Congregational Vitality and Discipleship Ministries

Purpose, Focus and Partners

CVD Purpose

The CVD purpose statement is based on the UCC Big Inspirational Goals (BIGs) especially #2 & #3

The first part of the purpose is to increase the number as well as the vitality of congregations that are welcoming and accessible to all

The second part of the purpose is to increase UCC congregations that engage/equip members and spiritual seekers to grow in discipleship

This purpose reflects well the shift from MESA of Lay Empowerment and Leadership Development that is now part of CVD ministry

It’s all about nurturing missional discipleship, not only church membership

The purpose includes attention to spiritual seekers, the growing population in our culture

To increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship.

CVD Focus for our workIn Order to increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship, we will:

First Focus for our Work

Information and data are resources and tools. Our work begins by first doing the data collection

and research that informs congregational vitality and missional discipleship

Work with Researcher, Research Office and Faith Communities Today (FACT) and MissionInsite to develop yearly reports for congregations on vitality, missional outreach and discipleship formation

Create assessment program for congregations in partnership with conferences

All congregations seeking funding and assistance go through assessment

CVD Focus for our workIn Order to increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship, we will:

Vital Statistics

and Research Reports

on Church Growth

Assessment Program

For Congregations

CVD Focus for our workIn Order to increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship, we will:

Second Focus for our Work

We connect with those places and people where the ‘fire is hot’, ‘where the fruits are present’

We turn web resources like Worship Ways and Sermon Seeds into interactive networks

We attend to constituency building of youth and youth workers, women, young adults, new church planters, missional congregational leaders, I’M churches, Disabilities Ministries Network and more

We engage with PIC and others in creating an online “Church of the Wider Fellowship” reaching spiritual seekers outside of our congregations, but looking for a welcoming spiritual home

CVD Focus for our workIn Order to increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship, we will:

Ecumenical Partners

Church of the Wider Fellowship

Interactive Networks

with Constituencie

s

CVD Focus for our workIn Order to increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship, we will:

Vital Statistics and

Annual Reports on

Church Growth

Assessment Program

For Congregations

Ecumenical Partners

Interactive Networks

with Constituencie

s

Church of the Wider Fellowship

CVD Focus for our workIn Order to increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship, we will:

Third Focus for our Work Through research, data collection,

assessment and networking our deliverable outcomes are best practices, emerging ideas and centers of excellence by practitioners

Congregational Vitality Newsletter becomes an online, weekly best practice resource

Centers of Excellence and all programs create ongoing resources

Best Practices for how to use introduce all websites/resources; Stewardship Annual Theme, STC, Worship Ways, Weekly Seeds, and more

In-Source Church Development thru Center for Progressive Renewal

Uplift Best Practices,

Centers of Excellence

and Emerging Ideas

from Practitioners

CVD Focus for our workIn Order to increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship, we will:

Center for Progressive Renewal

Best Practices, Emerging Ideas,

Websites, Resources, Newsletter

Centers of Excellence, Events

and Programs create

Ongoing Resources

CVD’s Relationship with Center for Progressive RenewalCVD’s Purpose: To increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship.

CPR’s Purpose: To renew Progressive Christianity by training new entrepreneurial leaders, supporting the birth of new liberal/progressive congregations, and by renewing and strengthening existing progressive churches

New Church Planter and Renewing PastorAssessment Coaching & TrainingWebinars & CoursesChurch Consultants NewTimes MagazineWork with Conference PartnersFunding for CPRAdvertising for CPRScholarships for Events and Courses

CVD Purpose and Focus – Bigs PictureTo increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship.

CVD Purpose and Focus – BIGs Picture

Vital Statistics

and Research Reports

on Church Growth

Assessment Program

For Congregation

s

Church of the Wider

FellowshipInteractive

Networks with Constituencies

Ecumenical Partners

Center for Progressive Renewal

Centers of Excellence

createOngoing

Resources

Best Practices, Emerging

Ideas Resources

To increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers to grow in faith and missional discipleship.