Guidelines Adult Ministries: Help Adults Love God and Neighbor

by Cokesbury, Cokesbury (Contribution by)

Overview

The adult ministry life span is the greatest and most diverse of any age level because it can encompass seven (or more) decades. An adult ministry that includes all adults encourages people to grow and mature in faith so they may be vital disciples for a lifetime.

Your congregation will have decided what kind of structure is needed to plan for adult faith formation and discipleship. Your position title may be Coordinator of Adult Ministries, Team Leader for Adult Discipleship, Coordinator of Singles Ministries, or some other title indicating that you are a leader in adult ministries. Your role is to keep the big picture of adult faith formation and discipleship in view and to help develop a comprehensive strategy that is appropriate for your congregation’s context. Regardless of your title, church size, or structure this Guideline is designed to help equip you in leading adult ministries in your congregation.

This is one of the twenty-six Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation 2017-2020 that cover church leadership areas including Church Council and Small Membership Church; the administrative areas of Finance and Trustees; and ministry areas focused on nurture, outreach, and witness including Worship, Evangelism, Stewardship, Christian Education, age-level ministries, Communications, and more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781501830167
Publisher:	Cokesbury
Publication date:	11/15/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	816 KB

Read an Excerpt

Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation 2017-2020 Adult Ministries - Adult Ministries

Help Adults Love God and Neighbor

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By Scott Hughes, William Randolph

Cokesbury

Copyright © 2016 Cokesbury
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5018-3016-7

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CHAPTER 1

Biblical and Theological Foundations

The apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Colossians:

"[B]e filled with the knowledge of God's will, with all wisdom and spiritual understanding. We're praying this so that you can live lives that are worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way: by producing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God....

So live in Christ Jesus the Lord in the same way as you received him. Be rooted and built up in him, be established in faith, and overflow with thanksgiving just as you were taught." (Colossians 1:9-10; 2:6-7)

This passage is one way to describe the desired results of ministries with adults — wise, knowledgeable adults who are growing in the faith and who consistently demonstrate their love of God and neighbor.

Called to Lead

You have been called to work with other leaders in the church to fulfill the church's mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Research indicates that two of the primary drivers that have an impact on the vitality of congregations are small groups and effective lay leadership. As a leader of adult faith formation and discipleship, your ministry relates directly to both of these drivers. You have a unique responsibility to provide leadership in your congregation so that adults in all life stages are:

• accepted as beloved children of God;

• provided opportunities to relate to God through worship, prayer, and other spiritual disciplines;

• nurtured in the faith through Bible study, mutual accountability, and other faith-forming practices;

• sent out as disciples of Jesus Christ to participate in God's transformation of the world.

The Book of Discipline states that the function of the local church "is to help people to accept and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and to live their daily lives in light of their relationship with God" (202). As the body of Christ, we are challenged to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to all people.

As a spiritual leader in your congregation, you will find support, courage, and wisdom through the Holy Spirit. As you engage individually and with others in adult faith formation and discipleship, you will experience God's grace and be empowered to lead other adults as they grow in faith.

CHAPTER 2

The Core Process: Offering H.O.P.E. with Adults

The invitation to be part of the kingdom of God is good news! People of all ages thrive as they receive and respond to God's prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying grace in and through the church. As you meet and get to know the adults of your community, you will find opportunities to invite them into the life of the congregation, which embodies our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We do this by providing H.O.P.E. Hospitality, Offer Christ, Purpose, and Engagement.

Hospitality — Are you reaching out and receiving all people, including those not in the church? Is your church intentionally proclaiming the gospel, seeking, welcoming, and gathering people into the body of Christ?

Offer Christ — What opportunities does your congregation offer for adult spiritual formation? What intentional processes are in place to lead people to commit their lives to God through baptism by water and the Spirit and profession of faith in Jesus Christ?

Purpose — How are you equipping people for Christian discipleship? How are you nurturing people in Christian living to help them find a true sense of purpose in life? Are people learning what it means to live out their beliefs through acts of piety and acts of mercy, through worship, the sacraments, spiritual disciplines, and other means of grace, such as Wesley's Christian conferencing?

Engagement — The ultimate test of effective discipleship in and through a congregation or an individual Christian is found in the family, the workplace, the political arena, and in relationships with neighbors. How are you sending people into the world to live lovingly and justly as servants of Christ by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, caring for the stranger, freeing the oppressed, being and becoming a compassionate, caring presence, and working to develop social structures that are consistent with the gospel?

As adult ministries coordinator, you assist your congregation in developing ministries that embody H.O.P.E. The "H.O.P.E. with Adults" chart can help you think through how you "work" the flow with various groups of adults.

H.O.P.E. with Adults

Using the chart "H.O.P.E. with Adults" (available as "Adult01-Hope with Adults Chart. pdf" at www.UMOfficialResources.com/Guidelines and www.MinistryGuidelines.org), list the settings and/or ways in which you live out H.O.P.E. through your congregation with single adults, single parents, married couples, working adults, homebound adults, adults living in long-term care facilities, and other groups of adults in your congregation and served through your congregation. You may want to add notes about how often each setting or method is offered, who is involved, and any thoughts you have about improvement.

CHAPTER 3

Ministry Description

Your congregation will decide what kind of structure is needed to plan for adult discipleship. Some structures will be formal and ongoing, such as an adult council or education/nurture team. Some structures may be informal and short-term, such as a task force formed to plan an older-adult retreat. Your position title may be coordinator of adult ministries, team leader for adult discipleship, coordinator of singles ministries, or some other title indicating that you are a leader in adult ministries. Regardless of your title, church size, or structure, this Guideline is designed to help equip you in leading adult ministries in your congregation. (Note: If you work with young adults, ages 18–30, please read Guidelines: Ministries with Young People, 2017–2020.)

Your role is to keep the big picture of adult faith formation and discipleship in view and to help develop a comprehensive strategy appropriate for your context. Within those boundaries, your responsibilities may include:

• becoming familiar with the overall goals of your congregation and how the goals are achieved through the congregation's ministry with adults;

• identifying and articulating the needs of adults of all ages and life situations in your congregation and community;

• serving as liaison with organizations, people, and resources that relate to adults and their concerns for personal growth and service;

• supporting and guiding the work of the adult council (or other structure) throughout the year, planning agendas, and presiding at meetings;

• helping to plan and carry out a varied and wide-ranging ministry with adults, including worship, study, fellowship, intergenerational events, and service opportunities;

• communicating the goals and plans for ministries with adults of all life stages;

• reviewing and evaluating resources and programs that address the faith formation needs and passions of adults at various life stages and stages of faith;

• representing the vision of adult ministries on the church council and charge conference.

The Roles of the Adult Coordinator

Whether you are the coordinator of all adult ministries or a specific segment (single adults, older adults, and so forth), you fulfill a crucial role of leadership in the life of the congregation. Since adults make up the majority of members in most congregations, the work of the coordinator heavily influences the life of the church. Your position as leader can involve several roles.

Servant Leader

First and foremost, you are a servant leader. In the broadest sense, you serve as a leader for all adults in the congregation and as one partner to the lay leader. Specifically, you lead the adult council or ministry team. You were chosen because you have exhibited the qualities needed for such an important position in your congregation.

A servant leader models openness to God and continues growing in the Christian faith. This role requires such skills as the ability to listen to the needs of others, compassion, discernment, and scriptural understanding. As a leader of adults, you have the privilege and opportunity to invite others to join in the journey. Helping adults become transformational disciples of Jesus Christ is an important role for the coordinator of adult ministries.

A servant leader understands and supports the mission of the church. It is important to participate actively in all aspects of the church's life. You work with the church council to plan how your congregation fulfills the mission. As you work with other adults, you also build healthy relationships, balancing the concern for accomplishing a task with tending to the feelings and concerns of group members.

You set the pace for the work of the adult council (or committee or team) by carefully planning the agenda, keeping members informed, involving members in decision making, equipping and encouraging your team members to fulfill their agreed upon tasks, and seeking at all times to embody what it means to be a Christian disciple.

Visionary

Helping to envision what is possible and what is needed is a crucial role. You will be called upon to "think big," but at the same time not to lose touch with the realities of the situation. A vital part of our United Methodist theology is the desire "to go on to perfection." One of your roles is to envision how adult faith formation and discipleship help adults strive to emulate the example of Jesus in every aspect of their lives. You will help discern how and where God is calling adults to live and grow as God's people in your specific context.

Advocate

The coordinator serves as an advocate for adults in the various groups that plan and administer the church's ministry. You report to the church council on the goals of the adult council and advocate for adults who are left out or whose needs are being overlooked in church programming or in the community. Advocacy may take many forms, all the way from seeking more financial support for adult ministries and planning retreats for single parents to providing caring outreach to older adults in long-term care facilities.

Planner

You lead the adult council in planning ministries that will involve adults in worship, study, fellowship, service, and mission. You work with the adult council to interpret and promote adult ministries within the context of the church's mission, evaluate present ministries, identify additional needs, set priorities, enlist leaders, and implement plans. This role is particularly important for baby boomers who tend to work better together with less structure than older adults. Their work styles are more focused on tasks than on relationships.

Equipper/Recruiter

You serve as a lookout and coach, as you identify potential leaders, invite them to assume specific responsibilities, and provide them with the support needed to serve effectively. As you consider the various opportunities offered for adults, identify the gifts needed to lead those opportunities. Then consider those who have the gifts, passion, and potential for leadership in the area of adult ministries.

Evaluator

A key to good leadership is the ability to evaluate what is happening in the present. Are the present ministries working effectively? Are they meeting needs? Are they focused on helping adults grow in faith and discipleship? Are they helping to fulfill the church's ministry (H.O.P.E.) of offering Hospitality, leveraging opportunities to Offer Christ, Purposely nurturing Christian living, and Engaging people in God's world?

If you have questions about your role, consult with your pastor or chair of the church council. In addition to this Guideline, consult The Book of Discipline and other resources available through your church office or library.

CHAPTER 4

Getting Started

How might a local church develop an intentional ministry among adults? While there is not a one-size-fits-all plan for every church or context, these general suggestions should apply.

A Five-Step Design

The following five steps will help you and your congregation design a ministry with, by, and for adults.

1. Organize a Ministry Team

If there is no adult council, find one other person who shares your vision for adult ministry in your church. Begin looking for others who are especially interested in sharing your vision. Review the names of people with your pastor and the committee on nominations and leadership development and consider the suggestions they make. Organize an adult ministry team with a cross section of all adults, including women and men; people who are single, married, divorced, and widowed; people representing a variety of ages and stages; people with disabilities; and people representing multiracial and multicultural diversity. After the adult ministry team is approved by the charge conference, the team should receive clarity regarding its relationship with the church council, committee on education, or other related committees.

While some churches may just have one adult ministry team, others will have several teams (task forces, councils, or committees) organized around specific life stages or experiences. For example, a church might have a singles ministry team or an older-adult team.

2. Gather Information about Adults

The adult ministry team can collect information in a variety of ways: face-to-face interviews, telephone calls, focus groups, and surveys via e-mail or your church's website. With each adult's permission, record as much information as possible. Include:

• name, address, phone numbers, e-mail, and other contact information;

• information about their needs as adults;

• information about ways they, as adults, can be in service to others.

3. Identify Existing Ministries and Community Programs

Review and identify all church programs and activities for the previous year or two that involved adults, families, and single adults. You will want to know:

• the audience for each ministry (all adults, older adults, people new to the church, and so forth);

• the kind of activity involved in the ministry (worship, study, fellowship, or service);

• the duration of the ministry (one-time, short-term repeated, ongoing, and so forth).

Also collect information about community programs, organizations, and activities that involve adults. A community organization might already be providing a program that successfully addresses a need of adults in your congregation. You may want to explore whether a partnership is desirable and feasible. Identify ways adults can be involved in community service.

4. Set Goals

Set S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals, clarify objectives, and help in the evaluation process. These can be helpful in explaining the direction of the adult committee to other church teams. Make sure these goals are in line with the overall goals of the church (especially as they relate to H.O.P.E.).

5. Design Your Ministry

After gathering information about adults in your congregation and community, assessing current ministries, and setting goals, you are ready to begin planning for the coming year. Your design should include:

• priorities for developing new ministries and continuing current ministries that best use your resources for nurturing adult faith and discipleship;

• benchmarks to measure your progress (see the Resources section for more information);

• goals and strategies for achieving ministry priorities, along with a timeline for each ministry opportunity;

• finances, resources, leaders, and facilities needed for the various ministry opportunities;

• plans for communicating and promoting adult ministry opportunities throughout the congregation and community;

• methods for evaluating the effectiveness of your plans.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation 2017-2020 Adult Ministries - Adult Ministries by Scott Hughes, William Randolph. Copyright © 2016 Cokesbury. Excerpted by permission of Cokesbury.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Contents

Blessed to Be a Blessings,
Biblical and Theological Foundations,
Called to Lead,
The Core Process: Offering H.O.P.E. with Adults,
H.O.P.E. with Adults,
Ministry Description,
The Roles of the Adult Coordinator,
Getting Started,
A Five-Step Design,
Faith Formation and Discipleship in Adulthood,
Developmental Tasks in Adulthood,
Religious Experience of Adults,
Adult Developmental Characteristics,
Generational Snapshot: Millennials,
Generational Snapshot: Postmoderns,
Generational Snapshot: Baby Boomers,
Generational Snapshot: Pioneers and GI Generation,
Settings for Adult Faith Formation and Discipleship,
Setting for Adult Faith Formation and Discipleship,
Leader Development,
Start New Classes and Groups,
Measures and Evaluation,
Measure Participation,
Measure Effectiveness,
Measure Appropriateness,
A Final Word,
Resources,
Discipleship Ministries,
General Church Print Resources,
Planning Adult Ministries,
Web Resources,
UMC Agencies & Helpful Links,