Church Development Overview

Overview

Church Development 2012 David Schoen

Changing Lives

UCC Bold, Inspirational Goals (BIGs)

Church Development & BIGs Church Development, both New Church Planting and Church Renewal are connected to all the BIGs  Church and Leadership Development are especially involved in #2, 3, & 4 

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2. There is a welcoming UCC community of faith that is accessible to all — no matter who they are or where they are on life’s journey. 3. Every UCC member is well-equipped to be growing in faith, be theologically conversant, and be active in the global mission of the church. 4. The UCC has a wealth of prepared, excellent leaders that reflect the diversity of God’s beloved community.

Looking Back to 2005 

God is Still Speaking Initiative has shown us that the field is ready. There has been a great response of people looking for a church like the United Church of Christ.

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The Stillspeaking Initiative and General Synod generated enthusiasm for new church planting and for existing congregations to join the UCC in witness to God’s extravagant welcome.

How Can the UCC Respond to this Kairos Moment for New Church Development?

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Our response to this Kairos moment in the United Church of Christ calls for a focused cooperative effort between congregations, associations, conferences, organizations, national ministries, and seminaries to increase our capacity for planting and welcoming new congregations.

Now is the Time! – 2005 Consultation, Suggestions, Goals Nurture a church culture that embraces and engages in New Church Development  Create systems that recognize, recruit, assess, train and coach new church planters.  Encourage and empower Congregational Multiplication.  Prepare for increased outreach and welcome of Affiliating Congregations. 

Now is the Time! Outcomes 

New Church Planter Assessment,Training & Coaching

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New Church Planter Assessment Gallup Assessment – 306 interviewees New and Renewing Church Training 660 participants  New Church Leadership Institute 2007 Center for Progressive Renewal 2010

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To renew Progressive Christianity by training new entrepreneurial leaders, supporting the birth of new liberal/progressive congregations, and by renewing and strengthening existing progressive churches

Center for Progressive Renewal 

New Church Leadership Training     

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National Church Leadership Institute Online Courses - 260 participants Weekly Webinars Events in 30 Conferences New Church Planter Certification

New Church Planter Coaching 

Individual Coaching and Coach Share  110

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participants

Conference Coaching Programs

Church Multiplication 

Growth in Churches Birthing Churches     

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Iglesia Hispana de la Communidad UCC, Jamaica Plains MA Mayflower UCC, Naples FL Trinity UCC, Chicago IL - 3 Cathedral of Hope UCC, Dallas TX – 3 City of Refuge UCC, San Francisco CA - Fellowship United Church of Chapel Hill, NC - Hispanic Judson Memorial, NY, NY - Korean Freidens Peace UCC, Geronimo TX First Congregational, Huntington WV Harold O. Davis UCC, Philadelphia PA Claremont UCC, CA - New generation Riverside UCC, NY, NY – Korean Samoan Congregations Congregations, Long Beach CA

Church Multiplication 

CPR is working with 4 Conferences to create Multiplication Networks In their settings: Minnesota Conference  Southeast Conference  Central Atlantic Conference  Southwest Conference Wrote a Churches Birthing Churches Manual to use as a resource by the churches starting this process. 

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Big, Huge, Audacious Goal 2005 

If we wish to see the extravagant welcome of Jesus and the still speaking witness of the United Church of Christ continue and grow we will work to increase new church development.

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Denominations that are growing are starting and welcoming 2% - 3 % of total congregations each year.

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The UCC could grow to 3% in 15 years

A 15 Year Challenge to Grow Year

Total Congregatio ns

2006

5,750

1.50%

0.5%

29

26

86

-60

2007

5,690

1.50%

0.5%

28

26

85

-60

2008

5,630

1.20%

0.5%

28

25

68

-42

2009

5,588

1.00%

1.0%

56

50

56

-6

2010

5,582

0.75%

1.0%

56

50

42

8

2011

5,590

0.75%

1.0%

56

50

42

8

2012

5,599

0.75%

1.5%

84

76

42

34

2013

5,632

0.75%

1.5%

84

76

42

34

2014

5,666

0.75%

2.0%

113

102

42

59

2015

5,726

0.75%

2.0%

115

103

43

60

2016

5,786

0.75%

2.0%

116

104

43

61

2017

5,847

0.75%

2.5%

146

132

44

88

2018

5,934

0.75%

2.5%

148

134

45

89

2019

6,023

0.75%

3.0%

181

163

45

117

2020

6,141

0.75%

3.0%

184

166

46

120

2021

6,260

0.75%

3.0%

188

169

47

122

Total New Congregations

Percent Loss es

Percent Incre ase

New Congregatio ns Started

1612

Successful New Congregatio ns (*)

Losses

Net New Congregatio ns

633

How Are We Doing? Now is the Time Goal of 250 New Churches from 2006 – 2011  174 New Congregations from 2006- 2011 were celebrated at GS 

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21 now gone or closed (12%)  17 

closed 4 left process of affiliating

153 active new churches  26 Conferences with new churches 

New Congregations 2006 - 2011 

What were the 174 new congregations? 83 Affiliating congregation  73 New Church Plants  18 Multiplications 

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(48%) (42%) (10%)

60 congregation ONA spirited (34%)

New Churches in 26 Conferences 

These Six Conferences 50% of New Congregations  24 Southern California Nevada  15 Northern California Nevada  14 Central Atlantic  12 Hawaii  11 Ohio  11 Southeast

New Churches and Conferences 

Add these Eleven Conferences 89% of New Churches in 17 Conferences           

8 8 8 7 6 6 6 6 5 4 4

Massachusetts Southwest Conference New York South Central 5 Indiana Kentucky Kansas Oklahoma Florida Missouri Midsouth Southern Illinois Rocky Mountain Pennsylvania Southeast

New Churches and Conferences 

9 Conferences with 1 or 2 new churches 2 2 2 1 1 1 1

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Penn Central Wisconsin Iowa (one with South Dakota) Maine Michigan Montana Northern Wyoming Penn Northeast Connecticut

12 Conferences no new churches (32%)

Conferences with designated church development staff 

14 Conferences have designated church development staff (37% of Conferences) MA, NY, CT,  PSE, PC, FL,  MI, OH, IL, WI, MOMS,  MN, SCNC, NCNC (?) 

New Churches in UCC reflect new diversity and new populations our nation In 1957 …… new churches in the UCC were 92% EuroAmerican

100% 90% 80%

MultiEthnic Native Amer. Hispanic

70%

In 1997…...

60% 50%

66% of new churches are congregations reflecting and reaching diversity of American population

40% 30%

Asian-PI

20%

African

10%

Euro

0% First Second Third Fourth Fifth Decade

Sixth

New Churches reflect USA diversity and new populations 

From 2006 – 2011

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Hispanic M/M African Am Asian Am Euro Am

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12% 1% 11% 30% 47%

New and Renewing Church LCM Funding 

100 congregations and 3 conferences were funded by LCM from 2006 – 2011  

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New and Renewing congregations Conferences Funded

Grand total

$3,673,999.00 600,000.00

$4,273,999.00

Breakdown of the 100 congregations is as follows:    

70 29 32 68

New Churches Renewing Churches Churches (Euro-American) Churches (Hispanic, African American, M/M, Asian American, Pacific Islander)

Funding for New Congregations 

LCM New and Renewing Funds $500,000 each year in LCM budget  New and Renewing Churches Endowment  OCWM/STC 

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Make A Difference endowment 

$18,000 a year

Conferences Funds  Strengthen the Church Special Mission Offering 

New Church Benefit Support New Church Benefit Support Program is offered by the UCC Assistance Board thru CVD/LCM.  Provides funding for up to three years for Benefit programs of Pension Board 

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27 Congregations supported with $363,574 from 2009 - 2012

How are We Doing? Do the UCC Math Churches Gained

2007

2008

2009

18

16

13

15

20

82

Merger

4

4

3

3

4

18

Sched 1/ 2 or reinstated with standing

3

1

2

2

25

21

18

20

Planted & affiliated

Total

2010

total

2006

8 24

108 0

New Proposed congs w/o standing

10

15

19

10

3

57

Closed

19

29

30

21

32

131

Merger

8

6

4

7

4

29

Dropped

2

2

1

0

14

19

Withdrew

111

*125

40

25

34

210

Total

140

162

75

53

84

514

Closed proposed congs w/o standing

3

**7

7

3

7

27

Sched 1/2 dropped

3

17

3

3

7

33

-115

-141

-57

-33

-60

-406

Churches Gone

Net Change

* Puerto Rico Conference withdraw, including their 66 churches

How are we doing? Do the math 

174 new congregations represents a growth of 3.3% from 2006 – 2010

514 congregations closed or withdrew represents a decline of 9.9% in the same time  5,194 UCC congregations, yesterday 

Going Forward How do we work together to double new congregations from 174 to 300 – 500 in the next five years? What’s working?

CVD Purpose and Focus – Bigs To increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations Picture which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship.

Create a Culture of Research and Assessment

Uplift Best Practices, Centers of Excellence and Emerging Ideas from Practitioners

Nurture Networks and Interactive Connections with Constituencies and Partners

CVD’s Relationship with Center for Progressive Renewal

CVD’s Purpose: To increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship.

CVD

IN-SOURCE New Church Planter and Renewing Pastor Assessment  Coaching & Training Webinars & Courses Church Consultants NewTimes Magazine Work with Conference Partners Funding for CPR Advertising for CPR Scholarships for Events and Courses

CPR

CPR’s Purpose: To renew Progressive Christianity by training new entrepreneurial leaders, supporting the birth of new liberal/progressive congregations, and by renewing and strengthening existing progressive churches

CVD Purpose and Focus – BIGs To increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations Picture which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship. Vital Statistics and Research Reports on Church Growth

Centers of Excellence create Ongoing Resources

Center for Progressive Renewal

Create a Culture of Research and Assessment

Uplift Best Practices, Centers of Excellence and Emerging Ideas from Practitioners Best Practices, Emerging Ideas Resources

Assessment Program For Congregations

Nurture Networks and Interactive Connections with Constituencies and Partners Interactive Networks with Constituencies

Ecumenical Partners

Church of the Wider Fellowship

Create a Culture of Research and Assessment

First Focus for CVD Work RECOMMENDATIONS

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Research Assessment Programs for Congregations  

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Speak with Disciples of Christ about their New Beginnings Assessment programs Speak with Russell Crabtree, Holy Cow Consulting, about assessment programs

Create assessment program for congregations making critical decisions about future, whether to seek renewal, become legacy congregation or do something radically different. (2013) Expand assessment program into multiple platforms and moments for congregational use. Congregations seeking funding would go through assessment program

Renewing Congregations Several Conferences engaged in renewing and vitality programs  MA, CT, SCNC involved in DOC New Beginnings  ‘From Surviving to Thriving’ program in New Orleans, LCM, WCM, NO Assoc.  Center for Progressive Renewal 

 reNew

Training  Consultants  98 Church Redeveloper Gallup Assessment

Going Forward What’s working to encourage a culture of assessment and renewal in congregations?

Continuing Testament, Extravagant Welcome, Changing Lives