Blogs

Impact of Vital Congregation Example from Romans 12

By: Phil Schroeder on 2/3/2012
Worship—Lively, Joyful, and Traditional
 
When asked to choose which aspects of their congregation they most valued, the item receiving the highest number of responses from United Methodists participating in the U.S. Congregational Life Survey was the “traditional style of worship or music.” The survey also asked what style of music they preferred and “traditional hymns” was chosen twice as often as the next most frequent choice of styles.
 
When the Call to Action report was released, Lee’s Summit United Methodist Church in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, took note of the identified drivers of congregational vitality, including the importance of a mix of contemporary and traditional services. 

Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Ministry

By: Mike Selleck on 1/4/2012
Kenda Dean, a United Methodist pastor in the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference and Professor of Youth, Church and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary, shared this list of the Top 10 Characteristics of  a Healthy Youth Ministry on her blog at http://kendadean.com/. What would you add?

Apportioned Giving Resources

By: Keith Cox on 12/21/2011
It is a very common occurrence that we in the North Georgia Conference Treasurer's Office receive inquiries about our United Methodist apportioned giving system.

Most often we hear questions like “What are apportionments?” “When I tithe to my church, where does that money go?” “How can I explain the North Georgia Conference Budget to my congregation?” These are vital questions in the life of the United Methodist Church that deserve honest and clear answers.

Layaway in A Manger - Wesley UMC in Evans

By: Phil Schroeder on 12/13/2011
Wesley UMC in Evans is Blessing the Community for Christ by paying down the gifts in layaway in stores across the Augusta area.

Recent Developments Impacting Business Planning

By: Keith Cox on 12/11/2011
Relief From Stringent 1099 And W-2 Reporting Requirements

Congress Repeals Recently-Enacted 1099 Reporting Rules

IRS Provides Relief From Reporting Cost Of Employer-Provided Health Insurance On W-2s

TIME FOR A NEW YEAR DECEMBER 2011

By: Phil Schroeder on 12/10/2011
 Some things to do to prepare for the new year - stewardship tips from Clif Christopher of Horizons Stewardship and author of Not Your Parents' Offering Plate

Year End Habits for Clergy

By: Mike Selleck on 12/9/2011
Received this helpful piece from the Treasurer's Office this week: Ten key tasks that church leaders should complete by the end of the year.
 
 
 

Worship Planning Ideas after our START with Marcia McFee

By: Phil Schroeder on 11/30/2011
 Strategic Appointment Roundtable Challenges Pastors to Plan Further in Advance

Meeting Scheduling Made Eas(ier)!

By: Jasmine Smothers on 11/26/2011
 Online help for scheduling meetings!

Cross Pennies and Nickels to Reinforce Your Lenten Messages

By: Phil Schroeder on 11/7/2011
 Here's a great idea from Grady Mosley at Madison and Bill Burch at Sam Jones in Cartersville

What began as a simple request made by a local youth group, has now blossomed into a tool of ministry that the Rev. Steve Petty, former Methodist pastor, never imagined could happen with just a few pennies.
 
Let’s keep spreading word that “It just makes cents to follow Jesus!”

Staff Compensation Issues

By: Phil Schroeder on 11/1/2011
 Excellent resource from the Lewis Center for Leadership- Lay Staff Ministry in the United Methodist Church - The State of Staffing in the 2011

Red Letter Jesus Premiering at Chamblee

By: Phil Schroeder on 10/10/2011
If you saw Brad Sherrill perform The Gospel of John, you already know you don't want to miss his latest--Red Letter Jesus. It's premiering at Chamblee First on Oct 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Worship Planning Workbook

By: Phil Schroeder on 10/5/2011
Rev. Rebecca Holmes at Anna Kresge Memorial in Cedartown shared these worship planning sheets she created after attending a Worship Workshop with Marcia McFee and the Preaching Planning Workshop at Camp Glisson.

St. Francis and Renewal

By: Jamie Jenkins on 9/30/2011

Post-Modern Insights from a Middle Age Saint

Lenten Worship Planning for 2012

By: Phil Schroeder on 9/29/2011
 At a recent worship planning event at Camp Glisson, John Dallas, pastor of Mt. Vernon UMC in Rocky Face began to craft his plan for next year's Lenten preaching.

Postmodern Wesleyan Bands

By: Phil Schroeder on 8/26/2011
 The online service is conducted in the same way as traditional morning
prayer services are conducted, including congregational singing, corporate
prayer, a sermon, and individual prayer time. Participants can have a
conversation by speaking through their microphones or typing in the chat
window. Participation from the lay leadership is prevalent and positive, and
several lay leaders take turns hosting the online service and leading
prayer.
 

Institutional Genius

By: Jamie Jenkins on 8/26/2011
The future of the church depends on our ability to institutionalize the genius of the past in our corporate DNA.

Attendance has Grown 30 Percent at Salem UMC

By: Phil Schroeder on 8/22/2011
Salem UMC in Covington was featured in this week's Romans 12 e-newsletter. Attendance has grown 30 percent in the last year. 
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