The FACT report given
to the Iowa Annual Conference was quite clear in its direction to clarify our
vision and set, if possible, no more than three strategic priorities. During
our Annual meeting in June 2013 the Annual Conference voted to support the
following three strategic initiatives:
1. Creating World-Transforming Communities of Faith
2. Equipping Ourselves and Others as
Transformational Leaders
3. Directing Our Resources to Our Common Goals
While there are many tools available through which initiatives #1 and 2
can be addressed, it seems prudent for us to have a laser like focus on the
implementation of #3 first. Boldness and risk have always been fundamental to
the growth and witness of the United Methodist tradition. Beginning with Wesley
preaching to coal miners, through sending circuit riders across our continent,
beginning the Temperance movement, opposing child labor, building Africa
University and most recently the audacious goal of ending malaria, laser beam
focus in vision and bold and faithful risk has been that which has led to many
of our greatest accomplishments as a denomination.
While many ministries and missions have deep significance to many of our
congregations and conference organizations the suggestion is to put most of our
effort and resource in one specific basket to make a bold run at accomplishing
initiatives #1 and 2.The specific “basket” is the Healthy Church Initiative.
“The
Healthy Church Initiative (HCI) is a process designed to transform churches. (The)
focus is on providing resources and strategies to church pastors, staff, laity,
and congregations so that they in turn will be
able to reach new people for Christ and become the church God wants them to be
in their community”
The Healthy Church
initiative has proven successful in Missouri and other locations in completely
transforming laity, pastors and congregations. Many congregations have grown
numerically and most have grown in their witness and mission. Unlike so many
initiatives, over the years, the Healthy Church Initiative is already packaged
and several dozen churches in Iowa are currently in the process. Therefore, it
seems prudent for us to pursue Initiatives #1 and 2 by aligning conference
resources more fully with the Healthy Church Initiative process.
I've been participating in the Healthy Church Initiative in many ways these past few years. I think it does have a lot of potential for helping us all to claim our role as transformational leaders and equipping our churches to transform our surrounding communities. It invites local communities of faith to be intentional about how they seek, welcome, and grow disciples as well. This focus will be well served!
ReplyDeleteOne question we need to ask is how boards and agencies and other important ministries of the Annual Conference might connect with this Initiative in a way that allows them to participate in the development of leaders and transformation of lives, congregations, and communities. For example: Hispanic Ministries might have great tools to help a church connect more fully with changing families in their neighborhoods discovered through HCI; Community and Institutional Ministries might be partners for hands-on ministry with the community and places to serve as churches get serious about living the love of Jesus...
Better coordination is really what we should seek, not to diminish the good work any group does. HCI might be a really helpful framework for doing so.
Katie Dawson
While HCI is great, I struggle with the idea of having a "laser like focus" on one particular program. 10-15 years ago Disciple Bible Studies were going to transform our churches and raise up a new generation of leaders. Then it faded out of favor. Programs don't save churches, Jesus does, and spiritual renewal led by spiritually mature & emotionally healthy pastors lead people to Jesus.
ReplyDeleteI wish that we had more conversation as a Conference body about what our "priorities" are. Not naming and adopting core/shared priorities, and not having time with a talking stick, or even time in legislative groups, makes it even more difficult for us to communicate, let alone share anything. We are a Conference when we are gathered, THAT is when we should be prayerfully communicating. It is much more difficult to support things when decisions are made behind closed doors, and then the servants of Boards and Agencies are told what is next. Let's have these necessary conversations and then walk together into the future.
ReplyDeleteI understand your concern Sarah, but I would point out HCI is not a program. It's a way of thinking and engaging ministry and the world. It can and will take many forms in the future but the key components are peer learning, consultation, and coaching. It's not a prepackaged program, but a process that's reveals the steps necessary for transformation.
ReplyDelete