wfn.org | Pastors share insights for building congregations

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Aug. 20, 2001 News media contact: Thomas S.
McAnally7(615)742-54707Nashville, Tenn.     10-21-30-71BP{354}

NOTE:  Photos are available for use with this story.

By Yvonne J. Medley*

ATLANTA (UMNS) -- When the Rev. Candace Lewis, 33, pastor of New Life
Community United Methodist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., spoke at a recent
School of Congregational Development, both clergy and lay members were
encouraged by her success. 

Four years into her first appointment since graduating from seminary, Lewis'
congregation has swelled to 200 members and gone from being
conference-supported to self-sufficient. Now she wants to buy a shopping
center to revitalize the community.

Another pastor at the Aug. 9-14 event, the Rev. Bau Dang of Wesley United
Methodist Church in San Diego, shared his secrets for growing the largest
Vietnamese United Methodist congregation in the United States.

"We are proactive and make ourselves available to serve people in a tangible
way by helping them to settle in the United States," he said. "When the Holy
Spirit works within our effort, things happen."

In a popular workshop on "Turning Around Existing Churches," the Rev. Mary
Sellon of Yakima (Wash.) United Methodist Church assured everyone that
conflict is the canvas upon which God turns chaos into strong ministry.
"It's hard to let go of what was, to walk in what will be," she said. 
 
Coordinators Clinton Parks and Craig K. Miller guided participants on how to
create the new DNA of their churches. Parks is with the Evangelism of Church
Growth Unit of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, and Miller
is director of the Center for Evangelism through New Church Development at
the churchwide Board of Discipleship. 

The denomination is committed to more than the suburban model of the middle
class, Parks said. "It is really reaching in new ways and trying to find out
how to reach into impoverished communities, reclaim the cities and be
re-engaged in rural settings." He expressed appreciation for the bishops who
invited the two churchwide agencies to share what is happening in new church
development.

The School of Congregational Development is a sign of a major change in the
denomination regarding new church startups, Miller said. "In 1994, we were
establishing 40 churches a year. Today, we're looking at establishing 140
churches a year," he said. The next School of Congregational Development
will be Aug. 1-6, 2002, on the west campus of First United Methodist Church
in Houston. 

About 600 annual conference representatives from across the United States
attended the school, which began nine years ago with 15 participants. This
year, three main tracks were offered: New Church Development, Turning Around
Existing Congregations, and High Potential Churches.  Participants also made
site visits to United Methodist churches in the Atlanta area. 

Participants window-shopped at the main edifice of Peachtree United
Methodist Church and learned about its growing pains, solutions and
expansion plans. "We have road rage every Sunday in the parking lot," joked
Peachtree's pastor, the Rev. Chuck Hodges. 

The participants also visited Ben Hill United Methodist Church, with 9,000
members. Its pastor, the Rev. McCallister Hollins, delivered a plenary
address on "Leading the 21st Century Church" and later gave a moving sermon
at the church. In order to lead God's people, he said, "you have to let them
see your heart."

Ben Hill is the largest United Methodist Church in the Southeast, Hollins
noted. "It's the second- largest African-American United Methodist Church in
the world and the fifth-largest United Methodist Church in the nation." The
church's success was of particular interest to some of the conference
participants.

"I came specifically to see Ben Hill and how African Americans can really
prosper in the United Methodist Church," said the Rev. Dwayne Alston, pastor
of the new Calvary United Methodist Church in Rocky Mountain, N.C. 

The school featured intensive training sessions dealing with issues
concerning Native American, African-American, Korean and Hispanic
ministries. "There is a move to recapture the Native American culture and
express that in their worship setting," said the Rev. Sylvia Collins of new
church-start Triangle Native American United Methodist Church in Raleigh,
N.C. "They want to be free to do that without being called pagans," she
said.  

Alice Richie, a lay member of Faith Connections Ministry in Lansing, Mich.,
feared her church was not progressing as it should, but hearing others at
the school reassured her. "We found out that we're pretty much on target for
these [first] 12 months," she said.

Tim Polk, a deputy commissioner in Atlanta, warned that dealing with
government and politics can be daunting for church people. In jest, he said,
"You ought to have somebody who has the patience of Job and the wisdom of
Solomon and the favor of God." Participants were told they shouldn't be the
last to find out about rezoning, construction or public funds. It was
suggested that a liaison person from the church should be in place to
cultivate a working relationship with local government officials.

Urban ministries workshop facilitator and layperson Diane Johnson stressed
the effectiveness of lay members in community outreach ministry. "Lay
people, ask your pastors for training," she said. "Discover the gift that
will help you discover the assets in your community." Johnson is a Board of
Global Ministries staff member. 

"For too long we have lived and worked in a clergy-centric church, and it
just about killed the church," said the Rev. Michael Minnix, superintendent
of the Chambersburg District in the Central Pennsylvania Annual Conference.
"Clergy have to learn to empower and equip laity, then step back and let the
laity be in ministry." 

Churches seeking to build new structures, purchase land or make improvements
on existing buildings were encouraged to look toward the United Methodist
Development Fund, administered by the Board of Global Ministries.

"Right at the moment, we have about $20 million we're ready to loan out,"
said the Rev. Sam Dixon, a representative of the fund.   

Ben Hill's music minister, Cynthia Wilson, conducted each day's praise and
worship and a music ministry workshop. She spoke to the change and conflicts
surrounding Christian music. "If you look at history, every time there was
critical tension going on in the church, it was around music and worship. 

"For some reason, we just have a hard time when the paradigm shifts, but
we've got to have that which speaks to the heart of the season," she said. 

"I heard somebody say that nobody likes change but a wet baby."

# # #
*Medley is a writer based in Waldorf, Md.

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org