March 29, 2002 Edition

CHURCH DEVELOPMENT

Reflections On New Church Development

By Dr. Montfort C. Duncan Jr. 
Executive Director, Church Development

After reflecting upon the last six years of new church development in the Florida Conference and in the United Methodist Church, there are six understandings that leap out to catch our attention. These were discussed recently at the national gathering of conference church developers.

New church development is on the increase. There has been a significant increase in the number of new churches started. This is fueled by strong support from our [denomination’s] bishop(s), district superintendents and district committees on mission and church extension. Our projections for 2003 are that we will start 11 new congregations in the Florida Conference.

Funds for new church development are up. Many annual conferences are now “getting on board” with the concept of starting new congregations. Our funding for 2003 compared to 2002 will be up by 20.7 percent.

The number of conference staff across the connection responsible for new church development is growing. As bishops and conferences recognize the importance of new churches, they are adding full-time conference staff to develop this vital disciple-making ministry of our church.

There is a shift away from land and to leaders. We used to say, “Location, location, location.” Now we say, “Leadership, leadership, leadership.” Leadership is seen as the key. There is an increase in training events and conference academies of learning to become new church start pastors. The School for Congregational Development sponsored by the Board of Discipleship began in 1996 with 130 people in attendance. In 2001, there were 480 attendees.

Itís not the old days. There is more creative thinking out of the box. Churches and pastors are now willing to risk and change in order to reach unchurched people in their communities. They are exploring new models and methodologies. One of these is going back to a New Testament model—churches starting churches. In the Philippines, every church is expected to start another church. A whole new district was created because each church took this seriously.

New churches cause a ripple effect in the conference. We are seeing that the learnings from new churches are contagious. Existing churches are learning from our new congregations. New hope is now being felt in many of our annual conferences. New churches are being seen as the research and development arm of the conference. Many of our existing churches no longer have the NIMBY effect—“not in my back yard.”

There are more new church starts among people of color. Almost every ethnic group has its own national plan and initiative. One third of new church starts are started among people of color.

Three ingredients are needed for effective church development: a). a conference plan with the marshalling of resources, b). support by the bishops’ priorities, and c). leadership development.

God is moving across the United Methodist Church. The Holy Spirit is infusing pastors and congregations to take risks for the sake of winning new people to Jesus Christ. Your church’s support of the New Church Start apportionment helps make this happen in Florida.

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 © 2002 Florida United Methodist Review Online