Transforming Congregations Transformed By The Holy Spirit’s Design
By Rev. Kendall M. Taylor,
Executive Director Office of Congregational Transformation (OCT)
The
Florida Conference’s Conference Table meeting Feb. 15 was an
exciting and hope producing time for me and for many others there.
Substantive issues for our ministries of congregational transformation
were discussed. I received many good ideas and heard helpful
perspectives on how we can support the transforming activities of
congregations.
What now? Conference Table attendees received a
document describing how a healthy congregation behaves. The Eight
Characteristics of a Healthy Church from Natural Church Development
(Church Smart Resources) is the core of the document. Some additions
were made that identify particular concerns of the conference’s
Committee on Congregational Transformation. Table attendees also chose
to recommend to the Florida Annual Conference that this become the
conference’s standard for healthiness in congregations. The decision
was made in just a few minutes. There was a unity of mind and Spirit.
Some who had experience in transforming particular churches affirmed
that the eight characteristics described to a “T” what they had
found to be true and indispensable in the process.
Review and become intimately familiar with these
characteristics. Begin to think of your church’s ministries in these
categories. You can find them on the conference Web site ( http://www.flumc.org,
click Congregational Transformation, scroll to the bottom and click
Eight Characteristics).
Continue to read and study. Check the Web site
for books on transformation. Discuss transformation with the key
leaders in your congregation. You will be preparing to launch the
transforming process.
Caution: transformation is not a program, nor
does it come easily or quickly. You are about replacing a system of
congregational life that no longer gives life with a new one that
does. The part that makes us anxious is that there is no blueprint for
the new system. We will discover it in passionately embracing the
mission of making disciples...as the Holy Spirit gives us the design!
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