“DETERMINED TO WALK BY FAITH”

A Vision for Ministry

on the

Baltimore-Harford District

Priority I - Mission Evangelism

    As a means of facilitating church growth across the District, and reversing overall declines in worship participation and membership. 

 

Assumption – Every local church can and should experience spiritual and numerical growth.                          (Matt. 28:18-19; Disc. Par. 120-121)

 

 

Priority II - Stewardship Development

    As a means of facilitating the use of resources for prophetic, holistic connectional ministry at the local, district, annual conference and global levels. 

 

Assumption – Every local church can and should become a tithing faith community based on a Biblical model of stewardship.  Our stewardship is the means of resourcing faithful, holistic ministry at the local, annual conference and global levels. (Deut. 14:28-29)

 

 

Priority III - Strengthening Urban Churches

   As a means of helping our District become a United Methodist model of vital, effective, prophetic urban ministry for God’s people. 

 

Assumption – In that the majority of persons in the Baltimore-Metropolitan area live in urban settings, vital urban churches present critical opportunities to witness to a critical mass of God’s people.

 (Jer. 29:5-7)

 

 

Priority IV - Leadership Development

     As a means of equipping laity and clergy to faithfully and effectively lead in the church’s primary mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ. 

 

Assumption - The major factor in church vitality is effective, transformational leadership.  

(Eph. 4:11-14)

 

 

Priority V - Developing Regional  

 Partnerships in Ministry

    As a means of facilitating covenant relationships among the churches (rural, suburban, and urban) of the District, sharing our gifts and strengthening all of our churches. 

 

Assumption – We are only as strong as our weakest member. (1 Cor. 12:12-26)