as we know it” would have been to replace the refrain of “and I feel fine” with “and you should be more anxious about this!” But there are ways to read these texts with a wider vision that calls us to stop and ponder our lives with a spiritual eye. Today’s passage tells us something about God. As Christians under persecution in that day may have longed for the return of Jesus Christ to set things right, this epistle bids them to be patient. The rationale is that God is interested in saving every last one of us.
This reminds us of Wesley’s prevenient grace that sees all people as children of God whether they acknowledge it or not. As we approach advent, it may be that we need to exercise patience with others. We are more irritable when stressed and less likely to respond with the understanding we need. If others react poorly during this season, we might ask the question, “What kind of anxiety might they be under?” Prayer: Loving God, thank you for being patient with me. There are many times when “child of God” rather than “adult in Christ” unfortunately applies. And as I recognize and receive the forgiveness in Jesus, may I seek to be patient with others, acknowledging that you are still working on them just as you are working on me. May I be your instrument of love at just the right moments as we approach Christmas. I pray this in the name of Jesus who loves me even when I don’t acknowledge it. Amen.
Third Sunday - Gentleness Lectionary Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Today’s reading has a lot of good advice but at times may be daunting. There are certainly situations when it is difficult to “rejoice always” and I am also reminded by the words of the teacher from Ecclesiastes who also tells us that some circumstances call for weeping and mourning. But I must also ask myself if this becomes a cop out to disregard the advice entirely.
If it isn’t possible all the time, then I don’t have to think about what it means in the in-between times. Or do I? What really stands out to me from our passage is verse 19 which states, “Do not quench the Spirit.” How often do we rain on the parade with our attitude? I’ve encountered energy-vampires over the years who tend to turn an eye toward whatever negative possibilities might arise.
To rejoice always doesn’t mean to be over-the-top and insensitive to people who are struggling. But rather, I see it as a operating with a gentleness that allows the Holy Spirit to lift up others through our actions. Rather than being irritatingly optimistic, what would it mean to tip the balance of a situation toward good cheer? This often requires a gentle touch which may take some practice for some of us!
Prayer: Gentle Spirit, help us to remain in an attitude of prayer that surrounds us, lifts us, encourages us, and leads us toward the words that may be the most helpful in any situation. And as we help raise the general mood in the room, let us rejoice as we wait! We pray this in the name of the Christ who calls us to accountability even for our outlook. Amen.
Fourth Sunday - Obedience Lectionary Reading: Romans 16:25-27 Here we find the fourth Sunday of Advent lifting up the closing words from Paul’s letter to the Romans. It is a reminder that God’s promise is to everyone - even the Gentiles. This general premise, while a difficult proposition when it was written, doesn’t seem as hard to those in today’s generation. But for those in Paul’s day, it meant the good news was also for those widely considered the “other.” We certainly know what it means to keep the other at bay today. We may not consciously omit them from God’s favor as long as we don’t have to deal with them. They can reside in that part of God’s kingdom reserved for the “other.” What does it mean for Paul to call us to an “obedience of faith”? Certainly, I think back to Jesus’ twin admonition to love God and love neighbor. If Jesus names these as encompassing all of the law and the prophets, it would stand to reason that our obedience of faith is a call to love.
At Christmas, we most often see the love of God and neighbor intertwined. Our walls are lowered and we find a peace in our hearts toward the other to even see them (for a moment) as family. We may even find at this time of year that when the conditions are right, we can view the other as something more. We remember that Jesus was able to hold affection for the other as Mother (and brother and sister). May this be our call to obedience as Christmas comes again this year. Prayer: Ever-faithful God, we give thanks that you reach out to all the world. We find it easy to celebrate your grace when it is directed our way but we also must confess: we sometimes find it tiresome when your eye turns toward those to whom we feel do not deserve it. Help us to discover that our similarities outweigh our differences. And in this realization, may we be obedient to your gospel call! We pray these things in the name of Jesus the Christ, who is born to give life to all your children. Amen.
To share these devotions with your congregation, feel free to print them here or find the devotions each week at District Superintendent Sam Powers’ blog here.
You, the Journalist Every department has seen cutbacks lately on staff in the pews and receive blessings from all those and other resources. While this makes our lives serving. busier, it also allows for creative problem-solving. You might be asking yourself, “What in the world In the Communications department at OKUMC, do I have to say that the conference could possibly we are finding it increasingly want to know?” difficult to cover stories that The answer is that we probably happen across the state. This is want to hear about a lot more surely not a unique problem, but than you might expect. it does have a built-in solution. Some examples include: Church pews across Oklahoma and beyond are filled with people • Innovative ideas for decorating wielding powerful cameras in the chancel during Easter their pockets and purses. Those • 10 things not to say in a savvy phone photographers are children’s sermon likely sitting next to story tellers who have voice memos, notes • How to work with musicians to make sure they apps, old-fashioned notebooks, or - a local favorite sing what’s on the slides - the back of the church bulletin. • How to multiply your audience on Facebook Your input can be especially valuable when you consider your unique perspective - as a member Additionally, we also want to hear about: or frequent visitor who knows the ins and outs, the whys and wherefores, of your church’s ministries. • Baptisms, new members, and confirmations While we can’t guarantee placement of every submission, we encourage churches to submit as much as you can, as often as you can - to slightly paraphrase a quote generally attributed to John Wesley.
• Service projects your church participated in • Special meals, fundraisers, mixers, and events hosted by your church • Partnerships your church has made to help those in need.
We want to hear from your youth director, your children’s director, your trustees, your acolytes, We really do want to hear from you! Please submit your audio/visual volunteers, your musicians, stories and original photos to editor@okumc.org. your communion servers, and the people who sit
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What Does an Anchor Church Look Like in the UMC? BY REV. DR. SAM POWERS
Now that disaffiliation is largely in the rear-view mirror for United Methodists in the Oklahoma Conference, I have enjoyed the conversations at various charge conferences on moving forward both locally and as an annual conference.
year and the church looks outwardly more than inwardly.
As we reconfigure the number of districts and look at their new boundaries, we want to have a certain number of healthy churches spread through each geographic area.
Prior to disaffiliation, I have always assumed that many of our healthy churches were serving as what I would call “anchor” churches in our conference, helping us to move forward as a whole. Post-disaffiliation, I now realize that I misjudged some of them. It’s likely that we didn’t expressly state our expectations for these churches and their leadership.
While a healthy church is largely recognized by its multi-generational membership which is also reflected in its leadership, it is also one that is reaching its community in transformational ways. Baptism is celebrated throughout the
As I appreciate transparency, I thought it would be helpful for us in realizing our best future to share the characteristics of an anchor church in our conference. We will need them in each district as we live into our future together.
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The Anchor Church understands its mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
While a local church may have its own mission statement, it should be congruent to our denomination’s understanding of our purpose. Our mission is rooted in Wesleyan grace in that all people are called to discipleship through prevenient grace. We would seek for as many to respond as possible to the grace of Jesus Christ through justifying grace. The transformation of the world comes within our personal growth through sanctifying grace. The truth of “for God so loved the world” reminds us of the diversity of the church at Pentecost and we seek to integrate that wider vision into our churches today.
The Anchor Church is deeply connectional as a congregation and excited to be a part of The United Methodist Church.
This is harder to define and we may “know it when we see it”! We are living in an antiinstitutional time where individuals mistrust larger organizations. Currently in our society, the focus on the individual eclipses the focus on the community which makes it harder to work together. But working together as the body of Christ is certainly Pauline as we look back to the early church and it is entirely Wesleyan as a part of our heritage. Lately, in those churches that have remained with us, I’ve noticed less hesitance to live out what we have vowed to be.
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The Anchor Church offers both clergy and lay leadership to the annual conference and district out of its congregation.
A church that only has enough leadership for itself may be able to thrive locally, but it doesn’t share with the congregation a connection to the wider world. The opportunities of service together builds lasting relationships and it often spurs on new possibilities for local mission, programming and outreach.
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The Anchor Church regularly lifts up laity out of their congregation for consideration for professional ministry.
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The Anchor Church supports campus ministry in our conference and is active in the closest Wesley Foundation.
Providing ministry for college students allows us to be present in the lives of young adults when they are most vulnerable to dropping out of church. Wesley Foundations allow students to continue in their faith journey as well as increasing the awareness of the connection. Ideally, this leads young adults back to United Methodist congregations no matter where they land after college.
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The Anchor Church sees itself as a leader among the churches around them and will offer space and hospitality for regional gatherings at little or no cost to the district or annual conference.
The culture of call is so important for who we are. All of our churches have received pastors and staff from a wide variety of churches around our conference. The clergy that emerge As congregations engage regionally, they from anchor churches do not remain “at home” gladly host United Methodist gatherings as a but are freely shared with the conference to way to participate in the larger ministries of our strengthen the connection. shared work. This comes out of a greater sense of welcome that all our churches should seek to The Anchor Church seeks to proudly enhance.
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pay 100% of its apportionments each year and often exceeds 100% for the more overtly missional items.
If congregations see their apportionments or denominational giving as a “tax”, they are likely to promote apportionment hesitancy. Many of our disaffiliated churches saw apportionments as money they could utilize locally and were blind to the larger picture of what it means to work together. Those that understand this feel good about sending that final check to the conference each year. This is because it represents their support of God’s work in people’s lives that they may never personally touch.
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The Anchor Church supports our United Methodist summer camping program, sending adult leaders, youth and children to our three campgrounds.
Our camping program has been very successful at strengthening discipleship in all ages as well as allowing many of our clergy to experience their call to ministry. Furthermore, our United Methodist camping is one of the greatest vehicles for encouraging relationships within our conference.
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The Anchor Church is strong in active mission participation and regularly sends people on Volunteers in Mission (VIM) projects.
Volunteers in Mission programs have been the backbone of the outreach of many of our local churches prior to the pandemic. Whether churches send a lone team or join other congregations, these projects allow our members to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to a hurting world that often challenges the participants’ worldviews while strengthening their discipleship. Anchor churches will host VIM trips and invite other area churches to participate.
An anchor church may not be the largest church in a geographic region but will be one that shares in these characteristics. As an area church leads with these attributes, our stated virtues become contagious to the other United Methodists in their vicinity. And as we strengthen one another, we begin to lift and support each other in our shared
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The Anchor Church’s discipleship programs regularly utilize United Methodist education materials.
Whether engaging in Disciple Bible Study or working through the latest Adam Hamilton study, utilizing curriculum developed by United Methodists provides a similar ethos across our churches that helps us in our shared vision.
faith in Jesus Christ. If you are a United Methodist reading this, maybe this is a leading of the Holy Spirit for you to work towards your local church being an anchor for your area!
Make Your Church Findable church profile.” You will be given an opportunity to create a profile. You can then make changes to your church’s listing. This is an extremely valuable To learn more and to update your resource, so be sure to take advantage church’s listing, visit the website here, of it. find your church, and click “Update Find-a-Church is by far the mostvisited page of all United Methodist Communications’ websites. If your church isn’t keeping its Find A Church listing updated, you’re missing out on the best chance you have to get your church seen when people are looking for a new church to visit.