What if ‘church’ were a verb? RETHINK CHURCH is a new welcoming campaign to revitalize churches and inspire all of us to re-think our identity. Church is not about Sunday; it is about how we engage the world Monday through Saturday. Our Conference is promoting this campaign and encouraging all United Methodist Churches to join in. The Theological Document found on this link is a great place to start! Please read it and begin to make plans how to present it in your administrative council or a Sunday School class or a small group. The first step is to get the conversation started. How do we connect people to Christ? How do we reach 18-34 year olds, who are noticeably absent from many of our churches? This campaign challenges all congregations to examine the entire membership process- from inviting others to welcoming them when they enter your doors to creating a discipleship path that helps them mature as disciples.

Recommended Resources:

Membership Matters by Chuck Lawless

Needs-Based Evangelism  by Robert d. Pierson

What is the theological foundation for “Rethink Church”?

 One need only learn the most basic history of the church to realize that across the centuries God has called upon leaders to rethink what it means to be the church in ministry with the changing world around us. Martin Luther boldly asked his generation to rethink church, as did John and Charles Wesley in the 18th century. Persons like Billy Graham and our own Harry Denman at the midpoint of the 20th century challenged us to do the same in regard to offering and accepting a personal relationship with Jesus. In a variety of different ways with different levels of influence, preachers like William Sloane Coffin in the 70s and Bill Hybels in the 1980s offered their own versions of how we might rethink church to reach those outside the walls of the church .

click on the link below to see entire pdf document on theological foundation