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Congregational Development and Transformation

We are all called to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world – even when (and perhaps especially when) that world is in crisis. The Office of Congregational Development and Transformation has the privilege of resourcing and supporting the churches in our Conference to help them live out that mission in their unique context.

Like humans, churches also have life cycles. Is your church growing? Experiencing a plateau, or declining? The Office of Congregational Development and Transformation works with churches in all stages of their life cycle.

We offer the following initiatives to meet the needs of our churches. Through our Church Planting initiative, we help to birth new churches. We also offer the Church Transformation Process, Black Church Vitality, and NP² (New Places for New People). All of these initiatives are to help our churches be more effective and fruitful, whether they are currently growing, plateaued, or declining. Finally, the Legacy Church Process is for churches discerning faithful options at the end of their life cycle.

In all the work that we do, our goal is to help create new life cycles and renew existing ones, so our Louisiana churches can continue to grow and thrive by making new and mature disciples of Jesus Christ!

Church Transformation Process

Through the Church Transformation Process, pastors and key leaders in church spend time learning best practices for growing a healthy congregation and participating in adaptive leadership training.

These churches then go through an extensive self-study and assessment process to examine their current reality and explore their potential. Each church then receives recommendations and develops a Ministry Action Plan to take the next right steps to faithfully and fully live into their mission in their community.

Whether you are a small, mid-sized, or larger church, if you would like to see your congregation experience what other churches have experienced through the Church Transformation Process and are willing to invest some hard work, please talk to us so that we can partner with you and walk alongside you in this journey of transformation!

Black Church Vitality

We realize that black churches have unique circumstances and situations.

Our office works with The Black Church Vitality Task Force which was formed to empower and grow the African-American Churches in our Conference.

Our goal is to continue developing programs and initiatives and provide resources that will strengthen our black churches and to help them to flourish.

Church Planting

There are two sides to the coin of church growth. As a conference, we need to renew and transform our existing churches. Simultaneously, we also need to plant new faith communities to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. When we can do these two things well, we will see the expansion of God's Kingdom through the Methodist movement in Louisiana.

Church planters are faithful entrepreneurs who invest endless hours connecting with their mission field and reaching new people for Jesus Christ.

It is our prayer that new church plants take root well, grow to lead many to Christ, and then multiply themselves to reach even more people for God’s Kingdom.

If you or your church is feeling called to church planting work, please contact our office.

NP² (New Places for New People)

The NP² initiative offers individuals, or a team in an existing congregation, an opportunity to create a brand new expression of a faith community for people not already connected with the existing church. In these new virtual or physical places, new people will experience community, encounter Jesus, and take that next step of becoming a follower of Jesus Christ!

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What are you passionate about? Do you play tennis? Love coffee? Exercise? Dogs? Food? What if we tell you that all of these passions can help you reach new people and share the love of Jesus within the community?

We are encouraging you to take risks and experiment in creating community with people who share common interests with you!

Legacy Church Process

Not all churches retain the capacity to transform, reinvent themselves, start new things to reach new people, or even sustain their current ministry.

The Legacy Church process can help you discern where your church is in its life cycle, what options are available for you, and what faithful steps you may take to celebrate your congregation’s decades of ministry while helping to launch a new expression of church life that will honor your historic legacy.

If this process is for your church, please reach out to us so that we can walk alongside you in this process.

For more information on any of the above initiatives,

please contact the Congregational Development & Transformation Office.