Congregational Vitality and Discipleship Ministries
Purpose, Focus and Partners
CVD Purpose
The CVD purpose statement is based on the UCC Big Inspirational Goals (BIGs) especially #2 & #3
The first part of the purpose is to increase the number as well as the vitality of congregations that are welcoming and accessible to all
The second part of the purpose is to increase UCC congregations that engage/equip members and spiritual seekers to grow in discipleship
This purpose reflects well the shift from MESA of Lay Empowerment and Leadership Development that is now part of CVD ministry
It’s all about nurturing missional discipleship, not only church membership
The purpose includes attention to spiritual seekers, the growing population in our culture
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 Focus for our workIn Order to increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship, we will:
First Focus for our Work
Information and data are resources and tools. Our work begins by first doing the data collection
and research that informs congregational vitality and missional discipleship
Work with Researcher, Research Office and Faith Communities Today (FACT) and MissionInsite to develop yearly reports for congregations on vitality, missional outreach and discipleship formation
Create assessment program for congregations in partnership with conferences
All congregations seeking funding and assistance go through assessment
CVD Focus for our workIn Order to increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship, we will:
Vital Statistics
and Research Reports
on Church Growth
Assessment Program
For Congregations
CVD Focus for our workIn Order to increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship, we will:
Second Focus for our Work
We connect with those places and people where the ‘fire is hot’, ‘where the fruits are present’
We turn web resources like Worship Ways and Sermon Seeds into interactive networks
We attend to constituency building of youth and youth workers, women, young adults, new church planters, missional congregational leaders, I’M churches, Disabilities Ministries Network and more
We engage with PIC and others in creating an online “Church of the Wider Fellowship” reaching spiritual seekers outside of our congregations, but looking for a welcoming spiritual home
CVD Focus for our workIn Order to increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship, we will:
Ecumenical Partners
Church of the Wider Fellowship
Interactive Networks
with Constituencie
s
CVD Focus for our workIn Order to increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship, we will:
Vital Statistics and
Annual Reports on
Church Growth
Assessment Program
For Congregations
Ecumenical Partners
Interactive Networks
with Constituencie
s
Church of the Wider Fellowship
CVD Focus for our workIn Order to increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship, we will:
Third Focus for our Work Through research, data collection,
assessment and networking our deliverable outcomes are best practices, emerging ideas and centers of excellence by practitioners
Congregational Vitality Newsletter becomes an online, weekly best practice resource
Centers of Excellence and all programs create ongoing resources
Best Practices for how to use introduce all websites/resources; Stewardship Annual Theme, STC, Worship Ways, Weekly Seeds, and more
In-Source Church Development thru Center for Progressive Renewal
Uplift Best Practices,
Centers of Excellence
and Emerging Ideas
from Practitioners
CVD Focus for our workIn Order to increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship, we will:
Center for Progressive Renewal
Best Practices, Emerging Ideas,
Websites, Resources, Newsletter
Centers of Excellence, Events
and Programs create
Ongoing Resources
CVD’s Relationship with Center for Progressive RenewalCVD’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.
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
New Church Planter and Renewing PastorAssessment Coaching & TrainingWebinars & CoursesChurch Consultants NewTimes MagazineWork with Conference PartnersFunding for CPRAdvertising for CPRScholarships for Events and Courses
CVD Purpose and Focus – Bigs PictureTo increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship.
CVD Purpose and Focus – BIGs Picture
Vital Statistics
and Research Reports
on Church Growth
Assessment Program
For Congregation
s
Church of the Wider
FellowshipInteractive
Networks with Constituencies
Ecumenical Partners
Center for Progressive Renewal
Centers of Excellence
createOngoing
Resources
Best Practices, Emerging
Ideas Resources
To increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship.