Congregational Development Committee

The Congregational Development Committee will work with Districts within the Nebraska Conference to develop new congregations and restart existing ones as appropriate. New developments will include both self-sustaining and missional congregations in collaboration with the Board of Mission Outreach. The vision of Christian growth where people are in the new millennium will be alive as a basic tenet of our faith.

Goals and Objectives

The Plan of action:

1. Emphasize the importance and critical nature of new congregational development and interpret the plan adopted by the conference.
   
2. Focus development efforts to maximize use of limited resources ... equip the toolkit.
   
3. Emphasize the linkage between vitalization, local church vision and development of new congregations; and, the importance of churches starting churches.
   
4. Support new congregation funding strategy:
   
   
   
   Notes:
   
   
   
   • Work with the Nebraska United Methodist Foundation for assistance in helping fund development work. While no amount is budgeted for Site & Building, the need is great and will have to be attended to by the faithful if we are to successfully begin new congregations. Assistance with the acquisition of future church sites and assistance with first unit construction is a part of a connectional church in action. Also, work with the General Board of Global Ministries for financial assistance in the construction of new churches or their additions.
     
   • Preparing both Clergy and Laity for the work of beginning a new, mission or restart congregation. Establish a Developer Academy in cooperation with other Conferences and other Nebraska Conference boards and agencies that provide the needed tools. Graduates will be recognized by the Annual Conference and placed in a "pool" from which developers are selected. This process will focus on evaluation and selection of a Developer to match the area to be developed.
     
   • Our priority is with developing the people part of Congregational Development.
     
   • Permit the Conference Congregational Development Committee, in consultation with CCOM and CCFA, to move dollars between line Items A thru E within Part IV, provided the total of $210,000 is not exceeded.
     
   • Development of further local support strategies.
     Example: Local Church Sponsorship.
     
   • Outlining a focus on the critical development issues for the Conference and Districts. How does our purpose as a church change with time? Does the purpose change or does the context or presentation of the message change? What is our individual comfort level?
     
   • Work with the Districts in preparing their Development Plans...accountability, sustainability
     
   • Continue approving Revolving Loan Fund requests and monitoring progress.
     
   • Monitor progress of Developing congregations.
     
   • Provide Policies for development accountability.
     
   • Provide demographic data and support through consultations and an "On-line" presence available to both new and existing congregations.