The State of SBC21-An Annual Overview for 2010

THESTATE

OF

AN ANNUAL OVERVIEW

P.O. Box 340003 | Nashville, TN 37203-0003 | Toll 877.899.2780 Ext .1722www.sbc21.org

Untitled-1, Spread 1 of 4 - Pages (1, 2) 3/1/10 3:55 PM

Welcome to the first ever Partnership Summit hosted by SBC21. The next few days are designed to

impart information, network and strategically engage in discussions around how SBC21 can be more

efficient and effective to provide dynamic training and developing resource materials for equipping of

clergy and lay members of Partner Congregations.

One of my greatest joys as Chair of Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century (SBC 21) is

taking an annual inventory of our progress over the past year. SBC21 is showing many signs of health and

achievement. Throughout this report you will see examples including a wide selection of CRC training

events that are sound and culturally relevant and feature components that identify with African Ameri-

can styles of worship, music, Christian education, and witness, as well as provide services that will help

churches, individuals, and communities engage in a life-transforming love affair with God, with God’s

people, and with God’s Word:

What do the members and friends of The United Methodist Church see when they look at SBC 21?

For those of us who are responsible for communicating the SBC 21 story, we would like them to see us as

an important partner of their churches in making a greater witness for Christ-a partner on the frontier of

mission, discipleship and evangelism, and a partner at the local level of day-to-day community outreach

and service. This is the way we see you and your churches. We value every member of the denomina-

tion as an indispensable partner in ministry for serving Partner Congregations, the United Method-

ist Church, the wider Christian community, and all seekers by providing quality training, services and

resources that help them to know and to love God through Jesus Christ, and to serve God and neighbor.

We’ve said it before but never too often: There are thirty-three Coordinating Committee members,

eighteen Congregation Resource Centers (CRCs), and staff who invest enthusiastically and skillfully

in advancing our mission. They bring keen intellectual insights, passionate commitment for making

disciples of Jesus Christ, ingenuity, specialized skills, and the determination to help the United Methodist

Church thrive.

So with grateful hearts and appreciation of our partnership with you, may God continue to call us,

challenge us, guide us, love us, and sustain us as we together build a future that honors God and the

dignity and potential of all God’s people.

Enjoy the Summit and I look forward to visiting with you during your stay.

Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe

SBC21 Chairman

• Lake Junaluska (Traveling CRC): Music Explo! African American Music and Worship enabled Partner Congregation participants to recapture and rekindle an appreciation for the inspir-ing legacy of black church music; learn the effective use of cur-rent trends in African American church music in worship services; discover through music ways to reach all age level groups in the community with the message of Jesus Christ, especially youth and young adults; gain exposure to new resources for creating more vibrant worship experiences; learn ways to prevent divisiveness that can come along with introducing new ideas.

• The North Alabama Annual Conference “Effective Lead-ership For Church Growth”: Effective Leadership for Church Growth; Effective Leadership for Empowering a New Generation of Christians; Effective Leadership for Congregational Renewal and Church Growth; Effective Leadership for “Real Church” in Urban Ministry; Effective Leadership through the Change Process and Vi-sioning; and Effective Leadership for Reaching and Touching Secular People

• The St. Mark UMC (Chicago) “A Traditional Church with Innovative Ministries”: Sharing the Vision/Building the Team. Effective working relationships between pastors, the Staff Parish Relations Committee, and other key leaders in the church; Embrac-ing Musical Diversity. Avoiding battles between the “senior choir” and the “futuristic praise ensemble”; If David Danced, Why Can’t We. Establishing an effective liturgical dance ministry; The Church of the Future, Right Now. Incorporating intergenerational gifts and participation throughout the life and ministry of the church; Ministry of the Body. Martial Arts ministry; To Inherit the King-dom. Christian Education including how to select Sunday School curriculum; God’s Table. A lay visitation ministry which can extend

the Lord’s Table to every member; If You’re On a Mission, Get Moving. Learn ways to energize your service through evangelism, mission and outreach; Star Tech. Learn technology skills, including developing and maintaining a website, using email, audio/visual, camera/video, and sound systems; Telling the Story to Every-body. How to develop creative newsletters and church bulletins.

• St. Luke “Community” UMC (Dallas) “Leadership Institute”: Evangelism. Starting a second campus - “One church in many loca-tions”; Open hearts and open doors: developing radical hospitality, reaching out beyond “bring a friend”, it’s “bring your opposite” and expose them to our faith. Learn to welcome visitors without giving suspicion and to challenge your congregation to practice the great commission; Planting a New Church - Gain the essentials of starting a new church. Worship. Planning dynamic and transfor-mational worship; Dance before the Lord (sacred dance). Learn how to develop and grow a sacred dance ministry, incorporate it into worship, and use it as an effective way to communicate the gospel and lead the church in worship; Making a joyful noise-for a dynamic music ministry - Reach a higher praise in worship. Learn the styles, tempos and rhythms that lift your worship experience to greater heights. Go beyond replaying what is heard in the media and change hearts and minds with music that reaches the soul. Living the Lord’s Prayer: An Effective Prayer Ministry. Learn the key ingredients for authentic Christian living as opposed to half measures, prayer is integral to our faith; Multimedia Worship Learn about the riches of modern computing within the worship experience, and learn how to set-up and maintain a system for any sized church; Developing Effective Leadership; Small Number but Effective in Ministry. The ministry of small membership in rural churches - obtain skills and techniques to solve traditionally challenging problems associated with having very limited resources.


The On-line Learning Portal introduced by SBC21 during last falls annual orientation and training will have a soft launch this March 2010, with at least 25 learning titles available by April 30, 2010.

The SBC21 Learning Portal is a website designed to pro-vide real-time resources to Partner Churches and CRC¹s.

The goal of the portal is to foster a community of shared resources and learning opportunities for congregations that have traditionally missed the content if they did not attend a training event. The portal uses video and multi-media presentation to deliver content that is relevant and engaging to individuals and groups.

The benefits are endless, as the training materials done at actual events will live beyond the CRC training events. This content will remain on the portal and will be avail-able as long as the content is relevant.

So, if you can¹t make a CRC training event now worries because this tool will allow church who cannot attend live events the opportunity to still experience the key concepts and learning objectives that were taught at the live events.

On behalf of the leadership of SBC21, it gives me great pleasure to extend warm greetings to the

participants of the first-ever SBC21 Summit on Partnerships. This program booklet also serves as the

annual overview of the work of SBC21.

Strengthening the Black for the 21st Century is a ministry of hope, and the last thing I want to do

is lend aid and comfort to those who have already given up on the future of the Black Church.

For the reasons I have mentioned before, the theme of partnership and collaboration is a clarion

call to The United Methodist Church as to how we must carry the adventure and celebration of the

future of God into our preaching, discipleship, evangelism, leadership development and into our very

own lifestyles. There is absolutely no way we can begin incarnating the future intentions of God into

our everyday lives alone. Our only hope to realize transformation and significant change is to become

a part of a Christian movement and a community of loving relationships. Only as we commit our lives

to other brothers and sisters who share our sense of seriousness for the mission of God can we become

different or make a difference.

God calls us to hope and to action. Our hope is based on the biblical reality that God is alive and

well and is the Lord of history-that God is working to bring his new future and the new future of the

Black Church into being. Our action is made possible by the power of God’s Spirit working through

our lives to change the world.

A glimpse of this will be evident during the first-ever SBC21 National Summit March 5 – 6, 2010

where the theme is Conspiracy of Black Mustard Seed Churches. More than 110 delegates have come

to ensure that this conspiracy will not fail. In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the conspiracy

has already conquered the world and is ushering in a new age of God and thus the transformation,

growth and revitalization of existing black churches and the cultivation of new places for new people.

SBC21 has stood the test of time as an initiative. And in this overview, you will briefly see our

recap over the year that provides you with the expectation that the best is yet to come!

Enjoy the summit and we anticipate partnering with you to help grow Mustard Seed Churches.

Shalom

Rev. Dr. Fred Allen

SBC21 National Director

◆ To clearly define description of your program ob jectives and imp lement strateg ies of

SBC21 and thus confirm your com m itment to partner w ith SBC21

◆ To enhance and strengthen co llaborations between SBC21 and Annua l Conferences v ia

the ir Connectiona l M in istries, and other appropriate annua l conference

entities such as B ishop¹s Cab inets

◆ To serve as lia ison and linkage between SBC21 and annua l conference constituencies;

and to prov ide counse l and feedback about programs and pro jects to the nationa l office

of SBC21.

◆ To exp lore new program parad igms and structure for imp lementing SBC21 tra in ing

events w ith in Annua l Conferences.

◆ To he lp promote , interpret and recru it loca l congregations to enro ll as Congregation

Resource Centers and Partner Congregations; and to support SBC21 personne l

includ ing the Coord inating Com m ittee w ith ach iev ing its goa ls and ob jectives.

◆ To suggest personne l, broad ly defined , for consideration by SBC21 for both pa id and

vo lunteer positions, includ ing Coord inating Com m ittee members.

◆ To articu late , interpret and promote the merits of prov id ing consistent financia l support

toward advancing SBC21, both nationa lly and internationa lly.


The people of the United Meth-odist Church from coast to coast have collectively responded to the great tragedy that left thousands of people dead in Haiti. Their deeds have been through prayer and action. The Congregation Re-source Centers of Strengthening the Black Church for the 21stCentury are no different these Centers have responded and continue to pledge their long-term commitment to rebuilding Haiti and the lives of its citizens.

Saint Mark WichitaSaint Mark Wichita donated money to the UMCOR relief ef-forts, collected and assembled re-lief kits. The youth and single¹s ministry have also involvedthemselves in packing food with Humana. The youth of Saint Mark also announced that they will host a conference wide youth rally on April 10, 2010 which will allow youth from the Wichita East District to pack food tobe sent to Haiti.

St. Mark ChicagoAccording to Jon E. McCoy, Senior Pastor of St. Mark Chi-cago, the congregation collected disaster kits and donated more than $9,000 to the ongoing relief efforts.

St. James UMC Kansas City they have collected $14,000 and have collected 1000 care kits.

At Emory United Methodist Church, we were able to raise $4,500.00 for UMCOR relief efforts for Haiti, said Pastor Joe Daniels. In addition, our UnitedMethodist Women are preparing health kits for relief. We are also providing spiritual and emotional support to two of our members who are Haitian and who have families in Haiti who can’t get out. Family members have beeninjured but reports are that there injuries are not life threatening.

Ashbury United Methodist Church Adult Bible Class in Brandywine,

Maryland spent one of their bible study classes to assemble more than a dozen health kits for Haiti.

This only represents a few of the CRCs and their efforts on leading the way to rebuild Haiti. Look for a full report of the CRCs and Partner Congregation in the SBC21 Annual Report.

SBC21 Churches supports Haitirelief effort

▲

“Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it

springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:18,19 NRSV)

It is with excitement and great anticipation as SBC21 moves into the newness that God

has so graciously laid before us. Since its inception, SBC21 has evolved through the years. And

now, with the leadership of our NationalDirector, Rev. Dr. Fred Allen we journey into new

vision, new hope, and new restoration. The Program Committee, along with the Coordinating

Committee, gives thanks to God for this freshness in leadership with Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe

and Dr. Allen.

God’s promise of a new thing! Through the direction and guidance of National Director Dr.

Allen a vibrant and informative training event was provided to our Congregation Resource

Centers in Nashville, Tennessee. Eighteen churches; rural, urban, and suburban churches

joined together with praise to God committing their support to equip and train our sister

churches. This proves God moves when we work together. The Program Committee expresses

thanks to all of our Congregation Resource Centers.

God’s promise of a new thing! Excitement fills the air as the Program Committee support

and assists Dr. Allen in preparation for our first National Summit with SBC21 and Conference

Connectional Ministries in North Charleston, South Carolina. As a community of faith we

will unite as one in voice and purpose, as together, we envision God’s future for our African

American churches making disciples for the transformation of the world.

God’s promise of a new thing! A new paradigm is before us, a new strategy is among us,

and a new hope has engulfed us. Consumed with fire we witness the work of God revitalizing,

transitioning, and transforming Black churches for the spiritual awakening that takes place

daily in our communities.

We thank God for this “new thing!”

Rev. Rose M. Booker-Jones

Progam Director



1. The SBC 21 Academy of Interns: Project OverviewThe program will provide an infrastructure designed to expose potential rising ministers to a full complement of experiences that will provide him/her with the skills and competencies needed to revitalize, establish or maintain a vital congregation. The program will also outline a new paradigm of training for SBC21’s two year, Academy of Interns, that will prepare rising ministers for assignment to a church within the Path1 initiative or other churches in need.

Purpose SBC21 is seeking to develop the next generation of African American leadership in the United Methodist Church. SBC21 has decided to implement an Academy of Interns (AOI) that will serve as a platform and support structure for developing these young leaders. Expected ResultsAfter successful implementation of this program a short term and long term tactical track will develop a partnership between SBC 21, Annual Conference Cabinets, Boards of Ordained Ministries, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM), General Board of Discipleship (GDOD/Path 1), Seminaries and Wesley Foundations to enhance the efforts of the General Church in identifying and supporting a continuous stream of potentially high performing black clergy leaders for Congrega-tion Resource Center placement and ultimately strategic ap-pointments to assist in the transformation and revitalization of existing predominately black congregations.

2. Learning Portal Technology: Will provide a variety of massive content and track training for CRCs, PCs, the Academy of Interns, SBC 21 Coordinat-ing Committee and others. This portal is integral to the overall CRC and AOI strategy that afford essential ministry tools, enabling us to participate in all kinds of new forms of ministry and spiritual growth.

2010 Programs to be launched

Several teams of youth gathered in Los Angeles to learn how to create short prayer videos to broadcast to the world through the internet.

SBC21 sponsored two youth and one young adult to accomplish this task.


Congregation Resource Centers have trained thirty-three Partner Congregations, and in partnership with the North Alabama Annual

Conference where more than two hundred lay and clergy participated. A total of 550 lay and clergy persons have been trained by SBC 21. At a recent gathering the pastor of a small congregation pulled Dr. Fred Allen, National Director of SBC 21 aside. She wanted him to be sure he grasped what she was saying and would tell others. “I’m not sure you folks really realize how absolutely dependent I am on you for the things I need in my church.”

She cited examples of training events she had participated in focusing on: a) vibrant and variety worship; b) leadership development; c) faith formation; d) mission and outreach; and e) planning and administration that are

real life practical tools for everyday ministry “on the ground.” She added, “the training and materials gave us credible ways to teach and pastor, I want your board to know how important and useful the training events you provide are to me.”


Congregation Resource Centers have trained thirty-three Partner Congregations, and in partnership with the North Alabama Annual

Conference where more than two hundred lay and clergy participated. A total of 550 lay and clergy persons have been trained by SBC 21. At a recent gathering the pastor of a small congregation pulled Dr. Fred Allen, National Director of SBC 21 aside. She wanted him to be sure he grasped what she was saying and would tell others. “I’m not sure you folks really realize how absolutely dependent I am on you for the things I need in my church.”

She cited examples of training events she had participated in focusing on: a) vibrant and variety worship; b) leadership development; c) faith formation; d) mission and outreach; and e) planning and administration that are

real life practical tools for everyday ministry “on the ground.” She added, “the training and materials gave us credible ways to teach and pastor, I want your board to know how important and useful the training events you provide are to me.”


1. The SBC 21 Academy of Interns: Project OverviewThe program will provide an infrastructure designed to expose potential rising ministers to a full complement of experiences that will provide him/her with the skills and competencies needed to revitalize, establish or maintain a vital congregation. The program will also outline a new paradigm of training for SBC21’s two year, Academy of Interns, that will prepare rising ministers for assignment to a church within the Path1 initiative or other churches in need.

Purpose SBC21 is seeking to develop the next generation of African American leadership in the United Methodist Church. SBC21 has decided to implement an Academy of Interns (AOI) that will serve as a platform and support structure for developing these young leaders. Expected ResultsAfter successful implementation of this program a short term and long term tactical track will develop a partnership between SBC 21, Annual Conference Cabinets, Boards of Ordained Ministries, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM), General Board of Discipleship (GDOD/Path 1), Seminaries and Wesley Foundations to enhance the efforts of the General Church in identifying and supporting a continuous stream of potentially high performing black clergy leaders for Congrega-tion Resource Center placement and ultimately strategic ap-pointments to assist in the transformation and revitalization of existing predominately black congregations.

2. Learning Portal Technology: Will provide a variety of massive content and track training for CRCs, PCs, the Academy of Interns, SBC 21 Coordinat-ing Committee and others. This portal is integral to the overall CRC and AOI strategy that afford essential ministry tools, enabling us to participate in all kinds of new forms of ministry and spiritual growth.

2010 Programs to be launched

Several teams of youth gathered in Los Angeles to learn how to create short prayer videos to broadcast to the world through the internet.

SBC21 sponsored two youth and one young adult to accomplish this task.

The people of the United Meth-odist Church from coast to coast have collectively responded to the great tragedy that left thousands of people dead in Haiti. Their deeds have been through prayer and action. The Congregation Re-source Centers of Strengthening the Black Church for the 21stCentury are no different these Centers have responded and continue to pledge their long-term commitment to rebuilding Haiti and the lives of its citizens.

Saint Mark WichitaSaint Mark Wichita donated money to the UMCOR relief ef-forts, collected and assembled re-lief kits. The youth and single¹s ministry have also involvedthemselves in packing food with Humana. The youth of Saint Mark also announced that they will host a conference wide youth rally on April 10, 2010 which will allow youth from the Wichita East District to pack food tobe sent to Haiti.

St. Mark ChicagoAccording to Jon E. McCoy, Senior Pastor of St. Mark Chi-cago, the congregation collected disaster kits and donated more than $9,000 to the ongoing relief efforts.

St. James UMC Kansas City they have collected $14,000 and have collected 1000 care kits.

At Emory United Methodist Church, we were able to raise $4,500.00 for UMCOR relief efforts for Haiti, said Pastor Joe Daniels. In addition, our UnitedMethodist Women are preparing health kits for relief. We are also providing spiritual and emotional support to two of our members who are Haitian and who have families in Haiti who can’t get out. Family members have beeninjured but reports are that there injuries are not life threatening.

Ashbury United Methodist Church Adult Bible Class in Brandywine,

Maryland spent one of their bible study classes to assemble more than a dozen health kits for Haiti.

This only represents a few of the CRCs and their efforts on leading the way to rebuild Haiti. Look for a full report of the CRCs and Partner Congregation in the SBC21 Annual Report.

SBC21 Churches supports Haitirelief effort

▲

“Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it

springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:18,19 NRSV)

It is with excitement and great anticipation as SBC21 moves into the newness that God

has so graciously laid before us. Since its inception, SBC21 has evolved through the years. And

now, with the leadership of our NationalDirector, Rev. Dr. Fred Allen we journey into new

vision, new hope, and new restoration. The Program Committee, along with the Coordinating

Committee, gives thanks to God for this freshness in leadership with Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe

and Dr. Allen.

God’s promise of a new thing! Through the direction and guidance of National Director Dr.

Allen a vibrant and informative training event was provided to our Congregation Resource

Centers in Nashville, Tennessee. Eighteen churches; rural, urban, and suburban churches

joined together with praise to God committing their support to equip and train our sister

churches. This proves God moves when we work together. The Program Committee expresses

thanks to all of our Congregation Resource Centers.

God’s promise of a new thing! Excitement fills the air as the Program Committee support

and assists Dr. Allen in preparation for our first National Summit with SBC21 and Conference

Connectional Ministries in North Charleston, South Carolina. As a community of faith we

will unite as one in voice and purpose, as together, we envision God’s future for our African

American churches making disciples for the transformation of the world.

God’s promise of a new thing! A new paradigm is before us, a new strategy is among us,

and a new hope has engulfed us. Consumed with fire we witness the work of God revitalizing,

transitioning, and transforming Black churches for the spiritual awakening that takes place

daily in our communities.

We thank God for this “new thing!”

Rev. Rose M. Booker-Jones

Progam Director


The On-line Learning Portal introduced by SBC21 during last falls annual orientation and training will have a soft launch this March 2010, with at least 25 learning titles available by April 30, 2010.

The SBC21 Learning Portal is a website designed to pro-vide real-time resources to Partner Churches and CRC¹s.

The goal of the portal is to foster a community of shared resources and learning opportunities for congregations that have traditionally missed the content if they did not attend a training event. The portal uses video and multi-media presentation to deliver content that is relevant and engaging to individuals and groups.

The benefits are endless, as the training materials done at actual events will live beyond the CRC training events. This content will remain on the portal and will be avail-able as long as the content is relevant.

So, if you can¹t make a CRC training event now worries because this tool will allow church who cannot attend live events the opportunity to still experience the key concepts and learning objectives that were taught at the live events.

On behalf of the leadership of SBC21, it gives me great pleasure to extend warm greetings to the

participants of the first-ever SBC21 Summit on Partnerships. This program booklet also serves as the

annual overview of the work of SBC21.

Strengthening the Black for the 21st Century is a ministry of hope, and the last thing I want to do

is lend aid and comfort to those who have already given up on the future of the Black Church.

For the reasons I have mentioned before, the theme of partnership and collaboration is a clarion

call to The United Methodist Church as to how we must carry the adventure and celebration of the

future of God into our preaching, discipleship, evangelism, leadership development and into our very

own lifestyles. There is absolutely no way we can begin incarnating the future intentions of God into

our everyday lives alone. Our only hope to realize transformation and significant change is to become

a part of a Christian movement and a community of loving relationships. Only as we commit our lives

to other brothers and sisters who share our sense of seriousness for the mission of God can we become

different or make a difference.

God calls us to hope and to action. Our hope is based on the biblical reality that God is alive and

well and is the Lord of history-that God is working to bring his new future and the new future of the

Black Church into being. Our action is made possible by the power of God’s Spirit working through

our lives to change the world.

A glimpse of this will be evident during the first-ever SBC21 National Summit March 5 – 6, 2010

where the theme is Conspiracy of Black Mustard Seed Churches. More than 110 delegates have come

to ensure that this conspiracy will not fail. In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the conspiracy

has already conquered the world and is ushering in a new age of God and thus the transformation,

growth and revitalization of existing black churches and the cultivation of new places for new people.

SBC21 has stood the test of time as an initiative. And in this overview, you will briefly see our

recap over the year that provides you with the expectation that the best is yet to come!

Enjoy the summit and we anticipate partnering with you to help grow Mustard Seed Churches.

Shalom

Rev. Dr. Fred Allen

SBC21 National Director

◆ To clearly define description of your program ob jectives and imp lement strateg ies of

SBC21 and thus confirm your com m itment to partner w ith SBC21

◆ To enhance and strengthen co llaborations between SBC21 and Annua l Conferences v ia

the ir Connectiona l M in istries, and other appropriate annua l conference

entities such as B ishop¹s Cab inets

◆ To serve as lia ison and linkage between SBC21 and annua l conference constituencies;

and to prov ide counse l and feedback about programs and pro jects to the nationa l office

of SBC21.

◆ To exp lore new program parad igms and structure for imp lementing SBC21 tra in ing

events w ith in Annua l Conferences.

◆ To he lp promote , interpret and recru it loca l congregations to enro ll as Congregation

Resource Centers and Partner Congregations; and to support SBC21 personne l

includ ing the Coord inating Com m ittee w ith ach iev ing its goa ls and ob jectives.

◆ To suggest personne l, broad ly defined , for consideration by SBC21 for both pa id and

vo lunteer positions, includ ing Coord inating Com m ittee members.

◆ To articu late , interpret and promote the merits of prov id ing consistent financia l support

toward advancing SBC21, both nationa lly and internationa lly.


Welcome to the first ever Partnership Summit hosted by SBC21. The next few days are designed to

impart information, network and strategically engage in discussions around how SBC21 can be more

efficient and effective to provide dynamic training and developing resource materials for equipping of

clergy and lay members of Partner Congregations.

One of my greatest joys as Chair of Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century (SBC 21) is

taking an annual inventory of our progress over the past year. SBC21 is showing many signs of health and

achievement. Throughout this report you will see examples including a wide selection of CRC training

events that are sound and culturally relevant and feature components that identify with African Ameri-

can styles of worship, music, Christian education, and witness, as well as provide services that will help

churches, individuals, and communities engage in a life-transforming love affair with God, with God’s

people, and with God’s Word:

What do the members and friends of The United Methodist Church see when they look at SBC 21?

For those of us who are responsible for communicating the SBC 21 story, we would like them to see us as

an important partner of their churches in making a greater witness for Christ-a partner on the frontier of

mission, discipleship and evangelism, and a partner at the local level of day-to-day community outreach

and service. This is the way we see you and your churches. We value every member of the denomina-

tion as an indispensable partner in ministry for serving Partner Congregations, the United Method-

ist Church, the wider Christian community, and all seekers by providing quality training, services and

resources that help them to know and to love God through Jesus Christ, and to serve God and neighbor.

We’ve said it before but never too often: There are thirty-three Coordinating Committee members,

eighteen Congregation Resource Centers (CRCs), and staff who invest enthusiastically and skillfully

in advancing our mission. They bring keen intellectual insights, passionate commitment for making

disciples of Jesus Christ, ingenuity, specialized skills, and the determination to help the United Methodist

Church thrive.

So with grateful hearts and appreciation of our partnership with you, may God continue to call us,

challenge us, guide us, love us, and sustain us as we together build a future that honors God and the

dignity and potential of all God’s people.

Enjoy the Summit and I look forward to visiting with you during your stay.

Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe

SBC21 Chairman

• Lake Junaluska (Traveling CRC): Music Explo! African American Music and Worship enabled Partner Congregation participants to recapture and rekindle an appreciation for the inspir-ing legacy of black church music; learn the effective use of cur-rent trends in African American church music in worship services; discover through music ways to reach all age level groups in the community with the message of Jesus Christ, especially youth and young adults; gain exposure to new resources for creating more vibrant worship experiences; learn ways to prevent divisiveness that can come along with introducing new ideas.

• The North Alabama Annual Conference “Effective Lead-ership For Church Growth”: Effective Leadership for Church Growth; Effective Leadership for Empowering a New Generation of Christians; Effective Leadership for Congregational Renewal and Church Growth; Effective Leadership for “Real Church” in Urban Ministry; Effective Leadership through the Change Process and Vi-sioning; and Effective Leadership for Reaching and Touching Secular People

• The St. Mark UMC (Chicago) “A Traditional Church with Innovative Ministries”: Sharing the Vision/Building the Team. Effective working relationships between pastors, the Staff Parish Relations Committee, and other key leaders in the church; Embrac-ing Musical Diversity. Avoiding battles between the “senior choir” and the “futuristic praise ensemble”; If David Danced, Why Can’t We. Establishing an effective liturgical dance ministry; The Church of the Future, Right Now. Incorporating intergenerational gifts and participation throughout the life and ministry of the church; Ministry of the Body. Martial Arts ministry; To Inherit the King-dom. Christian Education including how to select Sunday School curriculum; God’s Table. A lay visitation ministry which can extend

the Lord’s Table to every member; If You’re On a Mission, Get Moving. Learn ways to energize your service through evangelism, mission and outreach; Star Tech. Learn technology skills, including developing and maintaining a website, using email, audio/visual, camera/video, and sound systems; Telling the Story to Every-body. How to develop creative newsletters and church bulletins.

• St. Luke “Community” UMC (Dallas) “Leadership Institute”: Evangelism. Starting a second campus - “One church in many loca-tions”; Open hearts and open doors: developing radical hospitality, reaching out beyond “bring a friend”, it’s “bring your opposite” and expose them to our faith. Learn to welcome visitors without giving suspicion and to challenge your congregation to practice the great commission; Planting a New Church - Gain the essentials of starting a new church. Worship. Planning dynamic and transfor-mational worship; Dance before the Lord (sacred dance). Learn how to develop and grow a sacred dance ministry, incorporate it into worship, and use it as an effective way to communicate the gospel and lead the church in worship; Making a joyful noise-for a dynamic music ministry - Reach a higher praise in worship. Learn the styles, tempos and rhythms that lift your worship experience to greater heights. Go beyond replaying what is heard in the media and change hearts and minds with music that reaches the soul. Living the Lord’s Prayer: An Effective Prayer Ministry. Learn the key ingredients for authentic Christian living as opposed to half measures, prayer is integral to our faith; Multimedia Worship Learn about the riches of modern computing within the worship experience, and learn how to set-up and maintain a system for any sized church; Developing Effective Leadership; Small Number but Effective in Ministry. The ministry of small membership in rural churches - obtain skills and techniques to solve traditionally challenging problems associated with having very limited resources.


THESTATE

OF

AN ANNUAL OVERVIEW

P.O. Box 340003 | Nashville, TN 37203-0003 | Toll 877.899.2780 Ext.1722www.sbc21.org


The State of SBC21-An Annual Overview for 2010

Documents

african american church

indispensable partner

important partner

african american music

united methodist church

music ways

music explo

worship services