(From the Holy Spirit inspired paragraph 206 of the Discipline)
1.
Blended
Parish(Blended/Teaching Parish):
This model has one or
more small congregations cooperating with a larger church with
only one of all the committees and Boards, with one Charge
Conference with equal representation from each church where
the small churches are not considered satellites. The committees
rotate meetings around the blend churches and the pastors
agree among themselves with the Ad.Council on a plan of
rotation. Appointments by the bishop and assignments by the District
Supt. are made to the individual churches. Nothing changes
for the individual churches as they all receive equal billing
as worship centers in the blend. Each member church may
keep existing funds, investments, savings, etc. but it is understood
that they are responsible for providing salary, apportionments,
and utilities. However, nothing in the model would
deter mutual helpfulness!
2.
Revised version of Model
1:
1. This
Model is identical to Model One except this model would not advertise
itself as a “New Church with worship centers
at…” For example, in Model One, the Administrative
Board (Church Council) would create a new name for the Blend: Welcome
to Faith United Methodist Church with worship centers at St.Paul,
Boston, Gilmore, and Love United Methodist Churches.” THIS
MODEL TWO WOULD NOT DO THIS. IT WOULD NOT CREATE A NEW NAME FOR THE
CHURCHES IN THE BLEND.
2. The idea in
this Model Two is to reduce some of the fear that any potential member
church would lose its autonomy as a historic backbone church.
Giving a new name to a group of churches might not be a good idea.
3. As in Model
One, it is exciting to visualize the rotation of the committees and
Boards around the member churches (regardless of size) and the rotation
of pastors. We would see the Spiritual richness of new
relationships, friendships and the elimination of territorial
controls.
4. The pastors
would with the approval of the Administrative Boards (Church Council)
create their own periods of rotation. The periods could be as
soon as every week, month or perhaps just every quarter.
3.
The Resurrection Model:
1. This Model Three differs from Models One and Two in that all the
committees and boards remain within each member church as usual except
the committee on pastor-parish relations. (PPR)
2. Again, all other Committees, Boards remain with the member churches.
However, in this Model Three the Committee on Parish Relations takes on
an expanded role with a pastor who works out the rotation of the
pastors in the blend and other issues of mutual benefit with each
member church functioning as per the Discipline in all United Methodist
Churches.
3. In the exciting Resurrection Model, this lead pastor has determined
that all the pastors will use the lectionary as the suggested basis of
sermon creation. The pastors spend two weeks in each church and
then move on to the next congregation in the blend.
4. This Model Three PPR has equal representation from each member church in the blend.
5. This Model has one Charge Conference as in Models One and Two.
(See the “Greater Leipsic Multi Site Parish in the Northwest
Plains District of the Ohio West Conference at
(srpastor@fairpoint.net) Resurrection Model was the name given to
this Leipsic Blend.)
4.
Revised Version of Model Three:
1. This Model Four is identical to Model Three except that the periods
of pastor rotation are decided by a meeting of the pastors with
rotation schedules flexible by approval of the Committee on
Pastor-Parish Relations.(PPR) Instead of every two weeks it could
be monthly, quarterly, etc.
2. Another significant difference is that appointments and assignments are made to the individual churches in the blend.
3. In this Model Four the pastors are free to choose the lectionary or
any other scriptural resource for sermon creation. This gives
greater freedom of choice for the pastors.
4. It is understood in this and all Models that there is an outstanding
need for mentoring of newly ordained, Local Pastor newly assigned,
student pastors. All need to be given specific knowledge of the
common sense people skills as they approach a new
congregation. Too many pastors want to push their own
agenda without truly engaging what is in the minds of their
congregations and discerning the traditions that must be
respected.
For many decades we have set fine people into new situations without
the basic preparation needed to get off to a fruitful beginning.
No business would do this that expects to prosper. The UMC
will prosper.
