Nurturing Vital Discipleship and Church Membership Asylum Hill Congregational UCC Nurturing Vital Discipleship and Church Membership Asylum Hill Congregational UCC David Schoen, Congregational Vitality and Discipleship United Church of Christ

Discipleship or Membership In our culture today, the churches work is all about nurturing missional discipleship, not only church membership. In our culture today, the churches work is all about nurturing missional discipleship, not only church membership. 83% of population not in church on Sundays, going to church is counter cultural. 83% of population not in church on Sundays, going to church is counter cultural. Missional Church has clear sense of Gods purpose and calling for the church and raises up disciples who can articulate and put into daily practice Gods purpose for the church and Gods purpose for their lives. Missional Church has clear sense of Gods purpose and calling for the church and raises up disciples who can articulate and put into daily practice Gods purpose for the church and Gods purpose for their lives.

Hartford Area Religious Practices

Nurturing Discipleship Vital Church Membership Clarity about church expectations for discipleship and membership Clarity about church expectations for discipleship and membership Make expectation visible and vocal Make expectation visible and vocal Track church members in discipleship Track church members in discipleship Small Group Missional/Spiritual Ministry Small Group Missional/Spiritual Ministry Who are the members at Asylum Who are the members at Asylum Who do you want to be the members at Asylum Who do you want to be the members at Asylum Using new technology, social media & networks Using new technology, social media & networks

Clarity about church expectations for discipleship and membership

Clarity and Articulation of Expectations What expectation of discipleship and church membership do you have at Asylum Hill? What expectation of discipleship and church membership do you have at Asylum Hill? What would your membership covenant be? What would your membership covenant be? How do you communicate your expectations? How do you communicate your expectations? How do you nurture your covenant? How do you nurture your covenant? "To work for the increase in the love of God and neighbor in Jesus Christ through sharing, caring, outreach and worship."

Tracking Discipleship/Membership If you wish to grow discipleship and membership then you will need to track the participation of your congregation If you wish to grow discipleship and membership then you will need to track the participation of your congregation In commercial world this would be called CRM, Customer Relationship Management In commercial world this would be called CRM, Customer Relationship Management Track levels of the participation that are part of your expectation of members. Track levels of the participation that are part of your expectation of members. Worship, Small Groups, Leadership, Service, Giving/Pledging, Witness Worship, Small Groups, Leadership, Service, Giving/Pledging, Witness

New Member Tracking Keep track of guest, 1st time guest, return guests Keep track of guest, 1st time guest, return guests Invitation to New Member/Discipleship group Invitation to New Member/Discipleship group Clarity of church purpose and expectations of members Clarity of church purpose and expectations of members New members/disciples tell their stories New members/disciples tell their stories Connect with trained core of sponsors Connect with trained core of sponsors Engage in Small Group within first 3 months Engage in Small Group within first 3 months Follow-up gatherings with new members Follow-up gatherings with new members

Small Group Missional/Spiritual Ministry Churches become larger by getting smaller Churches become larger by getting smaller People are looking for relationships, a place where somebody knows my name People are looking for relationships, a place where somebody knows my name Small groups where people can get to know each other are critical; home, service, arts, committees Small groups where people can get to know each other are critical; home, service, arts, committees Although a small group may not be focused on discipleship/spiritual matters, there should be chance for spiritual reflection/moments in each Although a small group may not be focused on discipleship/spiritual matters, there should be chance for spiritual reflection/moments in each

Pass a Grille Beach UCC

Who are these people? Who are your members, Who are your neighbors? (Revelation 7:14) MissionInsite Demographics MissionInsite Demographics flexible web based information system comprehensive socioeconomic and lifestyle data interactive mapping platform strategic information resource for ministry

Meeting Your Neighbors

West Hartford Hartford West Hartford Hartford

Who are your Neighbors -West Hartford

Who are your Neighbors -Hartford

Urban Commuter Families

Who Are they?

New Generation Activists

Ministry Applications for Mosaic Lifestyle Portraits

How to use MissionInsite Map your congregation homes Map your congregation homes Learn their mosaic types Learn their mosaic types Compare to communities, learn your niche Compare to communities, learn your niche Gear programs, small groups to meet population needs and interests Gear programs, small groups to meet population needs and interests Track guests and friends Track guests and friends Cluster home groups Cluster home groups

Getting MissionInsite Info UCC and Connecticut Conference have contract with MissionInsite UCC and Connecticut Conference have contract with MissionInsite Participants in Workshop (thanks to OCWM). Participants in Workshop (thanks to OCWM). Go to Connecticut Conference Website Go to Connecticut Conference Website

Generations and Religion

Religious Practice

Religious Belief

LGBT Concerns

Politics

Liberal or Conservative

Community Service

Missional Outreach New Generations The urgency of our times should not be driven by our decline in the United Church of Christ. The urgency of our times should not be driven by our decline in the United Church of Christ. The urgency of our times should be a new generation and population attuned to the values of our message and witness. The urgency of our times should be a new generation and population attuned to the values of our message and witness. See Millenials report Pew Research See Millenials report Pew Research

New Technology

Missional Tools Online

On-line tools for Discipleship On-line tools for Discipleship Connecting with congregation and others on-line Connecting with congregation and others on-line Church Website Church Website Invitational Invitational Interactive Interactive Messaging Messaging E.newsletter E.newsletter Links Links Facebook Facebook Church fanpage Church fanpage Your own Your own Links Links Advertising Advertising

Networking with New Technology Blasts Blasts Daily Devotional Daily Devotional Twitter Twitter You Tube You Tube Webinars Webinars On Line Classes On Line Classes On Line Prayer On Line Prayer Go To Meetings Go To Meetings Apps Apps

Church of the Wider Fellowship

Nurturing Discipleship Vital Church Membership Clarity about church expectations for discipleship and membership Clarity about church expectations for discipleship and membership Make expectation visible and vocal Make expectation visible and vocal Track church members in discipleship Track church members in discipleship Small Group Missional/Spiritual Ministry Small Group Missional/Spiritual Ministry Who are the members at Asylum Who are the members at Asylum Who do you want to be the members at Asylum Who do you want to be the members at Asylum Using new technology, social media & networks Using new technology, social media & networks

Nurturing Discipleship and Church Membership What have you learned? What have you learned? What one thing stands out? What one thing stands out? How will you use this information? How will you use this information?

Getting Started Nurturing Vital Discipleship and Membership Nurturing Vital Discipleship and Membership Pray for your members, guests and congregation Pray for your members, guests and congregation This takes time, strategy and work. This takes time, strategy and work. This takes volunteers and staff This takes volunteers and staff Takes support of congregational leaders Takes support of congregational leaders Just get started. Just get started. Start with one thing. Start with strength Start with one thing. Start with strength

Nurturing Vital Discipleship and Church Membership Blessings as you discern Gods mission for your congregation, Blessings as you discern Gods mission for your congregation, and nurture your congregations members! and nurture your congregations members!

Thank You! Thank you! Your financial support is Thank you! Your financial support is Changing Lives: Thats Our Churches Wider Mission Thank you for your vital leadership and discipleship! Thank you for your vital leadership and discipleship!