A Campaign for Congregational Vitalityand New Church Development

Campaign Leadership

Rev. Michael C. Murphy, Campaign ChairSenior Minister, Peoples Congregational UCC

Washington, D.C.

Mr. Pierson Kemp, Chair of Leadership Gifts

Campaign Teams in various regions of the Conference to visit with

congregations and invite participation

Statement of Purpose

“The purpose of the Conference in all its elements is to support, challenge and

strengthen local churches, bringing them together in community and mission and

in relation to the larger church and society…”

Looking to the Future

Our diverse heritages are becoming the United Church of Christ, which…

•Listens for the “Still Speaking” God.•Proclaims extravagant welcome.•Seeks diversity and inclusiveness.

These Are New Times

• Churches are seeking renewal & vitality.

• Attendance is strong at workshops on renewal.

“Church in the age of Twitter”

“Seven Secrets of Vital Congregations”

• Interest in exploring new church planting has grown.

• Need for focused efforts in both congregational vitality

and in new church planting

Three Key Strategies 1. Seek interim staff for positions of retiring ACMs and

review and modify shape of position descriptions.

2. Establish partnership with the Center for Progressive Renewal to coach renewing congregations

and assist new church planting.

3. Establish new programming and staff in church vitality and new church development.

Two Exciting Opportunities

• To support programs forcongregational renewal and vitality;

• To plant new congregations in new and changing communities as well as in established ones.

Aim of the New Program

…to work with existing and new congregations to reach out in creative ways, using the “God Is Still Speaking”

initiative to tell the UCC story andinvite seekers into dialogue with

the Christian faith.

Promote VitalityWebinars and Workshops such as the

“Seven Secrets…”

Arrange coaches for renewing churches

Develop vitality programming in the Conference

Focus staff time on renewal programs

Some Renewing Congregations

• Hope UCC – Alexandria, VA

• Stanley Congregational UCC – Chattham, NJ

• Grace UCC – Frederick, MD

•Other congregations are considering next steps

Promote New Church Starts • Actively seek prospective new church planters

• Support discernment and training

• Recruit persons with skills for launch teams

• Secure coaches for church planters

• Assist coordination with Associations

Current New Church Starts

Grace UCC – Flemington, NJAsbury Park Community UCC – NJSix Eight UCC – Baltimore MDNew Covenant UCC – Owings Mill, MDVeritas UCC - Hagerstown, MDCommunity Church of Washington D.C. - (UCC) Safe Harbor UCC – Sussex County, DECommunity Church of All People (UCC) - Reston, VA

Critical Campaign Aims

A. To support programming to promote congregational vitality and renewal

B. To actively start new churches by attracting capable new church planters

and linking them to Associations and the Conference.

A Third Critical Aim

To increase support for Our Church’s Wider Mission so that new staff in vitality and new church development can be sustained beyond 2014.

The guideline for churches is to create a multi-year plan to increase OCWM a specific amount until it equals 10% of the operating budget, i.e. total budget minus benevolences.

Campaign Goals• Raise $300,000 in pledges by June of 2013, to be paid between 2012 and 2013 to support church vitality and new church development.

• To increase Basic Support to Our Church’s Wider Mission to a level that is $125,000 above the current level by the end of 2014.

What Will“New Visions” Support?

• Funding for a new, part-time Conference position focused in new church development and vitality programming with congregations.

• Funds to assist in providing trained coaches for pastors of new church starts.

What Will“New Visions” Support?

• Assistance to congregations in wanting to start vitality programs.

• Leads and contacts for resources and materials

• Development of mutual support and information sharing via social networks and other media.

Campaign Plan

Seek gifts from individuals, including leadership gifts from $1,000 to $10,000.

Invite congregations to adopt a goal for support of the campaign.

Seek grants from grant makers.

Generous Gift Challenge

A challenge grant of $50,000 has been offered to the campaign. If fully

subscribed by December 31, 2012, new gifts and pledges will produce

$100,000 of support for the campaign.

An Invitation

Please consider making a generous a good faith commitment to the

New Visions Campaign.

Commitments may be paid during 2012, 2013 and early 2014

The Time Is Now

…to join together, creating“New Visions" of the “God Is Still

Speaking” spirit through congregational vitality and new church development

in the Central AtlanticConference.

A Campaign for Congregational Vitalityand New Church Development