Turnaround project for congregations moves forward

A project providing assistance for congregations that want to re-energize and grow is moving ahead through the work of three general ministries.

The Hope Partnership for Missional Transformation - the Hope Partnership for short - is a cooperative effort of Church Extension, Disciples Home Missions, and Higher Education and Leadership Ministries that aims to help revitalize congregations and transform their mission through:

• Shifting the congregation's focus from maintaining what already exists into an outreach model extending into the community;

• Training and supporting pastoral leaders, both lay and clergy, who can help congregations make that change;

• Networking those leaders among peers and mentors to help congregations discover and create new ways to jump-start their rebirth;

• Training and an assessment and certification process to pair congregations and leaders, making the most of limited resources and maximizing the potential for a successful turnaround.

"Disciples, like all mainline denominations, face a huge challenge," says HELM President Dennis Landon. "Declining membership and dying churches are symptoms, but the root cause is that we so easily fall into the task of maintaining institutions and asking how we can survive rather than asking what God wants us to do right now to advance the work of Christ. It's an exciting project, and HELM is fully committed to this partnership."

The new initiative has roots in the 2020 Vision, which called on Disciples to revitalize 1,000 congregations by 2020.

Earlier this year, 40 Disciples leaders representing congregations, regional ministers, racial/ethnic constituencies, and general ministries gathered for a three-day conference on congregational revitalization.

The three general ministries involved are already coordinating efforts for the 2011 General Assembly and other programs.

Look for more on this initiative in coming months.