Categories
renewing the church united methodist church

Micro Church: Renewing the Mainline Church (1 of 5)

I believe that over the next several years, micro churches will become an important part of renewal within The United Methodist Church. Micro churches will be supported by existing congregations that use web technology to live stream worship, such as http://live.cor.org. These existing churches will encourage and equip local leaders of a group of 10 […]

Categories
renewing the church

Incremental Change in Sports and Church

Tomorrow the Kansas City Chiefs begin their 50th season with a preseason game against the Houston Texans. I am hopeful for a better season than last year with a refreshed roster and coaching staff. I’m not predicting the Super Bowl, but a .500 season is quite attainable. For sports teams and churches, incremental changes are […]

Categories
church faith renewing the church

America’s Shared Values and the UMC

In The Seven Faith Tribes, George Barna lists twenty shared values from across seven faith tribes that exist in the United States. A few of these are: Represent the truth well Develop inner peace and purity Seek peace with others Demonstrate wisdom Be forgiving This list helped me clarify the importance of proclaiming a Christian […]

Categories
renewing the church united methodist church

Invitation to UMC Young Clergy Collaboration

“Give me one hundred [people] who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergyman or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon the earth.” –John Wesley Does this describe you? Are you under age 35 and […]

Categories
changing lives ministry renewing the church transforming the community

Apprentice of Jesus

This week I was part of a conversation that was encouraging, informative and exciting. I was part of a conversation with Ben Simpson, Correy Trupp, Darrell Holtz, Dave Robertson, James Bryan Smith and Jimmy Taylor about The Apprentice Series – a discipleship curriculum. I met Jimmy less than a year ago at Board of Ordained […]

Categories
church ministry renewing the church united methodist church

UMNS = FAIL on the Constitutional Amendments

United Methodist News Service = FAIL This morning I was reading news on the USA Today app on my iPhone when I came across this headline, Methodists defeat gay-related membership policy, with the lead sentence: United Methodists have defeated amendments that would have made church membership open to all Christians regardless of sexual orientation and […]

Categories
church ministry renewing the church

Elevator Pitch for Networked Micro Churches

In North America, the church is failing to live up to its mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Since 1990 over 150 United Methodist churches have closed every year. During this same period of time, internet usage has exploded. Since 1990 the internet grew by 100 percent every […]

Categories
church leadership renewing the church

Ideation Experience – Day 1

Yesterday was the first day of the Ideation Experience (http://ideationexperience.leadnet.org). We heard from John Handy, who was formerly a leader at the development division at Mattel toys. Each of the 60 some people here had the chance to give an elevator pitch of our idea and receive some feedback in small groups. This evening we […]

Categories
changing lives renewing the church transforming the community

Going to Louisiana

Tomorrow morning I am headed out with a team of students from Resurrection on a mission trip to the Gulf Coast. We will be back next week. It is my first mission trip since being appointed to Resurrection. I am excited and anticipating God’s work within and without. I invite your prayers for the team […]

Categories
renewing the church united methodist church

#6qumc – Data (5 of 5)

6 Questions for The United Methodist Church is an open project and I have been encouraged by the response. If you are interested in data of participation from the project check it out at http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=r06wd0oDSanzEZ3I9gWArVQ&output=html Data for the day should be added in the morning. Feel free to use the data how you want. By […]

Categories
renewing the church united methodist church

#6qumc – Where is it leading? (4 of 5)

Another question that has been asked of 6 Questions for The United Methodist Church, “Where is it leading?” Ultimately, I pray that this project is leading where God wills. The stated purposes of the project are: Raise important questions for next steps in the life of the denomination. Provide guidance for future face to face […]

Categories
renewing the church united methodist church

#6qumc – Who can participate? (3 of 5)

Within the first day of 6 Questions for The United Methodist Church, someone asked, Is this only for young clergy? The answer is a resounding no. While 6 Questions for The United Methodist Church is hosted by http://www.umcyoungclergy.com it is open to all people of The United Methodist Church. The project becomes better with each […]