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Soapstone UMC Visioning Report

Affirmative Topic:   Gifts
Soapstone UMC is at its best when we discover and celebrate the gifts and abilities God has given each of us and encourage everyone to use those gifts together to do God’s work.

Provocative proposition:
The church described in Scripture is a body made up of many parts, an illustration that emphasizes the diversity of our gifts and talents as well as our dependence on one  another. Through Jesus Christ, we are more than the sum of our parts. We seek to work together in unity and harmony as we reach out to and serve those in our community and throughout the world. Some of God’s gifts are already revealed and some are awaiting discovery, nurture and growth.

Objectives
1. Beginning June, 2011, implement the Faith Leader   Program to equip spiritually engaged laity to assume positions of leadership within SUMC. (Pastor and Faith Leader Team)

2. Conduct a needs assessment within the immediate   community (2-3 mile radius) utilizing demographic data as well as key community contacts such as school and  retirement home administrators/counselors, social workers, neighborhood associations by December, 2011. (Missions Committee, Evangelism Team)

3. Develop a comprehensive Spiritual Gifts Ministry Program to provide a means of identifying the spiritual gifts and abilities of the SUMC family and begin to incorporate these in ministries which address needs identified in #2. Target the availability of initial results for September, 2012 nominations. (Faith Leader Team, Lay Leadership and Stewardship Committees with representation from Adult, Youth, and Children’s Ministries)

4. Develop a Time, Talents, and Interests Survey Program for SUMC and begin implementation in September, 2011 so that we can address the needs of our community.  (Lay Leadership Committee)

5. Continue to develop a comprehensive program to plan, promote and publicize mission opportunities so SUMC families and friends can become engaged in missions related to their gifts and abilities. (Missions and Communications Committees)

6. Develop and implement a means to acknowledge and celebrate contributions and efforts of SUMC families and friends to church functions and events. (Lay Leadership and Communication Committees)

Affirmative Topic:   Christian Formation
Soapstone UMC is at its best when God transforms lives through worship, missions, discipleship, and fellowship opportunities and all are actively engaged in worship and small groups for Christian formation.

Provocative proposition:
Jesus brought a message of change and transformation, and we seek to do the same through meaningful, relevant and God Centered worship and small group activities for Christian formation. As Christians, we promise to nurture persons from cradle to grave. We approach our ministries with the knowledge that God is at work in our midst. We are faithful stewards of resources but are not hindered in our ministries, knowing that – with faith – gifts offered by transformed hearts are multiplied and God will provide.

Objectives
By July, 2011, establish a task force of laity and Soapstone staff to plan a long- and short-term strategy to help transform Soapstone from a “church of Missions” to a “church of Christian Formation, Discipleship and Missions.” The task force will work with SUMC committees to evaluate and recommend ways to:

a) Encourage disciple-making within the Soapstone community.

b) Encourage Soapstone individuals and families to make scripture reading a daily commitment.

c) Strengthen the devotional life of the congregation.

d) Expand the prayer ministry to gain wider involvement and increase comfort of the SUMC family with intercessory prayer.

e) Encourage cradle to grave focus on Christian formation.

f) Enable members to become aware of God within their lives, articulate what it means to be a disciple of Christ, and witness their experiences with others.

g) Deepen the discipleship of long term members.

h) Strengthen the ties between children, youth, and adult ministries.

i) Integrate discipleship into mission experiences.