Natural Church Development:
32 churches selected for first round

In October, the first coaches were trained. This month, the first 32 Holston congregations will begin working with those coaches through Natural Church Development.

Last year, conference leaders introduced NCD as a way to revitalize churches, helping them improve in eight key areas such as "empowering leadership" and "loving relationships." Coaches have now been assigned to the first round of congregations that were chosen by district superintendents to begin the process, according to the Rev. Richard Edwards, director of congregational development.

Meanwhile, plans are underway to train a new group of coaches April 27-29 and to initiate NCD in a second round of churches later in 2007.

The selected 32 churches (see list on page 7) represent all 12 districts and all sizes, conference leaders emphasize.

"This is not a big-church project," Bishop James Swanson said in recent Discipleship Team meeting. "The principles of NCD will work regardless of a church's size."

Burks United Methodist Church of Chattanooga District is more than a year ahead of other Holston churches in the NCD process, since Anne Travis began coaching the congregation in late 2005. Already, Burks is scoring higher on a recent NCD survey than it did on its first survey in November 2005, especially in the areas of "passionate spirituality" and "inspiring worship."

"If you look at this church from the outside, you would say, 'They're already an up-andcoming church. They don't need this,'" said Travis, Holston director of connectional ministries. "But Burks is already scoring higher in every significant area. It's a great example of how NCD helps a congregation focus on what they need to be doing."

NCD is most effective in churches that already have "clearly defined visions," said the Rev. Ann Robins. Some churches may not be ready for NCD but could benefit first from a visioning process.

Robins is chair of the Witness Team, which first learned of NCD's dramatic success in other conferences and spearheaded its launch in Holston.

"NCD is a roadmap, but there is some preparatory work that can be done," she said. The Office of Congregational Development and Witness Team are preparing to help those congregations that have expressed interest in NCD but need to take other steps first.

Multi-year commitment
In February, 38 clergy and lay coaches were assigned in pairs to churches ranging from Auburn UMC in Wytheville District to Dunlap UMC in Chattanooga District. The coaches and congregations begin working together this month.

"The first year or initial phase of NCD will take from 10 to 15 months in most churches," said Edwards. Conference leaders expect participating churches to make multi-year commitments to the process.

"Many times the greatest positive results begin to appear after a church has been participating in NCD for two to three years," Edwards explained. In a survey of the 45,000 churches in 70 countries that have participated in the process long enough to complete three analytical surveys, the average growth rate in the churches increased by 51 percent.

"NCD is a long-term process that seeks to move the local church toward greater quality in its ministries and a greater sense of health," Edwards said. "As the health of a church increases, so does its capacity to grow."

"This is not a magic bullet," Bishop Swanson said recently. "It's going to take a lot of work for NCD to be effective. I can't get some of my pastors to understand that - that it takes a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to move a church forward."

Costs for participating churches include $130 for the first survey (analyzing a church's strengths and weaknesses), plus reimbursement of coaches' travel and supplies expenses, and purchase of NCD books. To keep cost at a minimum, coaches are assigned from within their own region. The typical initial expense for a participating church, including the $130 survey, is $200.

Holston coaches are working on a volunteer basis, unlike those in other conferences. Holston Conference is providing training and other resources. "We don't want to make money on this. Bishop Swanson wants to make this affordable for our churches," Travis said as NCD was launched last year.

Clergy and lay leaders who are interested in NCD for their own congregations should contact their district superintendents, Swanson said. "Even a conversation with your D.S. is a step in the right direction."

District offices will also provide the book, "The ABC's of Natural Church Development" for $1 each. Additional books and information are available through Edward's congregational development office: Call toll-free (866) 690-4080 or e-mail richardedwards@holston.org.

For more on Natural Church Development, visit www.ncd-international.org or www.churchsmart.com.

First round
These churches have been selected to begin NCD this spring. (Districts are in parentheses.)

Pleasant View (Abingdon)
First Jonesville (Big Stone Gap)
Holston View (Big Stone Gap)
Dunlap (Chattanooga)
Jones Memorial (Chattanooga)
Stanley (Chattanooga)
Allen Memorial (Cleveland)
Decatur (Cleveland)
Englewood (Cleveland)
Ooltewah (Cleveland)
Cedar Grove (Johnson City)
Cherokee (Johnson City)
East Pine Grove (Johnson City)
Ketron Memorial (Kingsport)
Mafair (Kingsport)
Vermont (Kingsport)
Christ (Knoxville)
Clappís Chapel (Knoxville)
Faith (Knoxville)
St. Paul-Fountain City
(Knoxville)
Middlesettlements (Maryville)
Bales Chapel (Morristown)
Romeo (Morristown)
Strawberry Plains (Morristown)
Beaver Ridge (Oak Ridge)
Bradbury-Good Shepherd
(Oak Ridge)
Clinton Memorial (Oak Ridge)
First Richlands (Tazewell)
Virginia Avenue (Tazewell)
Auburn (Wytheville)
Fancy Gap (Wytheville)
Grove (Wytheville)

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