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UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE

Only six weeks after the 2012 General Conference, denominational leaders met together to discuss creating more highly vital congregations in The United Methodist Church. The UM Vital Congregations Initiative held a conversation on the campus of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary June 12-13. For two days, United Methodist bishops, pastors, laity, researchers, practitioners, leaders from various United Methodist boards and agencies and evangelism professors from some of the United Methodist theological schools came together for a conversation regarding the future of growing highly vital congregations within The United Methodist Church.

The divergent group of stakeholders, led by Vital Congregations team leader BWC Bishop John Schol, dialogued on how the local church can connect with new mission fields. "We have some challenges," said Schol. "We see this in some of our statistics, but we have a bright future as we live out of our vision as United Methodists, to connect with new generations of believers and grow highly vital congregations."

The conversation stemmed from the adaptive challenge presented by the Call to Action Steering Team in 2010. Since its adoption by the Council of Bishops and the Connectional Table, the bishops and the Connectional Table have committed to a 10-year sustained effort to direct the flow of prayers, attention, energy and resources to an intense concentration on increasing the number of vital congregations in the denomination.

"We were delighted to host this groundbreaking group where the very best of church plans continue to be shaped by quality research and conversation," said Philip Amerson, president of Garrett-Evangelical. "It is clear other voices are needed at the table but this was a remarkable gathering to bring leaders in various capacities in our denomination together to explore growing vital congregations."

The Call to Action Steering Team engaged Towers Watson in 2010 to identify the number of highly vital United Methodist congregations and what they do to be vital. They found that 15 percent of the United

Methodist congregations in the United States were highly vital. Highly vital congregations are dynamic congregations that grow over time, involve more of their disciples in ministry, engage in the community and give generously to mission. To increase vitality, highly vital congregations strengthen worship, clergy leadership, lay leadership and ministry, particularly small groups, mission engagement, and children and youth ministries.

Six weeks earlier at General Conference, the denomination celebrated the goals of 79 conferences toward growing vital congregations, which included goals set by 73 percent of the congregations in the United States.

"The conversations among United Methodist circles in the current climate of declining numbers has often and too easily relied on blaming others for our challenges," said Amy Valdez-Barker, project manager of the Vital Congregations Initiative. "It is time to work together across generations and differences to bear hope and engage in vital witness and mission in our communities."

Participants shared the importance of discovering and communicating our common identity as United Methodists and sharing the stories of hope for a vital future. They also agreed that the development and sharing of tools, resources and best practices for the multitude of contexts represented in United Methodist congregations will be critical as the denomination moves forward. "This is a great starting place," said Greg Bergquist, the new California-Nevada Conference superintendent in charge of Leadership Development. "You can count us in. We would love to participate in the group that wants to be explorers in this Vital Congregations expedition."

The Vital Congregations Initiative will continue to be overseen by the Council of Bishops and the Connectional Table. A goal to double the number of highly vital congregations in the United States is supported through the recent goal setting by congregations and conferences. A group of conferences willing to explore and experiment with growing and sustaining more congregations will be organized later this year as part of the next step of growing the number of vital congregations. To learn more, visit the website.