Selecting the Faith Groups & Preparing for the Call

1. Selecting the Faith Groups & Preparing for the Call Targeting the Faith Community

2. Become familiar with your Control Panel Use these buttons to make adjustments Type your questions here and click SENDat anytime throughout the presentation. Your questions will be addressed during the Q&A session at the end.

3. Selecting the Faith Groups & Preparing for the Call Targeting the Faith Community Presenter: Mark Hazlewood, P.R.A.Y. CEO

4. Part of a Series • Today’s topic is part of a larger series • It must be understood in context of the FBI

5. Faith-Based Initiative • The Faith Based Initiative is a comprehensive plan to BUILD AND STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS between Girl Scout Councils and the faith community • It’s all about WHY councils should work with the faith community and HOW to approach them • The goal of the FBI is increased membership

6. FBI Outline • Why Collaborate? • Cultivating the mindset for approaching the faith community • Faith-Based Awards – what they are, how to use them as membership tools • Selecting the faith groups • Preparing for the call Today’s webinar has a very narrow focus, but it is essential that it rests against the background of the bigger picture of the FBI.

7. Background • GS councils and congregations share common needs (and hence common goals): • Members, Retention, trained leaders, program, finances • Collaborations will benefit the girl, the congregation, and the GS Council • Religious Recognitions can be used not just for spiritual growth, but as a tool for membership growth.

8. Background • New Recruiting model: • First recruit the congregation (i.e. place to meet, adult leaders) • Then recruit the girls • Goal: To involve the congregation with the Troop • Ask clergy for names of potential leaders • Explain that you will provide training, etc. • Give congregation sense of ownership and if they are gaining members, they will want to continue supporting Girl Scouts

9. Word of Caution • The FBI is not a “quick fix” • The key to the success of the FBI is long-term relationships

10. Selecting the Faith Group • Use your Community Profile – know the congregations that are out there • www.thearda.com • The Association of Religion Data Archives

16. www.thearda.com– Excellent Faith Information by State, Metro Area, County, etc. For instance, to get full county faith information: • Click on the “U.S. Congregational Membership” tab at the top of the page. • Then click on “Reports” in the drop-down window. • Under “Browse Reports” in red type, choose either “counties,” “metro areas,” “states,” or “United States.” A report will appear with complete faith statistics for your chosen category.

17. The ARDA • The ARDA provides statistics on the number of congregations by denomination. • The next step would be to visit the denomination homepage to generate a list of congregations

18. Selecting the Faith Group • Be strategic in selecting the religions/denominations to approach • Be strategic in selecting the congregations to approach • Not all congregations will be a good fit for you • Mega churches • Conservative churches

19. Selecting the Faith Group • Don’t just do a community profile • Find the connections you may already have • Survey your board and staff • Find and recruit “cultural informants” • To open doors • Speak the language

20. Selecting the Faith Group • Find the congregations that are already using Girl Scouting. • Remember: there’s a difference between a congregation that has Girl Scouts meeting in their basement, and a congregation that nurtures a Girl Scout ministry • You as a GS council need to know (and be able to articulate) the difference. • Peer-to-peer clergy recruitment

21. Summary • Take advantage of the online statistical resources • This information can help you with planning and the selection process • Caution: these tools cannot replace the value of the inside information that comes from “cultural informants”

22. Preparing for the Call Don’t sell the Girl Scouts Sell SOLUTIONS to the problems that congregations face

23. Preparing for the Call LISTEN! LISTEN! LISTEN! Listen for the needs of the congregation.

24. Preparing for the Call • Do your homework. • Research the • Denomination • Congregation • Religious Recognitions program

25. Research the Denomination What do you call the place of worship? Clergy? How is it structured? Top down or bottom up? Is it liberal or conservative?

26. Questionnaire: Faith Group • Quick Facts • Structure • Governance • Proper terms • Characteristics • Scouting

27. The UMC was the second largest charter organization of the BSA 370,000 youth 11,400 units 6,500 United Methodist Churches United Methodist Church

28. The only body that can set official policy and speak for the denomination. Made up of approximately 500 lay people and 500 clergy. Meets once every four years to make decisions/revise the Book of Discipline. Bishops also preside at the General Conference (non-decision-makers). Special sessions may be called. General Conference

29. 5 Jurisdictions (for communication purposes primarily) 60 Annual Conferences 488 Districts 35,000 Churches Structure

30. The five jurisdictions are like super regions There is a bishop (paid clergy) for each Annual Conference There is a District Superintendent (paid clergy) for each District. Districts are comprised of local churches Structure

31. To facilitate a board of directors called the Connectional Ministries (formerly administrative board), a volunteer chair, and committees that lead the church Role of the Pastor

32. Pastor (or Reverend) Congregation Sanctuary Evangelism, outreach, “to Make Disciples” Christian Education & Discipleship Youth groups = United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF) Board of Directors = Connectional Ministries Terms

33. Losing membership Older congregations Average age of men is 59 Trying to appeal to a younger generation and to youth Issues of homosexuality (pastors cannot be practicing, self-avowed homosexuals); however, any and all persons are invited into the life of the church Concerns

34. We’re a Connectional Church and structured to communicate very well The Church has named Four Areas of Focus which are the priorities for the next four years: 1. Global Health - i.e. Eliminate Malaria in our lifetime in Africa 2. Poverty – seeing to the needy, i.e. mentoring youth whose parents are incarcerated, Amachi Initiative with Big Brothers Big Sisters Positives

35. 3. Church Renewal – new church growth, renew existing congregations 4. Leadership – developing principled Christian leaders Positives

36. UMC – Scouting Ministries • Larry W. Coppock • Director, Scouting Ministries • General Commission on  United Methodist Men • http://www.gcumm.org/ministries/scouting/ • “Scouting Ministry Specialists”

37. Researching the denomination gives you the bigger picture • Continue to do your homework by researching the CONGREGATION

38. Questionnaire: Congregation • Names of clergy, staff • Size • Youth programs • Scouting families • Door opener • Decision maker

39. Goal: To Involve the Congregation with the Troop Become familiar with the religious recognitions program

40. Do your homework • Become familiar with the religious recognition for that particular faith • Each religion creates its own program • Eligibility requirements will differ from religion to religion • Know the difference between Religious Recognitions and the My Promise, My Faith pin • “Foot in the door” versus “foot in your mouth” • Become familiar with the religious recognitions program before visiting a congregation

41. To Serve God Brochure

42. Religious Emblems Analysis • The To Serve God brochure is just a starting point. • Use the Analysis Sheet to become familiar with each program • Gather information, but then learn how to apply it

43. Sample

44. Preparing for the Call • FBI context: become familiar with the congregation and utilize cultural informants in order to show how Girl Scouting can address the needs of the congregation • FBI context: become familiar with the religious recognitions (not just MPMF) to show the congregation its immediate connection to Girl Scouting

45. Preparing for the Call • Get a set of sample books • Leave a set with the congregation • Make a second appointment to retrieve your books

46. Summary • The FBI takes time • But don’t settle for just a meeting place • Help the faith community to see the benefits in using Girl Scouting • Then your council will benefit from more delivery places and more volunteers

47. Questions? • markp@praypub.org • Learning Center: http://www.praypub.org/LearningCenter/webinars.htm • Resources: www.praypub.org/partner_gsusa.htm • Sign up to receive P.R.A.Y. Newsletter Updates: http://www.praypub.org/pubs_main.htm

48. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION! • Thank you for your interest in partnering with the faith community. • www.praypub.org