Proposed Innovations
innovations report
The Innovations Report is the product of the Innovations Weekend held recently (Jan 25-27) at the church. It was written by a team from the NLI coordinator that came together to listen and discern what our church was ready to do to go to the ‘next level’ of God’s calling on your community. The report is based on an interactive process between the NLI team and our pastor, our church leaders, and the more than 80 congregants who participated in some part of the Innovations Weekend.
CUMC members, and CUMC members alone, decide if we adopt the Innovations at Church Conference on February 19th.
Town Halls
Sunday, February 3 | 9:45-10:45am
Corry Hall
Wednesday, February 6 | 7:30-8:30pm
Corry Hall
Sunday, February 17 | 9:45-10:45am
Corry Hall
Innovations Weekend Combined Service
Listen to the special combined Worship service on Sunday, January 27 as a culmination of our Next Level Innovations Weekend.
We welcomed guest speaker Rev. Rhonda VanDyke, a leader in the Virginia Conference of the UMC, and the NLI Weekend Team presented the innovations report to the congregation.
WATCH THE PRESENTATION OF THE INNOVATIONS REPORT
additional information (click to download)
Innovations Weekend Presentation
The full presentation from the Weekend Innovations Workshop held on Saturday, Jan 26 in Corry Hall, with insights into CUMC and the NLI process.
ExecutiveInsite Report
Tells the “demographic story” of our neighborhood, with “insites” into demographics, religious beliefs, and common practices.
ComparativeInsite Report
Provides a broad comparison of the demographic profile of our neighborhood with the demographic profile of congregants.
Demographic Studies
In-depth analysis of the key Mosaic segments in our neighborhood.
Summary of Proposed Innovations
(please note that this is only a summary. please click the button below to download the full report)
1. Vision Alignment
“The Lord answered me and said, write the vision, make it plain on tablets so that a runner may read it.” — Habakkuk 2.2
When a church is clearly aligned around a vision and their own identity, it is much easier for the staff, leadership, and the congregation to do the work of making disciples for the transformation of the world. The gifts of the community are best stewarded when there is clarity of vision and purpose; there is less burnout of leaders and more engagement of the entire community in focused purpose. We believe this work will be the foundational innovation that can launch Clarendon UMC to new levels of excellence in all that they do.
2. Next Level Decluttering
You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. — Ephesians 4:4-5 (MSG)
We were very struck by the story you told us of your recent decluttering experiences. We were impressed at how the CUMC community came together to do this work and the stories of a new feeling of freedom and empowerment thanks to that effort. We thought this wonderful event felt like a ‘tipping point’ for the work this church seems ready to accomplish, so we challenge you to innovatively continue to declutter in additional areas.
3. Radical Hospitality
Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. — Matthew 10:40
Mystery worshippers helped the CUMC congregation see that while they are friendly, they are not always intentionally welcoming. Leadership noted that while there are five or more visitors on an average Sunday worship, they often don’t return to the church.
To help in this arena, form a new Hospitality Team (HT) to include two trustees, two members of the ENGAGE team and three others with gifts of hospitality. Young adults should be included among team members. This team’s goal will be to develop a comprehensive plan for significantly improving the hospitality of Clarendon.
4. Who is my Neighbor?
Love your neighbor as yourself. – Matthew 22:39
We heard a great desire to reach new people from every group of people we interviewed this weekend. But, with this desire came many questions — how do we reach people? We see them in our neighborhood, but we don’t know how to connect with them. How do we know our neighbors better, and build relationships with them that work?
5. Deeper Discipleship
Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. – Matthew 28:19–20
Clarendon UMC (CUMC) has invested well in offering a contextual discipleship with children and youth through engagement in the music ministry. What has been lacking are opportunities for children and youth not engaged with the music ministry, as well as young adults and mature adults who need deeper discipleship. The desire for opportunities for spiritual development was raised in many ways over the weekend. Currently, a discipleship plan does not exist, so, the oversight of this developing plan will fall to the new staff person who fills the role of directing discipleship. The goal of the discipleship plan is to develop an overall discipleship strategy for current members as well as for those seeking on on-ramp as new members.