George Bullard's Journey

22-44 Ministry Mobilizers

Church Solutions for Uncertain Economic Times: An Article

During uncertain economic times how do congregations provide staff leadership that is essential for forward progress? How do congregations add a staff person? How do congregations replace a staff person? How do congregations lower staff costs in response to what they hope is a temporary reduction in tithes and offerings? One of the best ways to fulfill staffing needs is to use 22-44 Ministry Mobilizers.

What Are 22-44 Ministry Mobilizers? 22-44 Ministry Mobilizers are lay ministers who work 22 hours per week for 44 weeks per year focusing on a specialized staff assignment such as the disciplemaking process, music and worship program, age or target group focus, or one or more specialized ministries.

The 22 hours per week includes their involvement in Sunday activities, and other regular services and program times in which they participate. The 44 weeks per year is a key concept for this type of part-time lay minister. It allows them the opportunity to take breaks during the year for holidays, family vacation, and other times and reasons for being away. Depending upon the salary, benefits, and administrative support structure in a congregation, three to four 22-44 Ministry Mobilizers can be employed for the same cost as one full-time, permanent staff minister.

Download: Church Solutions for Uncertain Economic Times, 22-44 Ministry Mobilizers

Congregations Without Conflict Are Dead

In his book, Every Congregation Needs a Little Conflict, George Bullard explains why this title is true:

“Every congregation needs a little conflict. Why? Because congregations without conflict are dead or dying. Conflict is a typical, common component of life. A byproduct of conflict is energy and passion. Conflict forces decisions and action.” [8]

Periodically one of the seven reasons why congregations need a healthy intensity will be shared.

See and purchase this book at TCP Resources Store.

Christian Churches Together Lobbies Obama on Poverty

The Religious News Service provided the following release on Thursday, January 15, 2009 concerning the effort of Christian Churches Together. Their executive administrator is Dick Hamm, a Ministry Partner with me at The Columbia Partnership, and author of Recreating the Church.

WASHINGTON (RNS) In a private meeting and in public statements, the nation's broadest coalition of Christian churches pressed President-elect Barack Obama on Thursday (Jan. 13) to make poverty a priority of his administration.

A dozen leaders of Christian Churches Together in the USA, a three-year-old ecumenical group representing more than 100 million Christians, met privately with members of Obama's transition team Thursday morning. Members also visited Capitol Hill to lobby members of Congress.

Later that day, CCT leaders convened at the National Press Club to call on Washington lawmakers to include provisions for the poor in any forthcoming economic stimulus packages.

"We've heard a lot recently about Wall Street and Main Street," said the Rev. Sharon Watkins, general minister and president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). "Our concern is the people who live on the street, or have no street address." Next week, Watkins will be the first woman to deliver the sermon at the National Prayer Service, part of Obama's inaugural ceremonies.

CCT's statement on poverty will be officially approved on Friday in Baltimore, where 110 representatives from 43 member churches and Christian organizations are convened for an annual meeting, said the Rev. Richard Hamm, the group's executive administrator.

Composed of the five "families" of Christianity -- Catholic, Orthodox, evangelical/Pentecostal, historic Protestant and ethnic

churches-- CCT leaders said Thursday their diversity and reach lends authority to their public voice.

"It gives us power, spiritual power," said the Very Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky, director of external affairs and interchurch relations for the Orthodox Church in America.

CCT's decisions and statements must be approved by consensus, and leaders emphasized Thursday that they offer principles, not specific proposals.

"We're not a poverty think tank," the Rev. Jim Wallis, founder and president of Sojourners, a network of social justice-minded progressives. "It's a meeting of churches and church organizations."

Hamm said CCT's statement will highlight specific issues, such as an earned income tax credit and adequate schooling for poor children, but refrain from policy prescriptions.

"One of the most interesting challenges for us is to say something that is not an overstatement but that has real substance, and actually, we find there's quite a lot," he said.

Next year, the group will take up evangelism at its annual meeting, which Hamm predicts will provoke "an interesting conversation."

Calling Congregations

Last evening the North American Baptist Fellowship, meeting at Duke Divinity School, had the privilege of hearing from Stephen Lewis, Regional Director for Calling Congregations with The Fund for Theological Education in Atlanta, Ga. Check them out at www.TheFund.org.

In my words, Calling Congregations are those who nurture the call of God in the heart, soul, mind, and strength of people of all ages.

On the web site we read these words: “The whole church has a stake in cultivating questions of vocation in the hearts and minds of young people. Congregations play a vital role when they actively identify and nurture young men and women with the potential to become excellent pastoral leaders. To assist congregations in this work, FTE provides a broad array of initiatives and resources.”

The church in Baltimore, MD where I grew up did much to call out the called and to nurture people in a potential church-related vocation. At one point there were 15 to 20 people gathering quarterly to nurture their call. One aspect of the worship in this church was that not only were people invited to make public their personal salvation experience, to join the church, to rededicate their lives, but also to respond to God’s call to ministry. This fourth factor is now missing in the “altar call” of many congregations. Perhaps it should be re-injected into worship.

My current church in Columbia, SC will be celebrating the 20^th anniversary of our pastor this Sunday. One of the hallmarks of his ministry is that more than two dozen people have gone forth from the congregation into church-related vocations. That is one way this church multiples itself through missional efforts.

What is your congregation doing to nurture the call of God among your congregants?

Posted via email from George Bullard's Posterous