| Survey to help shape 'future of urban ministry'
 Dec. 5, 2006
A UMNS Report
By Linda Bloom*
Ten years ago, the United Methodist Church adopted a strategy called
"Holy Boldness" to shape the denomination's ministry in urban areas of
the United States.
Now, as United Methodists prepare for the meeting of the 2008 General
Conference, their top legislative body, that plan is being evaluated and
revised.
To assist in the process, a survey, "Shaping the Future of Urban
Ministry," is being conducted by the Office of Urban Ministry, United
Methodist Board of Global Ministries, and the related National Urban
Strategy Council.
The questionnaire can be found at www.surveymonkey.com through Jan. 31.
Concerns raised at a luncheon during the denomination's 2006
International Clergywomen's Consultation last August in Chicago showed
the need for such a survey, according to Diane Johnson, staff executive
for the Office of Urban Ministry.
Johnson provided support for the Rev. Karen Vannoy, pastor of Travis
Park United Methodist Church in San Antonio, who convened the luncheon
for some 90 clergywomen. Bishop Janice Huie, president of the
denomination’s Council of Bishops, led the discussion and expressed her
own lack of experience as a young bishop with urban ministry, Johnson
said.
Other women agreed, asking for more diversity in the resources available
for urban ministries; a focus on the legacy of racism and classism;
better training for urban churches, particularly to work with inner city
youth; an emphasis on lay leadership and the possibility of lay
missionaries; attention to issues of urban decline and gentrification
and other efforts to focus on urban needs and concerns.
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Diane Johnson |
Reviewing the comments, Johnson said she found "the need for more
information, more networking, and more how-to steps." She also sees an
opportunity to connect with United Methodists outside the United States
who are dealing with urban concerns.
One of the issues raised as the Holy Boldness plan is revised is what
the term "urban" actually means, she added. While the United Methodist Book of Discipline
defines an urban population as 50,000 people or more, such groupings of
population can now be found even in formerly rural areas as suburbs
expand into "exurbs," defined as regions lying beyond the suburbs of a
city.
The focus of the Office of Urban Ministry, she said, remains on downtown urban areas and first-ring suburbs.
Johnson's office and the National Urban Strategy Council collaborated
with the United Methodist Board of Discipleship to create the survey. As
of late November, about 400 responses had been received, she reported. A
tabulation of responses is expected in February.
The survey collects geographic data and asks "a broad range of
questions" about the types of ministries being offered by local
churches, districts and annual (regional) conferences and what their
needs are, particularly in terms of resourcing and networking through
the denomination. Respondents have opportunities to comment throughout
the survey and Johnson has found that, "in some instances, people are
just happy to vent."
In addition to the online survey for clergy and laity, a survey aimed at
United Methodist bishops will be sent out in January, probably by mail.
A third survey is designed for the denomination’s 13 seminaries.
The research, including survey results, will provide a revised and
refined urban ministry plan tentatively called "Holy Boldness: Pathways
to Transformation" (referred to as "Transformation" in the survey).
According to Johnson, the new plan will focus more on the "how-tos" of
urban ministries and include a manual to assist churches, districts and
conferences. She can be contacted via e-mail at dhjohnson@gbgm-umc.org for more information.
*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York.
News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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