October 11, 2024 | Clergy Covenant Groups Survey

Survey illuminates clergy's desire for meaningful connections through creation of covenant groups

Last year, thousands of members of the BWC came together to prayerfully think about change within the Conference. Why were people thinking about change? For many reasons, but mostly because of long-term declining trends in church participation and a feeling it was time to take stock and think about how we can better pursue our shared mission and ministry in the future. Those who engaged in the process expressed a need to use structure and a re-emphasis on values and culture to strengthen the identity and vitality of United Methodist churches. Out of their insights, the current plan was created. 

The three key components of the plan are: 1) focus on living God's love with our neighbors and one another, 2) reconnect to our values, and 3) make some changes to our organizational structure to better support living God's love and our values.

During surveys and listening sessions, we heard clergy express a longing for greater collegiality and a return to required clergy covenant groups. In preparation for the beginning of these in the Fall of 2025, we asked clergy to inform the creation of the groups. Here are initial results that represent the perspective of 74 percent of pastors actively serving churches and those in ministry beyond the local church.

The results were illuminating. For example, 24 percent of pastors indicated that they are already in a covenant group with other United Methodist pastors. When considering the topics that might be considered by new covenant groups, 63 percent mentioned methods for fostering community engagement and outreach, 42 percent said techniques for personal spiritual growth and resilience, and 39 percent said reinforcing self-care and mental health. 

See a pdf of the results.

Our vitality journey continues

Thank you also to the 413 congregations who completed the Connectional Hub Questionnaire. And, we celebrate the 24 congregations that included 10-25 people in the process. We intend to share preliminary results in the coming weeks. 

Please continue to pray for this process as together we seek to live out our shared mission and vision of developing world-transforming disciples through vital churches. And, remember the word from Phillippians 4:6-7 to "not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

As this process progresses, it is becoming increasingly clear that the people and churches of the Baltimore-Washington Conference are involved in so much more than restructuring. We are a people fully alive, putting love into action as we grow in vitality. We are so glad we're on this journey together!