School of Fruitful Congregations

Objective

 Help local churches to improve the basic activities of the church and strengthen evangelism

 What You Get from This Program

This program is different from other programs that offer only knowledge and information: “Here is something that you can do. This will help you to grow your church. Have fun. Bye now.” And that’s the end. Local churches, with excitement, try to do something out of it, but without much success. Why? They have learned what to do from the program, but they don’t know how to do it and nobody helps.

In this program, the leader team will help local churches to grow by: (1) teaching what to do and how to do it (but this is not the end of teaching), (2) coaching and counseling provided by program leaders afterward when implementing what you have learned, and (3) learning and working together with partner churches.

Program

Eight learning sessions for two years

1. Spring 2009 Understanding of Ministry and development of mission and vision

2. Spring 2009 Radical Hospitality

3. Fall 2009 Passionate Worship

4. Fall 2009 Intentional Faith Development

5. Spring 2010 Risk-taking Mission and Service

March 6, Utica: Asbury UMC, Rutger Street, Utica

6. Spring 2010 Extravagant Generosity

May 22, Delta UMC, Rome, NY

7. Fall 2010 Needs-Based Evangelism, Sept 18, 9 - 1:45

Maynard UMC, 9626 Maynard Drive, Marcy

8. Fall 2010 Evaluation/Assessment/Planning, date & location-TBA

Each session includes:

Preparation for the learning session – Devotion and study

One-day learning session – learning and planning

Implementation – Implementation of plans with ongoing coaching from the leader team and mutual sharing with a partner church

Local Church Team

Only 10 churches will be admitted to this program. Each local church sends a team of six people, pastor and 5 lay people, to the program. The local church team must attend all sessions. Each local church is encouraged to bring other church members who provide leadership in, or who have passion for, the ministry area of each session.

Covenant relationship with accountability

It is not one-day program. It is a corporate journey for two years. It requires commitment, faithfulness and accountability to each other among participants and program leaders. It demands hard work for implementation and practice of learning. This program is not for the churches that only wish to grow without commitment and passion. This program is for the churches that are passionate about and committed to growth.

Application Fee

$175/year for church team for teaching material and lunch.

It is only $7.50/session/person.

Suggestions: Encourage your congregation to Special monthly offering - $15/month

Church dinner

Program Leaders:

Darryl Barrow, Director of Spiritual Leadership, UNY Conference

Lauren Swanson, Director of Congregational Development, UNY Conference

Sung Ho Lee, Mohawk District Superintendent, UNY Conference  

Resources

Robert Schnase, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations

Commongoodradio.org

For more info call: (315) 894-3324 or (315) 866-1349

The Academy for Spiritual Formation

Spiritual Growth through a disciplined community

If you like so many other Christians today, are experiencing a deep spiritual hunger,

but have been unable to find ways to fill it, the information at this web site will interest

you: http://www.upperroom.org/academy/

The Academy for Spiritual Formation is a two-year covenant learning environment which

combines academic learning and experience in spiritual disciplines. Each Academy is

two years in length. Participants meet in residence for 5 days each calendar quarter. Go

to the following web site for up and coming academies    

http://www.upperroom.org/academy/upcomingacademies.asp 

Conference/Other Districts

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