Resources for Vital Change: Wave 1

During the 240th session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, members voted to reduce the number of districts from eight to six. They also voted to make a bold and brave decision to pursue Vital Change.  In the face of declining church membership, declining attendance, and declining religious participation, the people in the Conference decided to focus on moving closer to Christ, to focus on transformational, outward-facing, community-driven ministry and to do so in a collaborative manner consistent with our shared values. In support of Vital Change, the structural changes are being made:

  1. all churches will be part of a collaborative hub,
  2. all hubs will be part of a geographic district with other churches that share similar circumstances and challenges, and
  3. non-mission-related, specialized administrative duties will be centralized to support churches, rather than requiring each district to provide these services.

To assist you as you prepare to create Vital Change in your community, the BWC is offering a series of resources. This first wave focuses on our shared values and how these values inform everything we do, recognizing that how and why we do things is at least as important as what we do. These resources will help you prepare to effectively participate in collaborative hubs starting July 1, 2025. This effort is not a program or campaign. It is a way of life – the way of Jesus Christ, who came to bring abundant life.

Resources for Congregations and Members

Communications Action Art and Media 

We begin by announcing and exploring the changes ahead and the values that shape and guide us. Below you’ll find:

  1.  Communication elements (announcements and an article) to share in your church newsletter or bulletin. 
  2. An action for individuals, teams and small groups to take.  
  3. Art and media provided for your congregation to use in worship and/or social media to keep our values front and center.

In this season of intentional spiritual growth and preparation, our shared values provide a compass for the journey ahead.  When people in your congregation begin to understand the shared values, explore them more deeply with activities for individuals and small groups that encourage reflection and action.

Communications
Announcements

These announcements can be used as talking points or in a variety of church media and settings to increase awareness of how your congregation and the BWC are creating Vital Change.

  • Let’s thank God for the blessings of our shared values: love in action, strength through connection, unity with diversity, partnering with purpose and freedom to try.  Learn more.
  • Don’t forget to download, pray and reflect on what those values mean to you personally and to share them with as many people as you can. 
  • As you support your congregation with your gifts and financial offerings, know that your contributions support love in action, strength through connection, unity with diversity, partnering with purpose, and the freedom to try in our church, neighborhood, county, state, region and around the world as we cultivate discipleship.
Article

The following article provides a brief look into restructuring for Vital Change including our shared values. It is designed to be shared in church newsletters, websites, in bulletins or in any way that's helpful. 

Refocus, Reconnect and Restructure for Vital Change

The people in the Baltimore-Washington Conference made a bold, brave decision: To pursue Vital Change. In the face of declining church membership, declining attendance, and declining religious participation, the people in the Conference decided to focus on moving closer to Christ, to focus on transformational, outward-facing, community-driven ministry and to do so in a collaborative manner consistent with our shared values. To support this vital change, some structural changes are being made: 1) all churches will be part of a collaborative hub, 2) all hubs will be part of a district with other churches that share similar circumstances and challenges, and 3) non-mission-related, specialized administrative duties will be centralized to support churches, rather than requiring each district to provide these services.

The three key components of this Vital Change are: 1) refocus on being the hands and feet of Christ in our communities, 2) reconnect to our values, and 3) restructure to better support all of the above.

The goal of all of this is vitality – that 100% of our faith communities become 100% consistently deepening discipleship, getting to know and valuing all the people in our communities, living and loving like Jesus through acts of justice and compassion, and multiplying missional impact.

And vitality is strongly related to living our values:

• Love in Action,
• Strength through Connection,
• Unity with Diversity,
• Partnering with Purpose, and
• Freedom to Try.

This month you are invited to download, pray and reflect on what those values mean to you personally and to share them with as many people as you can. 

While change is sometimes difficult, it offers us a chance to connect more deeply with who and what the Holy Spirit is calling us to be and to light the world with God’s love. It is a fresh beginning, an invitation and a promise that offers fresh possibilities for living out our faith. Learn more about Creating Vital Change. 

Action

The following tools are designed to support members in finding their role in Vital Change. This month, people are asked to reflect on how their values connect with our shared values, to identify opportunities for growth and prayer. The slide deck below can be used as part of leadership meetings, small groups or other settings. 

Download Handout Download Slide Deck

Learn, Reflect, and Pray on What Our Shared Values Mean to Members Personally

As United Methodists, each of us is connected through our baptism to live out God’s call in our lives, families, churches, and communities. In the coming year, we are engaging in Vital Change together to better cultivate world transforming disciples and progress toward our goal of vitality.

Vitality is strongly related to living our shared values which arise from the hopes voiced by United Methodists across the area; they are rooted in Scripture and a part of our Wesleyan heritage.

Love in Action
Practicing God’s love and grace, we build real, transformative relationships in our communities. Ours is not ministry “from a distance,” but ministry “up close and personal”— we are the hands and feet of Christ in the world, serving those in need.

Strength through Connection
Rooted in the United Methodist tradition of connection, we are united, uplifting one another, and holding each other accountable with love. We build strong bonds with one another and across our global church to do as much good as we can, because we truly are better together.

Unity with Diversity
As God’s beloved community, we each bring our unique stories and strengths to all that we do, united in purpose and committed to equity, inclusion, antiracism/anti-oppression and justice for all.

Partnering with Purpose
Intentional and strategic partnerships with other churches, people, and organizations enable us to share and cross-pollinate ideas, resources, and energy so that we can thrive, bear more fruit, and live according to God’s call.

Freedom to Try
We prioritize empowering leaders and members to dream big, try new things, and learn from failure. We give permission for creativity and boldness and are committed to staying open to new ways of sharing God’s love with all people.

Journal or join in conversation with others in church about the following questions:
  1. Which value(s) do you most naturally embody or identify with? What testimony do you have to share about how this value is at work in your life?
  2. Which value do you struggle with the most?
  3. What would be different in your life – at home, with friends, at work, at church, in the community – if you lived these values 24/7? What would you have to do to live all the values?
Pray for God to:
  • Open your mind and create a clean and willing heart for vital change.
  • Help you to see how you can live these values.
  • Help you to make needed changes so that you embody the values in the way that God wants you to embody them.
  • Guide you as you seek to share these values with others in ways that are transformational, not transactional.

If you feel moved, share your testimonies and prayers with us so that we might celebrate and pray with one another. Email those to and indicate whether or not you would like your name and/or congregation’s name included on the prayer wall.

Art and Media

Select and open the artwork below to view it at its full file size. Then, right-click to save.

half-page inserts

Video

These short videos offer an overview of the BWC's restructuring and how it creates Vital Change. They can be shown in worship, meetings, or put on your church website. 

Artwork

Download these pull quotes about embracing change to use in your newsletter, social media, website, or anywhere else you're sharing the story of vital change.

 

Moving forward, from now until this summer, a new set of tools will be provided to help leaders share and interpret our values, mission and vitality. We welcome any questions or suggestions for improvement at