HEALTHY CHURCH INITIATIVE Clear Lake United Methodist Church

508 2nd Avenue North Clear Lake, Iowa

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Table of Contents Forward ___________________________________

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Introduction ________________________________

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Mission Statement and Vision Statement ___________

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Consultation Team Report to the Congregation ____

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Leadership Development ______________________

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Behavioral Covenant _________________________

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Congregational Care _________________________

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Externally Focused Ministry____________________

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Discipleship Pathway ________________________

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Discipleship Pathway Sermon _________________

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Behavioral Covenant Sermon __________________

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Implementing Structure _______________________

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Forward To the Congregation of Clear Lake United Methodist Church. Many members of our Church have spent a tremendous amount of time reading, studying, meeting, praying and consulting to provide the Prescriptions in this HCI booklet. They are to be commended, prayed for and praised for their contributions. The list is too long to provide names, but I want to thank each and every one of you for your commitment over the last 1-1/2 years. This booklet presents a look into our future and a glimpse of what we can accomplish as followers of Jesus Christ. These Prescriptions are guidelines to change our future and become a greater impact within and outside of our Church walls. As a congregation, we can continue to proceed and operate as we have in the past with the same results, or, we can become committed to bringing these Prescriptions to life, As Administrative Council Chair, I would ask you to evaluate the programs you are involved in and ask yourself. “Is what I am doing for the Church supporting:” 1. Our Mission Statement: “To become and make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” 2. Our Vision Statement “United in worship, growth and service.” 3. Our HCI Prescription If our church program does not support the above, how can we make changes in that program to support our Mission, Vision and HCI Statements? With God’s Love, Gary Harris Chairperson, Church Council

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I would like to applaud Gary’s message and add my own words of encouragement. If we do continue to proceed and operate as we have in the past, our aging congregation will continue to shrink and the future of Clear Lake United Methodist Church appears very bleak. That hardly sounds encouraging does it? We must; however, face reality. The positive, uplifting and absolutely exciting thing is that the members who have devoted huge amounts of time reading, studying, meeting and praying believe we do have a future and they believe the following Prescriptions will help us get there. My prayer is that we will unite not only in worship, growth and service, but also in bringing these Prescriptions to life. Blessings,

Carol Backus, Lay Leader

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Introduction By Pastor Bernie INTRODUCTION Healthy Church Initiative is a process designed to help transform a church. Clear Lake United Methodist Church is one of those churches which has taken advantage of this program. This “introduction” explains the Healthy Church Initiative (HCI) and the journey that eventually led to the reports and recommendations that are now printed in this booklet. Most important of all, I present an invitation to the whole church family to study the reports, pray for God’s blessings and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we proceed to accomplish the new vision for our church. THE HCI JOURNEY I mentioned the HCI concept to the Church Council in Fall 2012 and assured the leadership that this process is an effective way of transforming and revitalizing a church. The leadership was enthused. One basic requirement was for some lay people and the pastors to be involved in continuous learning. The following participated in monthly studies at the district office as part of the HCI Lay Leadership Development group: Cheral Morgan, Katie Lindsay, Nancy Turk and Linda Muth. Pastor Rhoda Preston and I attended the monthly sessions of the HCI Pastoral Leadership Development group. The District provided the books used by each participant. This group also became the HCI Group at Clear Lake UMC which led the weekly HCI prayer meeting and HCI Moment during worship services. I also had a regular column in the Church newsletter about the HCI process. I shared some new learnings and best practices for the church. 6

On August 21, 2013, the Church Council approved to proceed with the Consultation which took place on February 7-9, 2014. The HCI Group and some leaders submitted their analysis of the church and the community which was helpful for the Consultation Team. A Pre-Consultation workshop was conducted by Rev. Katharine Yarnell (NC District Field Office Minister). In this workshop, we learned the life-cycle of a church. See p. 16. The Consultation Team designated by the Conference to come to Clear Lake UMC was composed of the following pastors: Katharine Yarnell, Jill Sanders, Katie Dawson, and Mike Carey. On the first day of the Consultation, the pastors and some staff and leaders of the church were interviewed. A Focused Group meeting was held in the evening attended by members randomly selected by the Senior Pastor and who had not been involved in our leadership. The second day included a meeting with the Church Council (without the pastors) and also a 5-hour workshop for the whole church. The Consultation Team led both of the worship services on February 9, 2014, and presented their report. They enumerated 6 strengths of CLUMC, 6 concerns and presented 6 prescriptions. Members of the congregation came to the Town Hall meetings, which took place weeks later, to hear views of others and share their own. A Church Conference was called on March 30, 2014, and the HCI report and prescriptions were approved (yes, 69; no, 13). Rev. Katharine Yarnell was assigned by the Conference as Coach. As pastor, I was required to attend the Peer Mentoring sessions in Des Moines together with other pastors whose churches are also involved in HCI. By the end of April 2014, all of the 5 required Task Groups were organized as follows: 7

Leadership Development – Carol Backus (leader), Diane Thompson, Gary Harris, Jody Applegate and Bernie Colorado; Congregational Care – Nancy Turk (co-leader), Gordon Rosenthal (co-leader), Carol Rosenthal, Jane Lobdell, Malinda Loge, and Margo Underwood; Discipleship Pathway – Cheral Morgan (leader), Dave Backus, Sherry Johnson, Katie Lindsay, Michael Lollar and Pastor; Externally Focused – Bobbi Bendicskon (leader), Donna Etchen, John Morgan, and Judy Lincicum; Behavioral Covenant was composed of SPRC members: Lew Brandt, Gordon Rosenthal, Vicky Snyder, Donna Miller, Diane Thompson, Gary Harris, and Pastor Bernie Colorado. Each task group worked hard to accomplish their assignment All of the reports and recommendations of the 5 Task Groups were completed, presented and approved on or before December 16, 2014. I want to thank all of the task group leaders for their able leadership, patience and determination. I am also thankful to all members of the Task Groups. Well done! THE INVITATION I invite each member of Clear Lake United Methodist Church to read and study all of the HCI reports. Pray for acceptance and positive attitudes in the church family about the new visions and recommendations. Let us all be enthusiastic and active participants in implementing the goals and pursuing the kind of Church God has intended us to be. I pray for the indwelling of the Spirit upon us. In Jesus,

Pastor Bernie Colorado 8

Clear Lake United Methodist Church Our Mission: To become and make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world

Vision Statement: United in worship, growth and service

Clear Lake United Methodist Church Clear Lake, Iowa

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Consultation Team Report to the Congregation February 9, 2014 Thank you so much for your kind invitation to come spend the weekend with you. We appreciate your hospitality, and feel honored to have engaged in conversation with you about your church and appreciate your honesty and sharing. Our prayer is that God will use the Healthy Church Initiative and the information contained in this report to continue to do amazing things for the sake of God’s mission. Strengths 1. Warm and welcoming congregation. The Clear Lake UMC is a warm and welcoming congregation. Long term and new members commented on the hospitality they received. 2. Excellent church facility. The church is well cared for and well maintained. The location and visibility in the community are excellent. The signs are helpful, and the accessibility and parking are commendable. 3. Relational outreach. With 40% of the children at your Kid’s Club having no church home, God is using your space for relational outreach through it and Open Door Diner. 4. Active, mission-minded congregation. The level of activity in the church is significant. The list of mission projects is extensive and global. 5. Committed, spiritually focused leadership. There is a committed core lay-leadership group, pastors, and staff who are spiritually focused and deeply invested in the ministry of the congregation.

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6. Several diverse worship services offering different styles. The contemporary, traditional and casual Wednesday services offer flexibility and diversity depending on people’s schedules. The music is excellent. Concerns 1. MISSION AND VISION. The vision of the congregation needs to be clear, compelling, and shared. While good work has been done to simplify the mission statement, the lack of a unifying vision has led to conflict and hurt feelings, and has limited the impact of the congregation’s ministry. 2. INTENTIONAL DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY. While there are many opportunities for spiritual growth offered at Clear Lake, there is no clear, consistent pathway that gives direction for growth in discipleship for persons of all ages. 3. LAY EMPOWERMENT. The ministry of the congregation is overly pastor/staff focused. Also, most of the ministry tends to be carried out by the same people. There is a need to involve more people in hands-on mission and ministry, and to identify and nurture new leaders. 4. NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE LAY-LED CARING MINISTRY. The crisis care provided by Clear Lake is excellent, and the new member follow-up is personal and timely. However, the average American will have a major life-transition every 18 months. Transition times are times when ministry is needed and attendance patterns sometimes change. An intentional ministry system needs to be in place so that you can care for each other and reach out when attendance patterns change.

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5. NEED FOR EXTERNALLY-FOCUSED MINISTRY. The thought patterns at Clear Lake are largely focused on how we get the people “out there” to “come in” and be part of us so the pews will be full. This is an attractional model of ministry, which assumes people need to come to us. Jesus demonstrated an incarnational model of ministry, in which He went to the people. There is a need for people “in here” to “go out” and engage people on their turf and build relationships which might eventually provide a basis for inviting people in.

Prescriptions 1. MISSION AND VISION A) On the day this report is approved, should it be approved, the congregation of Clear Lake UMC will adopt as its mission statement “To become and make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” B) The congregation will hold a Season of Prayer throughout Easter Season 2014, which will allow the congregation to seek God’s vision for Clear Lake UMC. This season will be planned by the Leadership Team and the HCI team. Your coach will be available for consultation. C) The coach will conduct a Day of Visioning for the congregation. The purpose of this day is to clarify and express God’s vision for how Clear Lake UMC will “become and make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” This day will occur on or before July 1, 2014. D) Following the Day of Visioning, a small writing team will prepare a clear, compelling Vision Statement, to be shared with the Administrative Council by August 1, 2014. 12

2. INTENTIONAL DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY - By May 1, 2014, Pastor Bernie and Pastor Rhoda, will recruit and lead a team of 6-8 people to develop a discipleship pathway. The goal is to meet people where they are on their faith journey and invite them to take the next steps. Resources might be: “Charting A Course of Discipleship: A Workbook on Christian Discipleship” by Teresa Gilbert, Patty Johansen, and Jay Regennitter, “Deepening Your Effectiveness” by Daniel Glover and Claudia Lavy, and/or other resources suggested by the coach, pastor or members of the congregation. This team will also study pathways developed by other churches. The discipleship pathway will be presented to the Christian Education Team and the Evangelism Team by December 31, 2014, with implementation to begin by January 30, 2015. 3. LAY EMPOWERMENT: The old adage “20% of the people do 80% of the work” holds true for Clear Lake. A) The Doers Decide. In a healthy organization, the doers decide. Once the vision is clear, the Coach will lead a training session for the congregation and Administrative Council about “Accountable Leadership.” The training will be done by November 30, 2014. This will empower committees and teams to do the ministries God has given them to do for the sake of the vision. B) An Empowering Context. Conflict can be productive, and there are healthy ways of moving forward after a disagreement. Upon approval of this report, the Staff Parish Relations Committee will begin work on developing a Behavioral Covenant, in conversation 13

with the congregation. Possible resources are: Behavioral Covenants by Gilbert R. Rendle, Shame-less Lives, Grace-full Congregations by Karen McClintock, and covenants written by other congregations which are available from your coach. The Behavioral Covenant will be presented to the Administrative Council for approval by November 1, 2014 and be utilized in every aspect of the life of the church. C) Expanding Participation. By February 1, 2015, the Leadership Team will develop a plan for identifying, recruiting, training, and developing new leaders in the church. The plan will include: a. eliminating the word “volunteer” from the vocabulary of the Clear Lake UMC and focus on the fact that all Christians are called by God to be servant leader, clarifying the expectation that all leaders are responsible for mentoring new leaders b. identifying one-time and short-term opportunities for service c. moving from an informational culture to an invitational culture by identifying a “host” in every ministry who will extend an invitation to new people 4. COMPREHENSIVE LAY-LED CARING MINISTRY. By May 1, 2014, Pastor Bernie, and the Congregational Care Director will name a team of 3-5 persons to design a comprehensive, lay caring system to meet the needs of all who call Clear Lake UMC home. The task is to make sure that every household is connected to a care-coordinator who will be in quarterly communication with them, and tracking and following up on those whose worship 14

attendance patterns have changed, in order to discover caring opportunities. The plan needs to be presented to the Leadership Board for approval by October 1, 2014 and implemented by January 1, 2015. 5. EXTERNALLY FOCUSED MINISTRY. Clear Lake UMC offers gracious hospitality to those who come. The next step is to find ways to be invitational and to reach beyond the boundaries of the building to meet people where they are, bringing that same gracious warmth into the immediate local community. By May 1, 2014, Pastor Bernie and Pastor Rhoda will name a team of 6-8 persons who will explore possibilities for outreach in the neighborhood and larger community. This team will do an asset and needs assessment of the community and will engage community leaders and neighbors in conversation as they discern possibilities for creative ministries. They will present their assessment to the Administrative Council by September 1, 2014. Conclusion Thank you so much for your hospitality and time, and for sharing your joys and concerns about your congregation. We continue to lift you up in prayer, and are excited to see how God will use this process to help your church move to the next level of ministry for the sake of God’s mission in the world. CONSULTATION TEAM Jill Sanders, Lead Coach Mike Carey Katie Dawson

Katharine Yarnell,

TOWN HALL MEETINGS – Tuesday, February 25, 6:30 pm Sunday, March 2, 3:00 pm HCI CHURCH CONFERENCE – Sunday, March 30 4:00 pm CC: Rev. Dr. Dennis Tevis, Conference Superintendent, North Central District.

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Church Lifecycle • Key Components:

V = Vision (Heart) R = Relationship (Arms) P = Programs (Hands & Feet) S = Structure (Skeleton)

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LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Plan for identifying, recruiting, training and the development of new leaders in the Church Leadership in Clear Lake United Methodist Church is vital for the future of the church. That process begins with ongoing, year-round awareness to identify new committee members. When an individual is identified as having an interest in a particular committee, the committee will submit that person’s name to the Nominating Committee for approval. In order for the new member/leader to be educated about history, role and expectations of the committee, two types of orientation will occur annually. The Lay Leadership will provide an orientation session early in January of each year for all servant leaders/committees to review overall church information and will include a session on identification, recruitment, training and development of new leaders. Each committee will also devote the first meeting of the year to review/educate the entire committee about the role responsibilities of their committee. Committee chairs should encourage all committee members to attend both orientation sessions. To provide on-going support and as part of the mentoring process, each ministry and administrative committee leader will meet with the Pastor and the Administrative Council Chair or Lay Leader to discuss any questions, problems or concerns they may have regarding their leadership role. Identifying: • Leaders are encouraged to identify new potential leaders. • Each Committee member will be strongly encouraged to bring at least two names to the Nominating Committee each year. • A survey will be developed to identify past leadership experiences outside of the church. The survey will be distributed during church services and in the Chimes. • Everyone needs to be involved in recruiting new leaders and develop a leadership-recruitment mentality.

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Recruiting: • Committees will be empowered to recruit potential members on their own. • Committee members will be encouraged to show enthusiasm for their area of expertise. • Training on recruitment will be a key component of the January all-committee orientation meeting. • The leaders of the church need to be talent scouts on the lookout for emerging leaders. • Leaders should develop a leadership-recruitment mentality with a goal for everyone to recruit leaders. Training / Development: • Items to be discussed at the first committee meeting : • (1) What committee goals has the committee had in the past and how have they met these goals? What have they accomplished? • (2) What does the Book of Discipline say your committee’s responsibilities are? • (3) Obtain email and phone numbers to be made available to all members. • (4) Discuss leadership opportunities. Potential leaders will be taught to lead and serve effectively through actually practicing and experimenting. Past leaders can be a valuable tool for new leaders and will be available for serving the new leader. LEADERSHIP PATHWAYS TASK GROUP: Jody Applegate, Carol Backus, Pastor Bernie Colorado, Gary Harris and Diane Thompson

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OUR BEHAVIORAL COVENANT Love and & Respect Let our actions be guided by love and respect for others. Thankfulness & Gratitude Begin each day with thankfulness and gratitude for God’s blessings. Build an attitude of gratitude. Caring & Compassion Show compassion by caring, sharing and serving. Communication & Trust Build bridges through open and clear communication, love and trust for other members, church leaders and pastors. Acceptance & Grace Graciously affirm leadership decisions thoughtfully and prayerfully made for the good of the church. Commitment & Sacrifice Support spiritual growth through commitment and sacrifice of our own desires for the desires of our risen Lord. BEHAVIORAL COVENANT TASK GROUP: Pastor Bernie and SPRC Members

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CONGREGATIONAL CARE The task is to design a comprehensive, lay caring system to meet the needs of all who call Clear Lake UMC home. A Task Force was developed and consists of the following members: Gordon Rosenthal and Nancy Turk (co-chairs), Carol Rosenthal, Jane Lobdell (secretary), Malinda Loge and Margo Underwood. The Goal is that every household is connected to a care coordinator who will be in, at least, quarterly contact with them and will assess needs if attendance patterns change, in order to develop caring opportunities. In the Methodist tradition of our founder, John Wesley, who took the message of God’s love outside the church walls to build house ministries, we would like to propose the following. In following Wesley’s zeal for reaching everyone, we envision building God’s Neighborhood at Clear Lake UMC by developing care groups that will be named Houses after Biblical characters. For example: The House of David, House of Mary, etc. We will have 20 Houses, with approximately 35 UMC members in each household. All church members will be randomly chosen to become family members in each House. Additionally, each House will have a servant Lay Leader that will receive training for this lay leadership role. Creative activities are planned to involve members in getting acquainted with the House Ministry, before the beginning projected date of April 1, 2015. As previously stated, the Leader will make sure that every household member will be contacted, at least quarterly. We’re also anticipating that each house will have a family gathering, at least yearly, and all house “get-togethers” for fun and relationship building. It is the Task Force’s vision that relationships will be made in these Christian communities that, based on individual interests or needs, will lead to the development of various small groups. Each house will function autonomously and will determine their level of participation, making sure that everyone feels cared for. The House Ministry is not meant to take the place of successful existing programs but to “develop caring opportunities “for loving our neighbors as Jesus first loved us”. 20

EXTERNALLY FOCUSED MINISTRY Theological Basis Mathew 25:34-45 (The Message), “Then the King will say to those on his right, Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why: • I was hungry and you fed me, • I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, • I was homeless and you gave me a room, • I was shivering and you gave me clothes, • I was sick and you stopped to visit, • I was in prison and you came to me. Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you? Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me-you did it to me.’ “Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left and say ‘Get out worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell, And why? • Because I was hungry and you gave me no meal, • I was thirsty and you gave me no drink • I was homeless and you gave me no bed, • I was shivering and you gave me no clothes, Sick and in prison, and you never visited. Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, “Master what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help?” He will answer them, “I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was overlooked or ignored, that was me-you filed to do it to me.” 21

How the External Task Force Arrived at Their RecommendationsThe Externally Focused Task Force examined the data provided by Healthy Church Initiative and interviews conducted with community members. Our work plan involved a multi-year plan to focus on our community’s needs. There is no need to reinvent the programs that are in place in our region-we should partner with these programs locally to be most effective. Marketing our programs and services must be an integral part of our plan. Our goal is to have everyone in Clear Lake have their basic needs of food, safety, and shelter met. Structure for Implementation of Plan - The recommendations of this task force seem to fit into the Outreach Committees scope of work but, since this is such a large program the committee recommends that this scope of work be handled by either the “Feed my Lambs” committee established by the council earlier this year or a sub-committee of Outreach dealing with local missions. We propose there would be a 4-6 person group that supervise the implementation of the plan and each goal in the plan have a group of individuals interested in the particular work area to manage the programs. Financing the Plan- the Task Force recommends a budget line item for this area’s work possibly starting at $2,000. It is our intent to look into grants, donations, and possibly endowment funds to fund most of this work. Evaluation of Plan- The supervising committee and work groups will evaluate the financial and program effectiveness on a yearly basis. Implementation of Plan- After the Council approves of this plan the supervising committee will be formed and recruiting will begin for work areas. We hope to have committees formed and meeting by year end of 2014.

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The Plan- Plan Year 1 • 1. Congregants will become familiar with poverty and how it affects children and families. This will be accomplished through poverty simulation or classes examining characteristics of poverty. Continue Open Doors Diner/Community Kitchen Project. • 2. Food Pantry will be established for Clear Lake located in CLUMC. (Located in Plaid Room). • 3. Children’s clothing closet for those who need clothing. • 4. Gardening/Community Garden to supplement the Food Pantry. • 5. Summer Meal Program/Mentor Friend for children in summer. • 6. Increased church wide participation in Clear Lake Backpack program. Plan Year 3 • 1. Referral/assistance navigating social services available in community. Possible expansion of Community Kitchen • 2. Expand clothing closet to include adults clothingpossibly with some emphasis on dressing for interviewing. • 3. Expansion of summer meal/mentor program. •

4. Study possible involvement in homeless/transitional housing

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5. Investigate possibility of housing repair ministry

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Plan Year 5 •

1. Involvement in housing ministry

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2. Study expansion/evaluation of effectiveness of ministries in previous plans.

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3. Life Skills Classes-Food Prep/Financial and Budgeting

Local Missions: Chairperson – Bobbi Bendickson (2015) Members: Marcia Grabinski (2015), Craig Rule (2016), Donna Etchen (2017), John Morgan (2017)

EXTERNALLY FOCUSED TASK GROUP: Bobbi Bendickson – Leader John Morgan Donna Etchen Judy Lincicum,

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DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY OUR MISSION: To become and make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Disciple: One who learns from Christ, believes and obeys Him. Resource used: (1) “Discipleship Pathway”, Hyde Park United Methodist Church, Tampa, Florida. (2) “Deepening Your Effectiveness”by Dan Glover and Claudia Lavy. Luke 10:27 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” How do we do this? We do this through a discipleship pathway. To begin, we need to determine in what stage of spiritual growth we are in our relationship with our God. Stage 1: I don’t know if I believe in God. I believe in God, but I don’t think I need to be involved in a faith community. Stage 2: I believe in God, but I’m not sure about Jesus or the church. My faith is not a significant part of my life. Stage 3: I believe in Jesus and I’m working on what it means to follow him. Stage 4: I’m participating in the life of the church. Stage 5: My relationship with Jesus makes a difference in how I live my life. I’m discovering how my life can make God’s love real in the world. Stage 6: Following Jesus is the most important thing in my life. My life is part of God’s transformation of the world.

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God’s role in this process: God is at work in our lives in different ways as we grow in our faith. John Wesley, the father of Methodism, described this as three forms of grace. Prevenient Grace: God meets us where we are before we have made any decision to follow him. God is calling us into a relationship and we can choose how we respond. Justifying Grace: God offers this grace to us if we choose to become Disciples of Christ and we receive it through our faith and trust in Christ. It cancels our sins, empowers us to resist the power of sin and empowers us to fully love God and our neighbor. Sanctifying Grace: This grace sustains us followers in the journey toward love of God with heart, soul, mind and strength and a genuine love of our neighbors as ourselves. Church’s Role: The church provides opportunities to experience God in Christian community through worship, small groups, and opportunities to use our spiritual gifts in service to others. The Individual’s Role: We take advantage of opportunities given to us by the church such as attending worship, being involved in small groups and committees as well as in leadership and service opportunities. The United Methodist Church tradition believes that God uses our practice of spiritual disciplines to shape us in Christ’s image. These disciplines include: Prayer and meditation Reflection on Scripture Financial generosity (tithing) Invitational evangelism Worship Communion Gift-based service 26

OUR VISION: United we worship, grow, and serve Four areas or quadrants comprise our discipleship pathway. They include Invitational Discipleship, Instructional Discipleship, Relational Discipleship, and Servant Discipleship. Resource used: DEEPENING YOUR EFFECTIVENESS Restructuring the Local Church for Life Transformation by Dan Glover and Claudia Lavy. A. INVITATIONAL DISCIPLESHIP Invitational Discipleship creates a culture in which the people of CLUMC “contagiously extend invitations to their unchurched friends and family, and then receive them as welcome, expected guests for whom the church has prepared itself.” How do we develop/create an invitational culture at CLUMC? We don’t only inform others about our spiritual activities (like worship, Bible Study, Prayer meeting, etc.) but personally invite them to COME AND SEE. We make it our practice to share through church brochures, printed sermons, Upper Room, etc. with outsiders, especially relatives and friends. We make it our practice to greet people we don’t know in church especially during worship services. What invitational training programs can we offer? Mentoring Coaching Seminar on Visitation Seminar on Invitation Faith Sharing Friendship Evangelism Servant Evangelism 27

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM STAGE 1 AND 2 QUESTIONNAIRES : 27 congregants want to learn ways to invite the unbeliever and/or the unchurched, 13 signed their names to be contacted when available Selected comments given by our congregants: Offer programs to meet their needs – food, children’s issues, clothing, etc. Keep asking and showing what our church can give Education, a safe comfortable environment, a meal Warmth, Fellowship and Friendship Open heart to include and love unconditionally Honestly be what we say we are A feeling of belonging, of “family” and friendship Anyone not wearing a nametag should be warmly greeted as a guest I think our church has become more welcoming in recent years Special nametag for guests so we would recognize them as guests I am interested in learning how to invite when I’m out doing my own thing, not going door to door

B. INSTRUCTIONAL DISCIPLESHIP Develop a comprehensive instructional ministry that systematically equips believers for Christian service. Offer as a Basic Course the “Introduction to the Christian Faith” (like the Alpha Course”) Offer the following as Elective Courses: *Christian Beliefs *United Methodist Beliefs *Spiritual Disciplines (such as prayer, Bible reading and study, worship) *John Wesley’s General Rules 28

*Christian Pattern of Living (like Bible Study on the Sermon on the Mount) *The Meaning of Membership *How to be invitational *Live Skills (such as Parenting skills, Money management, Marriage enrichment, The Daniel Plan) Stewardship (Giving and Tithing) Discipleship Pathway Externally Focused Church IMPORTANT NOTE FROM STAGE 3 QUESTIONNAIRE : 18 congregants want to know and understand beliefs, especially the United Methodist beliefs, 7 signed their names to be contacted when available 28 congregants want to know and understand the Spiritual disciplines of prayer, worship, Bible reading/study, 14 signed their names to be contacted when available 15 congregants want to know and understand John Wesley’s Rules for Christian living, 6 signed their names to be contacted when available 17 congregants want to know and understand the Christian patterns of living, 10 signed their names to be contacted when available

C. RELATIONAL DISCIPLESHIP Relational discipleship is the mechanism through which we actually participate in the restoration of others and ourselves. We grow in our understanding and practice of God’s original intent for us, God’s beloved creation. It is in the giving and receiving of encouragement, confession, direction and guidance, accountability, and loving confrontation that the Holy Spirit begins to transform us into the likeness of Christ. 29

What value and culture should we adopt in order to become like Jesus in our relationship with one another? We must have a Congregational Behavioral Covenant (Behavioral Covenant Task Force is working on this). We must have a Comprehensive Congregational Care ministry (Congregational Care Task Force is working on this). They proposed that all members of the church belong to a group with an assigned leader. In response to a congregant’s comment, we recommend a blended service (contemporary and traditional) one Sunday each quarter followed by a potluck dinner. D. SERVANT DISCIPLESHIP The Scripture calls us to serve our King, to reach out and serve others, to perform the duties to which we have been assigned. We are called to be servants. Create a culture of servant hood. We replace the word “volunteer” with the word “servant” and the words “work” and “help” with “serve.” We no longer say, “We are looking for volunteers to help teach children’s Sunday School or work in the nursery” but instead say, “We are seeking servants to serve in children’s Sunday School or the nursery.” As servants we do mission for the world (outsiders) and do ministry for the church (insiders). Opportunities to serve: Serve during worship and Sunday School (Greet, Usher, Communion helper, Acolyte, Choir, Praise Team, Teacher) Serve through the Administrative Committees (Council, SPRC, Nominations, Trustees, Finance and Stewardship, Endowment) 30

Serve through the Ministry Committees (Worship, Education, including Youth and Children, Evangelism, Outreach, Local Missions, Media Ministry, etc.) Serve through the organizations (UMW, UMM, Men’s Coffee Fellowship, Circles, Altar Guild, etc.) Serve through Open Doors Diner, Kids’ Club, Nigeria Partnership, Conference related Mission Projects, etc. Serve the community (Food pantry, Open Doors Diner, Feed the Children, Counseling, Financial aid to family in crisis, etc.) Serve the Nursing and Retirement Homes (Choir Music Ministry, Shut-in Visitation, with communion, etc.) Serve the hospital (Visitation and Prayer) IMPORTANT NOTE FROM FINAL QUESTIONNAIRE Comments given by our congregants on their vision for our church: Serve others To demonstrate through the church that Christ is present in our community TODAY Greater participation To help all of us grow in our faith and commitment to God To grow and continue to be a church of spiritual good for our people and others – to serve our God For all members to feel the need to participate in the workings of our church Vibrant congregation, programming that is relevant and well attended That we will be known as a church for loving one another in and outside the walls of our congregation No matter what the total number is, to be more cohesive and know each other better Become more active with the youth Bring the community into the church 31

Go back to one service on Sunday, blended traditional and contemporary Comments given to question “How do you see us involved in our community?” Thursdays on Main (several made this comment) I think we are very involved (several made this comment) Helping the poor, those in need (food, clothes, shelter, emotional, spiritual) To serve others, food bank, involve the youth in community service projects VBS and KIDS CLUB Music at Opportunity Village Quietly meet the needs of our community Youth outreach programs Coat, toy, formula drives keeping kids safe and showing them Jesus’ love More outreach programs Participate in activities with other churches in Christian ways I think we are doing a good job of this Be an open church for all and actively participate as a church in Clear Lake Look at our congregation first and then explore and expand Discipleship Pathway Task Group: Cheral Morgan (Leader) David Backus Katie Lindsay Sherry Johnson Michael Lollar Pastor Bernie

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Discipleship Pathway Sermon (Matthew 16:21-28) NOTE: This sermon was delivered on August 31, 2014 at Clear Lake UMC by Pastor Bernie

Discipleship Pathway is like the image on the screen. Each person represents a stage. The ocean represents the church. The beach represents the world.

Let me explain briefly each stage. As I do that, you might want to determine where you are now. The first stage is this person is on the beach looking at the ocean. He asks, “What is it there for me? Who is this Jesus that people out there are talking about? What happens if I also believe in him?” He continues to ask questions like “Will this Jesus and his church be able to help me what I am longing for? I am longing for meaning, for peace, for hope, for life and for joy.” His friend who believes in Jesus and goes to church says to him: “Come and see. Come, worship with me and find out.”

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He comes closer to the ocean and touches the water. This is the second stage. He trusts his friend and actually comes with him to a worship service. It’s his first time in that church and is happily welcome by the people. He is impressed by the friendship, care and love of the people. He thoroughly enjoys the worship service. He likes the music, understood the sermon, and impressed with the facilities. The water feels warm and good, he decided to go for a swim. He is now in the water and walks into the waist deep water. This is the third stage. What is actually happening here? This person repents of his sin and accepts Jesus as Savior. This unbeliever comes to Christ for the first time. His desire now is to grow in his knowledge about God and grow in his newly found faith. He is happy and excited. He now takes seriously the means of grace that John Wesley is talking about. He now reads and studies the Bible, prays regularly individually and with others, worships regularly with fellow believers, and partakes of the Holy Communion. He relates with the pastor, with teachers and small group leaders. With them, he achieves spiritual maturity. He also begins to get involved in the life and work of the church. He takes seriously his giving to the Lord and stewardship of his time, talents and money. This person, who is now in the 4th stage of his spiritual development, moves to the deep water. His feet are no longer touching the ground. He submits himself to the water and threading. This means that the believer begins to entertain God’s call to take a risk and join God in a deep, abiding relationship.

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This is the stage which is between very deep water and the ground. He knows the ground is only a few feet away. He contemplates whether to move forward or go back to where it is safer or stay right where he is where it is close to the ground just in case. This is the level where the pastor, Sunday School teachers, and small group leaders challenge him to take the risk. They tell him to let go of his fear and just trusts God and have faith. This is the level where he hears clearly the words of Jesus like the Scripture reading today: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” This is also the stage in which Jesus says, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” If this person takes Jesus seriously, he says, “Jesus, take me and send me.” In the 5th stage, this person is swimming and stroking into deeper water. He has faced his fear and made a decision to move forward. He does not merely believe the promises of God, he trusts that the promises are true. As he swims, he discovered that it is actually good and enjoys it. There is real spiritual fulfillment A believer in this level says, “Where has this been all my life.” In this level, fear is replaced by trust and faith. There may be hardship, trials and tribulations as he fulfills his calling but those are nothing compared to the peace and fulfillment of doing what God wants for him. This is what finding life is in the midst of trials and tribulation. This is what our lesson today is trying to tell. Jesus said, “Lose your life for me and then you actually find it.” 35

In the stage six of a believer’s spiritual development, we see a person who is fully committed. He chose to surrender everything to the journey God unfolds before him. He makes himself available to God. Whatever God wants he follows. Mother Theresa said, “I belong to Jesus. He must have the right to use me without consulting me.” A fully committed follower of Christ never stops. He only reloads. If you are a pastor, does that mean there is no retirement? Living in the truth of God’s presence and purpose is where a fully committed follower finds comfort. My friends, examine your path. Keep moving forward. Go where God wants you to be. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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Behavioral Covenant Sunday January 25, 2015 Sermon Unity with Christ (Ephesians 4:1-16) On November 8, 2014, we held a Behavioral Covenant Workshop attended by about 30 members/leaders of Clear Lake United Methodist Church. We discussed holy manners for the church, and came up with ideas on how we should behave as people of God. The SPRC put the ideas into a concise and understandable covenant. This “Behavioral Covenant” was approved by the Church Council. Today, the “behavioral covenant” is presented to you and we ask you to give your blessing. Let me enumerate and explain to us the specifics of the covenant. First, “Let our actions be guided by love and respect for others.” We have experienced the love of God through Jesus Christ. As we go about the work of ministry Christ has called us to do, we are guided by love – the same love that Jesus manifested. Paul was talking about the same love in our Scripture reading today. There is love when we show respect to each other. I am reminded of the life positions that Thomas Harris wrote about years ago. First life position is, “I’m okay, you are not okay.” Second is “You’re okay, I’m not okay.” Third, “I’m okay, you’re okay.” When we love, we treat each other justly and equally. “I’m okay, you’re okay.” “I love you, you love me”. “I respect you, you respect me”. “The Christ in me is the same Christ in you.” Second, “Build an attitude of gratitude.” Gratitude to God for his wonderful creations and for what he has done and given in Jesus Christ. Show gratitude to each one at all times. A short song of thanksgiving says, “God we thank you for our food and for one another.” Human tendency is to look at the negative things of life. When I was a District Superintendent some church leaders and members came to me complaining about their pastor. I wanted a balanced and healthy discussion, so I encouraged them to enumerate as well things they are thankful for about their pastor. There were many. 37

In our reading today, Paul said, “We must stop acting like children”. The church should be a place where we hear more praise than criticism and more thanksgiving than complaints. If our mind set is gratitude, there is always something that we can be thankful for about each individual including the person we don’t like. Build an attitude of gratitude in church, at home, at school, in the place of work, and even when watching a championship football game. Third, “Build bridges through open and clear communication, love and trust for other members, church leaders, and pastors.” We must build bridges instead of walls. Bridge connects us to each other. Walls separate us from each other. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, a bridge has been built to connect us to God and to one other. We build walls when we don’t allow open and clear communication. We build walls when out of fear we don’t express our honest thoughts and feelings. Out of love and trust, we are able to have true dialogue and open exchange of ideas with each other. In our reading today, Paul said, “Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ.” Fourth, “Graciously affirm leadership decisions thoughtfully and prayerfully made for the good of the Church.” In the United Methodist Church there are elected and appointed leaders. All chairpersons of Committees at Clear Lake UMC are elected by the people through the Church Conference presided over by the District Superintendent. There are also some lay people who are appointed by the pastor or other leaders to do some special work for the church. As your pastor, I am appointed by the Bishop to Clear Lake Church. Today, we “graciously affirm” all of our leaders. Affirmation is best expressed through our behavior and action.

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The people that you elected make some decisions for the Church. We trust them. With them, pray for God’s blessings for the decisions. Sometimes we do not agree with the decisions of our leaders, and we punish them. We punish them by discontinuing our support to the church, by not coming to worship, or by badmouthing them not only among fellow members but even outside the church. If we disagree, let us not do something that will hurt the body of Christ. In our reading, St. Paul said, “Try your best to let God’s Spirit keep your hearts united.” Fifth (and last) is “Support spiritual growth through commitment and sacrifice of our own desires for the will of God.” Spiritual growth is the primary desire of God for his people. John Wesley instructed the early Methodists to observe the “ordinances” of God. He later called them “means of grace”. Means of grace include worship, prayer, Bible reading, fasting, and Holy Communion. We stay in love with God when we practice daily the means of grace of prayer, worship, Bible reading, fasting and Holy Communion. Let us support spiritual growth through our regular participation in worship service. I believe that God is happy about our covenant today. God wants a strong church in this time and place. This kind of covenant makes us a strong, healthy, and alive church. This covenant makes us a truly united church. The most important witness that we make today in our present world and time is our being one. A divided church is a weak and dying church. A United church is a strong church and growing church. Let us be the church God wants us to be. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. By Pastor Bernie Colorado 39

IMPLEMENTING STRUCTURE Behavioral Covenant Pastor, Lay Leader, and SPRC

Leadership Development Pathway Pastor, Lay Leader, Church Council Chair person and Committee on Nominations Discipleship Pathway Pastor, Education and Evangelism Committees Externally Focused Missions Committee on Local Missions

Congregational Care House Leaders and Shepherd Coordinators Jane Lobdell and Malinda Loge

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