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CHURCH DEVELOPMENT
New Church Development Emphasis Grows
By Charles W. Courtoy
Executive Director of Church Development
The United Methodist
Church seems to be waking up to new church development as a major strategy
in evangelism. In data compiled by the General Board of Discipleship from a
survey of the 65 annual conferences in the United States, 269 new churches
were launched in the five-year period of 1994-1999. Even more exciting is
that 427 new churches are planned for the next five years.
Eight annual conferences reported launching 10 or more new churches in the 1994-1999 period: Florida (34), North Georgia (30), North Carolina (20), Baltimore-Washington (18), North Alabama (17), Texas (14), Western North Carolina (10) and Northern Illinois (10). Five conferences reported eight new churches launched: Alabama-West Florida, Central Texas, Desert Southwest, Northwest Texas and Southwest Texas. Four annual conferences started seven new churches: Iowa, Rocky Mountain, South Carolina and Virginia. An additional 24 conferences started between one and five new churches during that period. Ten conferences reported no new church starts, and 13 did not respond.
The Florida Conference has led the way during the past five years in new church starts, and well we should since our population is growing so rapidly. As a conference we need to start at least 10, and preferably more, new congregations in the foreseeable future. I am pleased to report that, thanks to great farsight on the part of past and current leaders in this conference, our conference has positioned itself to be aggressive in church development.
First, we have more than 300 people planning and working on new church starts. Each district has a District Board of Mission and Church Development, and we have a Conference Committee on New Church Development and Church Redevelopment.
Second, we have the Discernment Program that is helping guide and prepare pastors to be new church pastors.
Third, we have dedicated funds to help start healthy churches. Most districts have hundreds of members in their District Builders Clubs who contribute thousands of dollars a year for the cause of church development. All churches of the conference contribute to the New Church Start Apportionment which last year supported 13 new church pastors. The Conference Committee had more than $12.8 million at the end of 1999 dedicated for loans to new churches for first unit buildings and grants to help buy sites for new churches.
Fourth, and most important, God’s Spirit is leading us to make disciples for Jesus through new churches.
Keep up the good work in being faithful to God’s call to make disciples. Thank you for all you do.
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