Vital Congregations, Faithful Disciples

Vital Congregations, Faithful Disciples PDF Author: United Methodist Church (U.S.). Council of Bishops
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780687755929
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 164

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Vital Congregations, Faithful Disciples

Vital Congregations, Faithful Disciples PDF Author: United Methodist Church (U.S.). Council of Bishops
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780687755929
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 164

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Book Description


Vital Congregations--faithful Disciples

Vital Congregations--faithful Disciples PDF Author: John Carr
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Mission of the church
Languages : en
Pages : 64

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Vital Congregations--faithful Disciples

Vital Congregations--faithful Disciples PDF Author: United Methodist Church (U.S.). Board of Discipleship. Division of Church School Publications
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Mission of the church
Languages : en
Pages : 1

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Report on the Consultation on Vital Congregations, Faithful Disciples

Report on the Consultation on Vital Congregations, Faithful Disciples PDF Author: United Methodist Church (U.S.). Council of Bishops. Episcopal Initiaves Committee
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Church and the world
Languages : en
Pages : 137

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Forming Christian Disciples

Forming Christian Disciples PDF Author: David Lowes Watson
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1579109462
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 191

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Book Description
In this volume, David Lowes Watson provides a basic resource for the formation of faithful Christian disciples and the revitalizing of congregations. Beginning with a Christ-centered model for the church, Watson shows how leaders in discipleship are the key to vital congregations. He then offers procedures for introducing and sustaining covenant discipleship groups as a means of developing these leaders, and concludes with guidelines for the office of class leader as a means of implementing their leadership. How does a congregation decide on covenant discipleship? How are the groups formed? What is the role of a class leader? How do class leaders connect with other leaders in the congregation? These questions, and much more, are the subject of a resource that is foundational for any congregation wishing to revitalize its life and work through the forming of faithful Christian disciples. This volume is the third in a trilogy: Covenant Discipleship, Class Leaders, and Forming Christian Disciples.

Gladhearted Disciples

Gladhearted Disciples PDF Author: Chris Folmsbee
Publisher: Abingdon Press
ISBN: 1630884243
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 76

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Book Description
Gladhearted Disciples: Equipping Your Congregation with Generous and Enduring Faith addresses a critical need for church leaders and pastors: How can we guide people to live like Jesus and to draw others into that life? This is a book to study and with your leaders and teams. Gladhearted Disciples starts with an indisputable yet often ignored reality: In a post-modern, post-Christian world, we can no longer attract people by convincing them of our “truth.” We must instead embody the Gospel in such clear and compelling ways that they will be attracted to our way of life. This is the true measure of discipleship. Folmsbee provides a template for the spiritual formation of hopeful, grace-filled, kingdom-focused disciples who represent God’s love in the world. Pastors, Christian educators, and small-group leaders will find here an inspiring new perspective to inspire and support their work.--Ann Michel, Associate Director, Lewis Center for Church Leadership I recommend this book for faith communities and all who yearn for a new way of understanding our sacred calling as followers of Jesus.--DJ del Rosario, Sr. Pastor, Bothell UMC, Bothell, WA If you are seeking to guide others in following Jesus into the mission field that exists right outside your front door, read this book. You’ll encounter vivid stories and a theologically grounded, practical, and missional approach to discipleship in a post-Christian world. --Sara B. Thomas, Chief Strategist for Vital Congregations, Discipleship Ministries, The United Methodist Church Gladhearted Disciples takes a radically different and welcome approach to evangelism and discipleship. It is a winsome and accessible book with two audaciously important messages. First, Christian discipleship is grounded in grace, characterized by humility, upwardly focused in gratitude, and outwardly-turned in compassion. Second, Christian communities should be marked by the same. Every church would do well to heed this prophetic yet hopeful message. --Robert K. Martin, Dean and Professor of Christian Formation and Leadership, Wesley Theological Seminary If you seek a fresh way to understand and share our faith—a way that makes sense in our current reality, I invite you to delve into this book. May you be newly inspired! --Dottie Escobedo-Frank, author of The Jesus Insurgency with Rudy Rasmus, from Abingdon Press

Vital

Vital PDF Author: Jorge Acevedo
Publisher: Abingdon Press
ISBN: 1426769857
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 142

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Book Description
What behaviors do highly vital congregations have in common? How can all congregations move toward greater vitality? In Vital: Churches Changing Communities and the World, Jorge Acevedo passionately and effectively reveals how Grace Church in Cape Coral, Florida, has developed behaviors that result in vital and fruitful ministry. Focusing on spiritual pastoral leadership, lay leadership development, worship, small groups, and service and mission, Acevedo both inspires and coaches. He helps leaders of congregations act in their own contexts to develop behaviors essential to vitality, as identified by the recent study of 32,000 United Methodist congregations. The book includes brief summaries of learnings from the research and stories from other congregations illustrating vital behaviors in different settings. Approximately 15% of the 32,228 churches (4,961 churches) scored high in vitality based on the vitality index. What this means is that 15% of our churches have figured out some way to remain highly vital in spite of the fact that 85% have not. What this means is that we cannot assign all the blame for our congregational demise at the feet of the “institution” of the church. 4961 congregations have figured out ways to prevail in spite of our denominational condition. To me this is hopeful and promising! This book is my best attempt for us to learn from the 15% of United Methodist Churches that are vital, growing and prevailing. Jorge Acevedo

Reckoning Methodism

Reckoning Methodism PDF Author: Darryl W. Stephens
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1666775657
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 293

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Book Description
Reckoning Methodism addresses the brokenness of The United Methodist Church (UMC) in the United States. Homosexuality is but one of several fault lines with decades-long histories in this predominantly White denomination. Demographic shifts, racism, and imperialism are heavily implicated in the current state of division. What, then, is the true nature and mission of this church? The UMC is the public church divided. Distinct missional theologies arise from competing commitments and priorities. When Methodist programmatic initiatives—such as vital congregations, environmental witness, and volunteers in mission—fail to account for these differences, denominational unity is weakened. Constructively, this book seeks historical clarity, collective repentance, charismatic learning, and institutional courage as United Methodists reckon with inherited animosities and divisions. This book provides no answers or programmatic fixes. Rather, it provides possibilities for repairing past harms as United Methodists seek ways to continue living out their Wesleyan faith. Reckoning with the public church divided, we glimpse the nature and mission of the church—not only as it has been but also as it could be. Podcast interview with GCAH

Welcoming Resistance

Welcoming Resistance PDF Author: William Chris Hobgood
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1566996910
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 165

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Book Description
Resistance can be a sign of vital, high-quality, and faithful life in a congregation, and a learning opportunity for congregational leaders who recognize the value of hearing from those who resist ministry initiatives, inviting their input and listening to their response. Hobgood proposes a "continuum of interventions" that can be made by pastors and lay leaders. He also observes that the degree of resistance will intensify as the degree of change deepens, but suggests that when we try to squelch resistance, we threaten the congregation's very existence. Congregational leaders will appreciate Hobgood's positive and pastoral approach to the resistance they encounter in their own faith communities and his concrete and practical suggestions for building more constructive relationships.

Gear Up!

Gear Up! PDF Author: Kay Kotan
Publisher: Abingdon Press
ISBN: 1501835521
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
In Gear Up!, Kay Kotan outlines nine areas of ministry where congregations must intentionally design a process. It is not enough to decide, “We are going to refocus in this direction.” Leaders must decide how and what steps they will take. Who will do what, and when? This concise and exceedingly practical new book can help. “Kay Kotan has long enjoyed a well-deserved reputation among both laity and clergy as a passionate, positive change agent. In her new book, readers will find a rich synthesis of her time-tested insights and hands-on work with local churches of all sizes and circumstances. If your church has slipped into reverse or is stuck in neutral, Gear Up! can help get it driving forward!” —Jim Ozier, Director of New Church Development, North Texas Conference, UMC; author of Clip In and The Changeover Zone from Abingdon Press “Gear Up! is packed with practical information and checklists designed to empower leaders and teams. This book should be handed to every church leader and board member so that they will understand the essential hows and whys of effective ministry in today’s complex world.” —Blake Bradford, Assistant Director for Clergy Development, Center for Vitality, Arkansas Conference, UMC “This is a tactical, practical, nitty-gritty, boots-on-the-ground, systems-oriented book. It gives you a series of diagnostics to run on your church so that you can get on the road to faithful discipling.” —Cynthia Fierro Harvey, Bishop, Louisiana Conference, UMC “Healthy systems lead to healthy churches. Gear Up! is a systems manual to help our churches be healthy so that we can fulfill our mission of making disciples who transform their community and the world.” —Kelly P. Brown, Director for Congregational Vitality, East Ohio Conference, UMC “Kay Kotan understands that sustained growth depends on healthy systems. Gear Up! provides helpful insights and checklists to diagnose the state of your systems so that your church can ‘gear up’ for the long run.” —Phil Schroeder, Director of Congregational Development, North Georgia Conference, UMC