Resources & Tools

Vital Congregations

All congregations and pastors in New England are called to engage in the VITAL CONGREGATIONS initiative that has emerged from the Council of Bishops, the Connectional Table, and the Call to Action Team of our denomination.
Congregations and pastors are asked to be part of this effort to increase local church vitality for the purpose of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

1.  Go to www.umvitalcongregations.org and see more about the initiative.

2.  Consult with your District Superintendent or with the Rev. Jim McPhee (Conference Director of Connectional Ministries, mcphee@neumc.org, 978-682-7555 ext 260) about the goal setting process. (Setting Goals section on umvitalcongregations.org; there are also written guides for this process on this site.)

3.  Congregations are asked to submit their goals through umvitalcongregations.org.

Resources to Help
Some new resources are available, and we have created a simple guide to help set these goals and enter them into the Vital Congregations site. Click on the resources below for more information and to get started!

Visit www.umvitalcongregations.org for more information and to enter your goals!

Setting Your Goals

The New England Conference Bishop and District Superintendents are encouraging all New England churches to engage in conversations around becoming healthier and more vital in our ministries, and to set goals as part of the collective effort of all of the churches in the United Methodist connection! The goals set by all of our churches were gathered, presented, and prayed over at General Conference sessions in April 2012. Even after General Conference, all New England churches are encouraged to engage in the goal setting and enter their goals on the site!

Now is the perfect time to set some goals for your congregation! The Vital Congregations initiative and resources will help guide you through this process.

Other Suggested Resources

The brief video below introduces the Vital Congregations initiative.

Video Series from GBOD: Dreaming of Vital Congregations

 Additional resources

  • Journey in the Wilderness by Gil Rendle , Chapter 6
  • Holy Conversations by Gil Rendle and Alice Mann
  • Marcia McFee Worship Design Studio (New England Conference provides a membership for all pastors/congregations)  www.marciamcfee.com/studio.htm
  • NEAC Office of Congregational Development (Natural Church Development coaching, Transform One)
  • Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations by Bishop Robert Schnase (and associated guides and leader’s manual)
  • Mission Resources: http://www.neumc.org/missions  
  • NEAC Parish Consultants -- Coordinator: Evelyn Johnson-Moore, ejohnsonmoore@gmail.com 207-467-3120