| Transforming Congregations Next Steps For Transformation
By Rev. Kendall M. Taylor,
Executive Director Office of Congregational Transformation
 How
is it coming with your review of the eight characteristics of a
healthy congregation and discussions of transformation with the
leaders in your congregation? I pray these pursuits build a sense of
expectation in you that God is inviting us to something that will
literally recast what the Church is and does. As our congregations
transform we will become the centers of personal transformation that
we claim is the consequence of a personal relationship with Jesus.
In my report at this year’s Florida Annual
Conference Event there will be three resolutions for conference
approval: one defining transformation, one defining how a healthy
church looks and acts, [Eight Characteristics], and one establishing
five categories of congregations based on their ministry orientation.
They appear on the Florida Conference Web site at http://www.flumc.org/OCT/index.htm.
Access them; reflect on how they may be used to help congregations
faithfully obey what Jesus commanded and commissioned. Share with me
any responses.
Regarding coaching…We are highly sensitized to
the importance of transformation. I wish I had a clearly defined
program for this, but I don’t—we don’t. Rather than see that as
“problem” see it as beckoning opportunity. We are designing a
system to help congregations take the journey of transformation. Some
need only a nudge and some encouragement. Many others will need a
steady, encouraging, firm hand along the way. Soon we will be training
as many as 25, ultimately as many as 100, talented persons, lay and
clergy, to be coaches for transformation. One or more coaches will be
assigned to each congregation willing to participate sacrificially in
the cost. God is blessing and leading in this enterprise.
Do you like to read? Posted on the Web site is a
list of books that I think have promise for helping us transform. I
need some folks who will read and write a review of one these books.
The reviews will be posted on the Web site, accessible by anyone who
needs help in deciding what books might be helpful for them to read.
If you would like to review a book contact me by e-mail at ktaylor@flumc.org
or by mail at P.O. Box 3767, Lakeland, FL 33802.
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