Hi All,

The following quote comes from an article from Leadership & Congregational Development, August 2009. The article is written by Dan Smith & Mary (Sellon) Huycke. The article speaks to what is needed to revitalize churches in America.

........here's the bottom line: Congregational renewal has to start with the renewal of the members themselves - the people who are already there as an established congregation. There has to be a shift in the hearts and minds and attitudes of the members The shift must be away from focusing on maintaining and strengthening their beloved church which has served them so well. The shift must be to focusing on the people in their neighborhoods and the desperate needs these people have for their lives to be touched by the transformational gospel message.

The message of this article is one that most of us already know; in order for a congregation to experience renewal, the congregation must be willing to look beyond the doors of the church into the community of the church to reach the least, the last, and the lost. Reaching out to those who need the healing power of our Savior Jesus is something we have worked on accomplishing for quite awhile now. We are blessed to have a Bishop, Bishop Michael Coyner who, for the last three years has been encouraging each church in our conference to start new faith communities in order to reach beyond the doors of our church. Seminary Church responded to the call by starting a very successful Kid's Club lead by Ann Spahr and her many able assistants. Each year, every child at Roanoke Elementary is invited to join the group -that's about 360 kids.

The article goes on to say that the ultimate responsibility for church turn around is the leadership of the Conference and of individual churches.

The elephant in the room that needs to be named is not the members of the congregations, but leaders who have the attitude that "it's not possible," or "it's not worth it." The shift in hearts and minds, in attitudes and actions, must begin with us as leaders in our churches and denominations.

I believe that Seminary Church has successfully made the shift from an inward looking, survival thinking orientation that causes all churches to start to decline, continue to decline, and ultimately become totally ineffective, to an attitude of inclusiveness, invitation, and "out of the box" kind of creative thinking. I see many groups and individuals in this church continually inviting people to our fellowship groups and worship, particpating in ministries like the prayer shawl ministry and the teddy bear ministry that extend the love of this congregation far beyond it's church members and the walls of the church, and a willingness to change things in worship and outreach order to reach younger adults and children. A big thank you to all of you who are so willing to be radically hospitable to the people outside the walls of the church!

It's been a pretty incredible year for Seminary in 2009 and our momentum for outreach just continues to grow with the addition of our youth ministry and all of the things that each of our fellowship groups are doing to invite people to join us - thank God for our United Methodist Women! If you would have asked me in July of 2008 whether or not Seminary Church was going to be able to shift into an outward focus and move out of decline, I just might have said; "I doubt it." Ask me today and I'd say, "yes we can and yes we are." You all, with your persistance, hard work, willingness to change, and determined attitude, have changed the outlook for Seminary UMC and my perspective on the future of this church.

Wow. God sure does surprise me sometimes. God bless you all. Kathy

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20