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Annual Conference Orientation. Christian Churches (U.S.). 350,000 churches in America 4 out of 5 are either plateaued or declining 66% - 75% of congregations founded before 1960 are plateaued or declining Only 20-40% of Americans attend church
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Christian Churches (U.S.) • 350,000 churches in America • 4 out of 5 are either plateaued or declining • 66% - 75% of congregations founded before 1960 are plateaued or declining • Only 20-40% of Americans attend church • With 235 million non-Christians, America is the fourth largest non-Christian nation
CTCUMC • About 310 Churches in the Central Texas Annual Conference • Over 204 have attendance less than 100 • Over 179 have attendance less than 80 • Average worship attendance conference-wide increased 1.17% from 2009 to 2010.
Lifecycle of a Church There are four key issues that determine where a church is on the lifecycle: • V = Vision…Where should we go? • R = Relationship…Whom should we bring? • P = Program…How will we get there? • M = Management…What should we avoid?
Lifecycle of a Church Vision • Mission – why a congregation exists • Vision – where the congregation is going • Values – boundaries that guide the congregation
Lifecycle of a Church Relationships The ability for people to develop relationships with others in the church is crucial for changing the lifecycle of a congregation.
Lifecycle of a Church Programs The purpose of programs in a congregation is to: • Help disciples mature • Aid disciples in the making of more disciples There is one program that is not assumed culturally from our churches but is demanded for health and growth…Leadership Development!
Lifecycle of a Church Management Management is like a skeleton in a body. • The leader must be growing and developing as a leader while developing more leaders.
Lifecycle of a Church Management • Leadership must reflect how work gets done-responsibility, authority, and accountability. • Groups do not lead and cannot be held accountable • The pastor/leader must turn the ministry of the congregation over to thelaityand they must turn the leadership of the congregation to the pastor/leader.
Leadership Styles - Activity Manager Shepherd PREACHER Evangelist CEO Visionary
25 – 100 Worship • A willing leader • A cohesive group of willing followers • No intolerable pressures or competition for your role
100 – 225 Worship • An attractive leader with outreach gifts • Marginal quality of congregation/facilities/ programs/preaching • Middle-size group dynamics • Members using outreach skills
225 – 500 Worship • A warm, team-leader pastor • Ability for attendees to connect with new people • Large group dynamics & outreach oriented value system • Average or better quality of facilities, programs and preaching • Proper number/dynamics/diversity of “open groups”
500 – 750 Worship • Managerial staff strengths and proper staff ratio • “Large church” mindset with good quality facilities/programs/preaching • Developing new ministries related to the new age groups being attracted • Mobilization of over 50% of the congregation
750 – 1000 Worship • Managed, middle-management level staff in proper roles • Effective lay leader training programs • Excellent quality of facilities/programs/ preaching • Moderate vertical diversification of open groups
1000+ Worship • Visionary Leadership • Delegated Management • Expanding Leader Base • Exceptional Quality • Multiplication of “Churches”
Leadership Style Difference Leadership through: • Shepherding • Challenging • Coaching • Visioning
Leadership Style Difference Appropriate Leadership • Does it fit the congregation? • Will it enable the congregation to fulfill its potential? • For leadership to move to visionary style, the congregation has to accept a pastor’s …. • Realize the difference between want and need of a congregation …
Healthy Church Initiative The Healthy Church Initiative (HCI) is a process designed to transform churches. Three main components: • Continuous Learning • Coaching • Consultation
Healthy Church Initiative ASSUMPTIONS: • Healthy churches grow • Leadership is everything • Requires outside help • Creates urgency • No quick fix STRATEGIES: • Continuous peer learning • Consulting • Coaching • Accountability • Laity involvement
Healthy Church Initiative Two Tracks • Larger Church Initiative (LCI) • Churches with average worship over 80 • Small Church Initiative • Churches with average worship under 80
Healthy Church Initiative Phase One – Continuous Learning • LCI: PLD and LLD classes • SCI: Workshops Phase Two – Consultation • LCI: Three-day • SCI: One-and-a-half day Phase Three – Implementation • LCI: Five coach-led prescriptions • SCI: Three coach-led prescriptions
Phase One:PLD and LLD Classes • Addresses top obstacles of medium to large churches • Pastor and laity on parallel paths • Built in momentum with action steps • Share learning with congregation throughout • Pastor coaching • Eight classes over nine months • Led by trained facilitators • Includes curriculum and books for foundational learning
Phase One: SCI Workshops • Addresses top obstacles of small churches • Pastor and laity learning together • Built in momentum with action steps • Share learning with congregation throughout • Six classes over twelve months • Led by trained facilitators • Includes curriculum and books for foundational learning
Phase Two:Consultation • Church votes to have consultation • Peer mentoring groups • Church self-study • Mystery guest program • Consultation weekend • Church votes to accept prescriptions
Phase Three:Implementation • Follow-up coaching to work with churches to implement prescriptions • 18 months for LCI • 12 months for SCI • Peer mentoring continues
Joining the HCI Process • Apply for PLD or SCI group • PLD applications available now at www.ctcumc.org • SCI applications available in the Fall • Approval by DS • Looking for clergy and churches who are open to change, encouraged by peer development and eager to learn • Recruit laity • Two to three for LLD • 10% of worship for SCI