"The Five Practices are the keys to our future as a church, meeting the spiritual needs of the community,” claims one participant in the Fall Leadership Summit Nov. 14 at First United Methodist Church in Mansfield.

 

This sentiment was echoed repeatedly in the evaluation forms submitted by nearly 50 percent of the 1,100 who attended. Bishop Robert Schnase, episcopal leader for the Missouri Annual Conference, took his highly successful “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations” guidelines to the next level for local church pastors and lay people, giving very personalized illustrations to emphasize each of the practices.

 

Longtime United Methodist Iris Wilson of First United Methodist Church in Waxahachie was forthright in sharing her response to the leadership training event: “Having be

enlarge>> Lunch at the Fall Summit was casual with an opportunity to visit and discuss the day�s program.

en a United Methodist for over 60 years, my idea of bishops was one of ‘ivory tower’ people who didn’t seem to really know the parishioners’ needs. Today my whole idea has completely changed. Bishop Schnase and Bishop [Mike] Lowry have hearts that ‘connect.’ Thank you!”

 

“Bishop Schnase brought so much excitement and passion to his presentation,” said another participant who added, “I feel challenged and inspired by his effective and fruitful practices.”

 

Bishop Schnase’s guidelines are based on the fact that vibrant, fruitful, growing congregations practice:

 

Radical Hospitality out of genuine love for Christ and others;

 

Passionate Worship that connects people to God and one another;

 

Intentional Faith Development as a means of maturing ones faith by learning together in community;

 

Risk-Taking Mission and Service that includes the projects, the efforts and work people do to make a positive difference in the lives of others for the purposes of Christ, whether or not they will ever to be a part of the community of faith; and

 

Extravagant Generosity by sharing and giving in a way that exceeds all expectations out of love for God and neighbor.

 

For those who wish to continue talking about these five practices or want to ask questions or share positive experiences, a forum is available on this website. See main page, click on Five Practices, “register” in the upper right hand corner and then join in the dialogue on one or all of the Five Practices.