| New Church Summit report Posted: 02 Sep 2020 12:02 PM PDT New Church Summit convened | | By New Church Ministry staff
On August 19-21, 2020, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) convened a New Church Summit to strategize about the future of the Disciples’ New Church Movement over the coming decade in light of current realities and next normals. This three-day virtual event was hosted by Pastor Terrell L McTyer, Minister of New Church Strategies with New Church Ministry (NCM), and Erick D. ‘Rick’ Reisinger, President of Disciples Church Extension Fund (DCEF). Summit attendees included nearly 90 general ministry leaders, regional ministers, regional new church team leaders, church planters, seminary leaders, and representatives from various demographic and church planting initiatives.
After welcoming those assembled, Pastor Terrell introduced General Minister and President Terri Hord Owens who opened the summit with scripture and prayer. She quoted from Isaiah 43:19 saying, in part, “I am doing a new thing” and urged all attendees to move beyond the familiar, citing the need of the Church to re-imagine itself. “Now is the time to pivot and evolve,” she said, “to insure the New Church Movement remains a denomination-wide tool that all Disciples can connect with to support new faith communities.” Terri then referenced the Preamble of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), before stating that “Hope” (for the Summit) “is on fire as long as there is openness to what God is saying.” | | One more thing to wrap up #DOCjustsummer: Advocacy Toolkit
Hopefully you found a justice ministry this summer that piqued your interest. (Review stories linked from this page.) Well, there's something more you can do and do it right now! Many legislators are listening more closely to their constituents in this election season so it's your opportunity to bring up what matters to you in a virtual legislative visit. You can find out how to make effective visits with this advocacy tool kit that includes a video from our Disciples in Washington who are well-practiced. | | Grow your compassion A global pandemic means that people are in need close to home and around the world. Disciples want to know how to help.
Through Week of Compassion, your congregation can support local and global ministries that are meeting needs and changing lives. Read more about Week of Compassion's COVID-19 Response. We invite you to "Grow Your Compassion," as we receive a designated offering for COVID-19 relief. The gifts that your church shares through this response will extend your mission capacity far beyond the church building, and even beyond your local community. On our website, you will find videos, mission moments, worship resources, children’s activities, sample social media posts and more. During this time when worship has been modified, we’ve made these resources easy to “plug and play” for your remote gatherings. We’re also using a new mobile giving platform that will allow members to easily text their gifts from their phone in just a few clicks. You can create your own "fundraiser page," or even create a team page for a congregation with customizable goals, unique text codes, and more. The needs of our neighbors are great right now, but we are disciples, and our compassion is even greater. Join us as we share the love of Christ--close to home, and around the world. | | | | LTS offers new certificate program
To accommodate busy schedules, students attend synchronous courses online (via Zoom) as well as four-day, in-person intensive courses* at Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington, KY, in the summer (these in-person gatherings are dependent upon changing circumstances pertaining to the COVID 19 pandemic). Upon successful completion of all 12 courses, students earn the Certificate in African American Ministry or they may apply them as continuing education (CEU) credits. | | | | Church the new way
Leadership Academy gathers Disciples every fall to share leadership experiences, wisdom, and training. This year, they can still expect to learn together, and for the first time, register core teams of up to five people for $500. (We encourage the lead pastor to register for everyone.) From Sept. 29 to Oct.1 (11AM to 6PM EST), New Church Ministry will host a virtual Academy featuring Start and Sustain Tracks to empower leaders, DOCTalks to address missional transformation, and LEADLabs to help leaders with missional concepts. Speakers include: - Rev. Terri Hord Owens, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She is sought after as a preacher, speaker, and workshop facilitator.
- Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija, Founding Director of TryTank, a laboratory for church growth and innovation. He speaks to groups about development, community involvement, the arts, business strategy, and marketing.
- Christiana Rice, Director of the Parish Collective. She is a trainer, writer, and convener, helping to reorganize the church around God’s dreams in the neighborhood.
- Tim Soerens, pastor, social entrepreneur, and co-founding Director of the Parish Collective. He is the author of Everywhere You Look: Discovering the Church, Right Where You Are, and the co-author of The New Parish.
| Next Ministries Across Generations Virtual Zoom Gatherings September 14 (2nd Monday due to Labor Day), October 5, November 2, and December 7
Linda Staats has a Masters degree in Human Development and the Family from the University of Nebraska, and minor degrees in Child Development and Gerontology, Linda brings a life-span approach to congregational ministry. She is known for the ability to combine research, resources, and theology and for connecting people’s own holy stories with God’s stories. The process of networking and facilitating groups, small or large, is life giving. My greatest joy is bringing people of all ages, 3-103, together for meaningful interaction. | | Additional resources and opportunities
Disciples Family Faith at Home We are giving you a chance to reorder the Faith at Home parables to use this fall with your families at home. Each story is $10. Extra printouts can be found here. Each story will include cut-outs, felt, and printouts for families to engage in story, scripture, prayer, wondering questions, and worship at home. (As you prepare for Advent, we will be offering at home faith stories too!) The Good Shepherd The Good Shepherd and the Lost Sheep The Mustard Seed The Sower The Great Feast The Good Samaritan The Prodigal Son
| | | | Apply for a grant with the National Benevolent Association
The National Benevolent Association is currently running two grant programs. We invite disciples-affiliated organizations whose ministries have been detrimentally impacted by COVID-19 to apply for a COVID-19 NBA Response Grant. This grant was created to support new and changing projects created in service to those suffering because of the pandemic. Applications for this grant are rolling. | | | | You count!
Future planning by governments, nonprofits and others is directly affected by the numbers from the census, so in spite of the pandemic and because of the inequities in how communities are resourced, General Minister and President Rev. Teresa Hord Owens reminds us that 2020 is a census year in the United States. Fill out the quick form at 2020census.gov to make a difference for your community for the next 10 years!
| | | | Explore the enneagram with eight hacks
The Enneagram, a theory that argues nine different personality types exist, has experienced a surge in popularity among Christians. It’s time to discover why the Enneagram is an effective tool to implement within organizations, ministries, and workplaces, and why using it within your church can improve the quality of communication among your team members.
- Apply the principles to your personal and spiritual growth
- Strengthen successful relationships at home, at church, and in the community
- Develop leaders, build teams, and enhance communication skills
- Integrate into your Bible studies, therapy sessions, retreats, and individual spiritual practice
Hosted by Terrell McTyer (Minister of New Church Strategies), New Church Hacks provides practical prompts for churches from start to restart. This free webinar series is jam-packed with clever solutions to tricky problems and empowers courageous leaders with the tools, tips and how-tos to start, sustain, and strengthen congregations. | | | | Meet our 2020 NBA SENT Seminar Speakers!
Each year, the National Benevolent Association’s Incubate initiative hosts the SENT Seminar. This seminar equips Social ENTrepreneurs with the tools they need to run successful nonprofit organizations and other social enterprises.
The NBA is grateful for our lineup of esteemed presenters who will share their knowledge with our SENT participants this year. Due to the global health crisis, our annual SENT Seminar will happen virtually. We invite Disciples-affiliated leaders and leadership teams who are starting new health and social services ministries to register for this powerful three-day event. | | | | Help get out the vote!
On Aug. 13, Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner did a Disciple-specific webinar to support efforts for TurnOut Sunday. The National African American Clergy Network and Lawyers and Collars teamed up to provide the resources.
| | COVID-19 resources available
The Office of the General Minister and President has compiled a collection of resources and statements from Church leadership in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are updating this page with more resources as available.
| | More opportunities to put ministry into action
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