For Pastors & Churches

Helpful links:

Whom to contact with questions:

  • Need a UMdashboard refresher? Watch this video on UMtube.
  • Questions regarding umcneb.org email account user names and passwords? Contact Jesse Foster at jfoster01@umcneb.org or 402-464-5994, ext. 109.
  • UMdashboard content questions? Contact Kathryn Witte at kwitte@umcneb.org or 402-464-5994, ext. 113.
  • Website questions? Contact Kathryn Witte or Trisha Johnson at tjohnson@umcneb.org or 402-464-5994, ext. 115.
  • Weekly Stats (formerly Weekly Attendance) questions? Contact Carole Otto at cotto@umcneb.org or 402-464-5994, ext. 108.

Call to Action, Vital Congregations website video

The College of Bishops' in their "Call to Action" document and webcast released in April 2011 called for congregations to set goals for ongoing and renewed vitality. A new website, www.umccalltoaction.org, has been created to help congregations set goals and track their progress. In this video, our own Rev. Dr. Jesse Foster offers a "walk through" the website. Note the site provides an array or resources, including  a "Vital Congregations" promotional video, and "Clayride," located under the "Our Story" link, which is a history of The United Methodist Church (this can also be ordered on DVD). The goal is for all congregations to place their discipleship plans on the Vital Congregations website, while measuring success on the VitalSigns website.

Click here to view additional resources on the Vital Congregations resource page.

VitalSigns website

The General Council on Finance and Administration has launched a new website offering the ability for local churches to track major indicators of church health. In addition to attendance, you can keep track of professions of faith, number of people in small groups, number of people involved in mission and outreach, amount given for benevolences and the amount of the weekly offering (see descriptions below).

VitalSigns comes to the pastor or church in the form of a weekly email. The following is included in each email to help prompt the response. Each district is launching into VitalSigns in its own way, however, if you are interested in getting started and have not been contacted by your district superintendent, please do so. You can begin as soon as your district superintendent submits your participation to GCFA. The goal is to have every church up and running on VitalSigns by Feb. 1, 2012. The information captured on the VitgalSigns will be automatically aggregated for your end-of-year statistical table data for 2012. You will still have the opportunity at the end of the year to edit your 2012 final report.  

Total worship attendance at all regularly-held weekly services
Enter here combined attendance at all services held on a weekly basis as the primary opportunity for worship. If the church has worship services attended primarily by persons who do not attend on Sunday morning, attendance at those services should be reported. Count all persons (including children) who participate in part of any of these services.

Total number of persons received into the church by profession of faith
Enter here the number of persons who joined the church this week who have not previously been a member of a church. Do not include persons received into the congregation by transfer.

Total number of persons actively engaged in small groups (count only once)
Enter here the number of persons currently engaged in a small group that is part of the congregation's ministries. Small groups are groups of people who gather together on a regular basis with the goal of becoming more faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, through an intentional process of learning, mutual support and accountability, and/or service to the world.

Total number of persons from the congregation engaged in local, national and international mission/outreach
Enter here the number of persons sent out on behalf of the congregation for ministries intended to transform people in your community, your region, and the world.

The total amount given by local church to other organizations for support of benevolent and charitable ministries
Enter here the amount of funds given by the church to support missions and ministries outside of the church. This includes giving to apportionments, Special Sundays, the Advance, and other United Methodist and non-United Methodist ministries engaged in work to transform the world.

Total offering received this week through pledges and offerings
Enter here the total offerings and pledges received this week to support the ministries of the church. This includes offerings for the regular operating budget of the church, special offerings for particular ministries, capital campaigns, and other forms of designated giving. Do not include receipts from investments, fees for programs such as daycares or after school programs, or fundraisers.

  • Click here to watch the video "Why should we participate in Vital Signs?"
  • Click here to watch the video "Vital Signs — What should I report?"
  • Click here to watch the video "How to enter your church's Vital Signs"