Last
week Gus Byrom and I participated in a retreat which focused on the theme of
congregational vitality. It was a lively and inspiring experience which included
pastors and church members from several UCC congregations around Montana. Our guest leader was Rev. Courtney
Stange-Tregear, Minister for Church Vitality with the Pacific Northwest
Conference UCC. She introduced us to a model for developing vital congregations
which is based on Micah 6:8. “God has told you, O people, what is good; and what does
the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love
kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” The basic
idea behind the model is that “vitality” is not something that can be developed
directly. Instead, it is one of the natural by-products which occurs when the
elements of Micah 6:8 (doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with
God) are consistently and intentionally practiced within the life of the
congregation. I found it to be a simple model with profound possibilities, and
I believe it holds the potential to be transformational for our congregation.
In the coming weeks and months I will be working with the Church Council to
find ways of making use of it in our life together at Plymouth.
- Pastor Roger
(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)
