Living the Witness and Welcome Stillspeaking Workshop The Rev. Felix Carrion February 5, 2011.

Living the Witness and Living the Witness and WelcomeWelcome

Stillspeaking WorkshopStillspeaking Workshop

The Rev. Felix CarrionThe Rev. Felix Carrion

February 5, 2011February 5, 2011

John 1:46John 1:46

Nathaniel said to him, “Can anything Nathaniel said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Phillip good come out of Nazareth?” Phillip said to him, “Come and see”.said to him, “Come and see”.

PurposePurpose

What are the opportunities, challenges What are the opportunities, challenges and joys of “marketing” your church?and joys of “marketing” your church?

Has your church embraced the Has your church embraced the Stillspeaking identity?Stillspeaking identity?

Does it embrace the message but fear Does it embrace the message but fear the methods?the methods?

Is your church energized to spread the Is your church energized to spread the good news about your church good news about your church community?community?

Toward a Unified Case Toward a Unified Case StatementStatement

Who are we? Who are we? We are the United Church of Christ, We are the United Church of Christ,

where God is Still Speaking,where God is Still Speaking,How are we distinctive?How are we distinctive?““The United Church of Christ is The United Church of Christ is

distinctive because of its emphasis distinctive because of its emphasis on God’s continuing testament in the on God’s continuing testament in the world, the extravagant welcome of world, the extravagant welcome of our churches, and changing lives.”our churches, and changing lives.”

The Distinctiveness of the UCCThe Distinctiveness of the UCC

Continuing TestamentContinuing Testament Extravagant WelcomeExtravagant Welcome Changing LivesChanging Lives

Continuing TestamentContinuing Testament: : “Our faith is 2000 “Our faith is 2000 years old. Our thinking is not.”years old. Our thinking is not.”

Because we believe in continuing testament, Because we believe in continuing testament, we are attentive to God’s creative we are attentive to God’s creative movement in the world. movement in the world.

Because we believe in continuing testament, Because we believe in continuing testament, we prepare leaders who are open to and we prepare leaders who are open to and prepared for ministry in the present and prepared for ministry in the present and future church.future church.

Because we believe in continuing testament, Because we believe in continuing testament, we embrace and equip new kinds of we embrace and equip new kinds of congregations and new modes of leadership.congregations and new modes of leadership.

Extravagant WelcomeExtravagant Welcome: : “No matter who you “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are are or where you are on life’s journey, you are

welcome here.”welcome here.” Because we believe in extravagant welcome, we Because we believe in extravagant welcome, we

insist that God’s table is open, not closed, and insist that God’s table is open, not closed, and God’s gift and claim in baptism are irrevocable.God’s gift and claim in baptism are irrevocable.

Because we believe in extravagant welcome, we Because we believe in extravagant welcome, we advocate justice for all.advocate justice for all.

Because we believe in extravagant welcome, we Because we believe in extravagant welcome, we help congregations to extend hospitality in help congregations to extend hospitality in practical ways. practical ways.

Because we believe in extravagant welcome, we Because we believe in extravagant welcome, we teach that evangelism is mission.teach that evangelism is mission.

Because we believe in extravagant welcome, our Because we believe in extravagant welcome, our perspective must be global.perspective must be global.

Because we believe in extravagant welcome, we Because we believe in extravagant welcome, we are a united and uniting church. are a united and uniting church.

Changing LivesChanging Lives: : “Never place a period where “Never place a period where God has placed a comma.”God has placed a comma.”

Because we believe in transformation, we Because we believe in transformation, we believe the church’s mission is changing believe the church’s mission is changing lives – individually, systemically and lives – individually, systemically and globally.globally.

Because we believe in transformation, we Because we believe in transformation, we believe that churches must be vital places believe that churches must be vital places of worship, learning and justice advocacy.of worship, learning and justice advocacy.

Because we believe in transformation, we Because we believe in transformation, we change lives by advocating for justice. change lives by advocating for justice.

Because we believe in transformation, we Because we believe in transformation, we believe that lives are changed through believe that lives are changed through global partnerships and experiences.global partnerships and experiences.

What matters to you? Matter to What matters to you? Matter to UsUs

Engaging Six Vital Themes Engaging Six Vital Themes of our Faithof our FaithWe are a people of God’s extravagant We are a people of God’s extravagant

welcomewelcome

We belong to ChristWe belong to Christ

We are a people of covenant, a United and We are a people of covenant, a United and Uniting ChurchUniting Church

We are one at Baptism and at the TableWe are one at Baptism and at the Table

We thank God by working for a Just and We thank God by working for a Just and loving Worldloving World

We listen for the Stillspeaking GodWe listen for the Stillspeaking God

Values, Vision, VoiceValues, Vision, Voice

We embrace our valuesWe embrace our values

We make plain our VisionWe make plain our Vision

We give Voice to our Values and We give Voice to our Values and VisionVision

Stillspeaking National Stillspeaking National Friend-raising Friend-raising

WeekendWeekend

What about on Pentecost What about on Pentecost SundaySunday

Uniquely UCCUniquely UCC

Called “Uniquely UCC,” the new 60-Called “Uniquely UCC,” the new 60-second video commercial introduced second video commercial introduced

people to the distinctive qualities of the people to the distinctive qualities of the United Church of Christ — continuing United Church of Christ — continuing testament, extravagant welcome and testament, extravagant welcome and changing lives. Beautiful video, music changing lives. Beautiful video, music and narration served as an enticing and narration served as an enticing

invitation for you to share with potential invitation for you to share with potential visitors. The message also was helpful visitors. The message also was helpful

for existing members to shape the ways for existing members to shape the ways they understand and talk about the they understand and talk about the

UCC’s distinctive witness in the religious UCC’s distinctive witness in the religious marketplace of diverse views and marketplace of diverse views and

values. values.

What are the details surrounding What are the details surrounding Stillspeaking’s National Friend-Stillspeaking’s National Friend-

Raising Raising

Begin asking your church’s members to start Begin asking your church’s members to start thinking about who they will invite to come with thinking about who they will invite to come with them. Promote the date every Sunday between them. Promote the date every Sunday between now and then. Don’t underestimate the power now and then. Don’t underestimate the power

of individual invitation!of individual invitation!

Encourage members to use the viral video Encourage members to use the viral video messages the “Language of God” and “Uniquely messages the “Language of God” and “Uniquely

UCC” as a tool for inviting people to come to UCC” as a tool for inviting people to come to your church on. When posting or forwarding the your church on. When posting or forwarding the

video, personalize with a specific ask that video, personalize with a specific ask that people join you at a particular UCC church or people join you at a particular UCC church or

find one near them at find one near them at www.ucc.orgwww.ucc.org/find/find..