The series has been designed for preaching and teaching during the season of Lent. Emphasis on self-examination, repentance and reconciliation pair with core Lenten themes. However, the subject matter is flexible enough, and important enough, to be preached throughout the Christian calendar year – excluding Easter, Advent and Christmas.
United Methodist Communications has created a special presentation called "We are the church. Together" that will remind congregations of their identity as United Methodists while also inviting them to have constructive conversations about what they open the future will bring, both for The UMC as a whole and their congregation.
#BeUMC honors the core values that connect the people of The United Methodist Church. No matter the challenges we face, God is with us, and we continue to have opportunities to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world! #BeUMC calls us to embrace our Wesleyan heritage and envision a promising future.
Partners for Sacred Places, the Duke Endowment and UNC Charlotte Urban Institute conducted a study to understand the economic impact of rural churches in North Carolina. What the report showed was rural churches impact the economy through six key categories: direct spending, education, magnet effect, individual impact, community service programs and open space.
As the United States population becomes increasingly diverse, it is imperative for churches to develop the awareness and skills needed to interact successfully with people from diverse experiences. Methods that work well with a segment of the community may be irrelevant or inappropriate for other segments of the community. As church leaders seeking to connect with the community, we must be willing to be lifelong learners and willing to implement innovative ways of working with a diverse community. This work begins with understanding how culture operates.
The Black Church is a force for good, especially when it is empowered together. But how can ministry leaders work collaboratively in this unique moment in history? Rev. Lia McIntosh, author of Blank Slate and Church/School/Community, teaches you how to wipe the slate clean and imagine community engagement in a fresh way.
Protect your ministry from cyber attacks. Being proactive about your cybersecurity can help save your ministry time and money. With the recent jump in cyber attacks, GCFA's IT Services team wants to remind you of some tips to help your ministry secure data. Download this resource and share it with your ministry staff.