The Challenge of New Member Retention and Assimilation

Executive Summary Our goal was to look in the different factors that positively impact the retention and assimilation of new members; in order to come up with a series of recommendations that could be utilized by our churches to create an environment that lives up to our creed of “open hearts, open minds, open doors”. We looked at several different types of programs within a church that could create the proper environment that would allow the smooth assimilation, as well as assist in the retention of our current congregation memberships.

Church in Smyrna 8 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who died and is alive: 9“I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the slander of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they really aren’t because theirs is a synagogue of Satan. 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The Devil will throw some of you into prison and put you to the test. You will be persecuted for ‘ten days.’ Remain faithful even when facing death, and I will give you the crown of life.11 “Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be hurt by the second death. New Living Translation Church in Philadelphia 7 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the one who is holy and true. He is the one who has the key of David. He opens doors, and no one can shut them; he shuts doors, and no one can open them. 8 “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. 9 Look! I will force those who belong to Satan—those liars who say they are Jews but are not—to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love. 10 “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. 11 Look, I am coming quickly. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. 12 All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write my God’s name on them, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And they will have my new name inscribed upon them. 13 Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches. New Living Translation

Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors. The people of the United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church has declared “The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ”. Thus, the church as a whole has adopted the Great Commission. The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, 2004 edition, states “Local churches provide the most significant arena through which disciple- making occurs.” (p. 87) The mission of the local church is listed as one of welcoming – worshiping – nurturing – sending. (p. 88) The mission of the church at large and the mission of the local congregation is well aligned with the Great Commission and the deliberately planned programs that effective churches offer.

Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors. The people of the United Methodist Church Book of Resolutions The Lord’s admonitions to the churches is generally covered in our Book Of Resolutions. Resolution 77 is entitled “Inclusiveness in All Dimensions”. This section encourages every Conference, District and local church to develop comprehensive programs that place emphasis on inclusiveness -- cultural, racial, lingual, and in regard to gender --throughout the life and ministry of the Church. Among other things it provides that each church become trained and enabled to reach out to surrounding communities. This includes increasing their knowledge and understanding of the people and cultures who reside within their communities.

Survey Results The survey included 16 different United Methodist Churches with a total of 109 new members responding. Our survey was focused on three different issues: 1.What brought you into the church for your first visit? 2.What brought you back to the church for your second visit? 3.Ranking priority of programs designed to help assimilate the new member

Observations and Recommendations Getting people into the church for a first visit: Personal contact and invitation – Personal Evangelism Community Outreach – especially programs for children Having a visible church that’s easy to “find”

Observations and Recommendations Getting people to stay in the church: Small Group Development Bible Based Sermons Membership Classes Shepherding Missions Oriented Church