1. Targeting the Faith Community

2. Type your questions here and click SEND at anytime throughout the presentation. Your questions will be addressed during the Q&A session at the end. Use these buttons to make adjustments Become familiar with your Control Panel

3. Targeting the Faith Community Presenter: Mark Hazlewood, P.R.A.Y. CEO

4.  Today’s topic is part of a larger series  It must be understood in context of the FBI

5.  The Faith Based Initiative is a comprehensive plan to BUILD AND STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS between Girl Scout Councils and the faith community  It’s all about WHY councils should work with the faith community and HOW to approach them  The goal of the FBI is increased membership

6. 1.Why Collaborate? 2.Cultivating the mindset for approaching the faith community 3.Faith-Based Awards – what they are, how to use them as membership tools 4.Selecting the faith groups 5.Preparing for the call Today’s webinar has a very narrow focus, but it is essential that it rests against the background of the bigger picture of the FBI.

7.  GS councils and congregations share common needs (and hence common goals): ◦ Members, Retention, trained leaders, program, finances  Collaborations will benefit the girl, the congregation, and the GS Council  Religious Recognitions can be used not just for spiritual growth, but as a tool for membership growth.

8.  New Recruiting model: ◦ First recruit the congregation (i.e. place to meet, adult leaders) ◦ Then recruit the girls  Goal: To involve the congregation with the Troop ◦ Ask clergy for names of potential leaders ◦ Explain that you will provide training, etc. ◦ Give congregation sense of ownership and if they are gaining members, they will want to continue supporting Girl Scouts

9.  The FBI is not a “quick fix”  The key to the success of the FBI is long-term relationships

10.  Use your Community Profile – know the congregations that are out there  www.thearda.com www.thearda.com  The Association of Religion Data Archives

17.  The ARDA provides statistics on the number of congregations by denomination.  The next step would be to visit the denomination homepage to generate a list of congregations

18.  Be strategic in selecting the religions/denominations to approach  Be strategic in selecting the congregations to approach  Not all congregations will be a good fit for you ◦ Mega churches ◦ Conservative churches

19.  Don’t just do a community profile  Find the connections you may already have ◦ Survey your board and staff  Find and recruit “cultural informants” ◦ To open doors ◦ Speak the language

20.  Find the congregations that are already using Girl Scouting.  Remember: there’s a difference between a congregation that has Girl Scouts meeting in their basement, and a congregation that nurtures a Girl Scout ministry  You as a GS council need to know (and be able to articulate) the difference.  Peer-to-peer clergy recruitment

21.  Take advantage of the online statistical resources  This information can help you with planning and the selection process  Caution: these tools cannot replace the value of the inside information that comes from “cultural informants”

22. Preparing for the Call  Don’t sell the Girl Scouts  Sell SOLUTIONS to the problems that congregations face

23. Preparing for the Call  LISTEN! LISTEN! LISTEN!  Listen for the needs of the congregation.

24.  Do your homework.  Research the ◦ Denomination ◦ Congregation ◦ Religious Recognitions program

25. Research the Denomination  What do you call the place of worship? Clergy?  How is it structured? Top down or bottom up?  Is it liberal or conservative?

26.  Quick Facts  Structure  Governance  Proper terms  Characteristics  Scouting

27. The UMC was the second largest charter organization of the BSA  370,000 youth  11,400 units  6,500 United Methodist Churches United Methodist Church

28.  The only body that can set official policy and speak for the denomination.  Made up of approximately 500 lay people and 500 clergy.  Meets once every four years to make decisions/revise the Book of Discipline.  Bishops also preside at the General Conference (non-decision-makers).  Special sessions may be called. General Conference

29. 5 Jurisdictions (for communication purposes primarily) 60 Annual Conferences 488 Districts 35,000 Churches Structure

30.  The five jurisdictions are like super regions  There is a bishop (paid clergy) for each Annual Conference  There is a District Superintendent (paid clergy) for each District.  Districts are comprised of local churches Structure

31.  To facilitate a board of directors called the Connectional Ministries (formerly administrative board), a volunteer chair, and committees that lead the church Role of the Pastor

32.  Pastor (or Reverend)  Congregation  Sanctuary  Evangelism, outreach, “to Make Disciples”  Christian Education & Discipleship  Youth groups = United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF)  Board of Directors = Connectional Ministries Terms

33.  Losing membership  Older congregations  Average age of men is 59  Trying to appeal to a younger generation and to youth  Issues of homosexuality (pastors cannot be practicing, self-avowed homosexuals); however, any and all persons are invited into the life of the church Concerns

34.  We’re a Connectional Church and structured to communicate very well  The Church has named Four Areas of Focus which are the priorities for the next four years:  1. Global Health - i.e. Eliminate Malaria in our lifetime in Africa  2. Poverty – seeing to the needy, i.e. mentoring youth whose parents are incarcerated, Amachi Initiative with Big Brothers Big Sisters Positives

35.  3. Church Renewal – new church growth, renew existing congregations  4. Leadership – developing principled Christian leaders Positives

36.  Larry W. Coppock  Director, Scouting Ministries  General Commission on United Methodist Men  http://www.gcumm.org/ministries/scouting/ http://www.gcumm.org/ministries/scouting/  “Scouting Ministry Specialists”

37.  Researching the denomination gives you the bigger picture  Continue to do your homework by researching the CONGREGATION

38.  Names of clergy, staff  Size  Youth programs  Scouting families  Door opener  Decision maker

39. Goal: To Involve the Congregation with the Troop  Become familiar with the religious recognitions program

40.  Become familiar with the religious recognition for that particular faith  Each religion creates its own program  Eligibility requirements will differ from religion to religion  Know the difference between Religious Recognitions and the My Promise, My Faith pin  “Foot in the door” versus “foot in your mouth”  Become familiar with the religious recognitions program before visiting a congregation

42.  The To Serve God brochure is just a starting point.  Use the Analysis Sheet to become familiar with each program  Gather information, but then learn how to apply it

44.  FBI context: become familiar with the congregation and utilize cultural informants in order to show how Girl Scouting can address the needs of the congregation  FBI context: become familiar with the religious recognitions (not just MPMF) to show the congregation its immediate connection to Girl Scouting

45.  Get a set of sample books  Leave a set with the congregation  Make a second appointment to retrieve your books

46.  The FBI takes time  But don’t settle for just a meeting place  Help the faith community to see the benefits in using Girl Scouting  Then your council will benefit from more delivery places and more volunteers

47.  markp@praypub.org markp@praypub.org  Learning Center: http://www.praypub.org/LearningCenter/webinars.htmhttp://www.praypub.org/LearningCenter/webinars.htm  Resources: www.praypub.org/partner_gsusa.htm  Sign up to receive P.R.A.Y. Newsletter Updates: http://www.praypub.org/pubs_main.htm http://www.praypub.org/pubs_main.htm

48.  Thank you for your interest in partnering with the faith community.  www.praypub.org www.praypub.org