New Vision / New Year / New Goals

Written By Teri Crouse

Last October, the Church Council adopted a new Vision Statement for High Street UMC. It is “High Street United Methodist Church nurtures disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in our local communities and in worldwide connections.” This is a slight variation of the new Vision Statement for the overall United Methodist Church.

We’ll be asking the Church Council – and all committees and teams within the church, as well as all of you – to evaluate every program, mission, and ministry that High Street is involved in, as well as any they propose, to make certain they are aligned with our new Vision Statement. If it’s not aligned, we probably shouldn’t be doing it.

The UMC has provided some good guiding questions* for us to use for action and implementation of the new Vision:

1. Growing and Forming Disciples

  • What discipleship programs or initiatives can we develop to deepen spiritual growth in our church?

  • How can we encourage every member to take steps in their personal journeys of discipleship?

  • What are creative ways we can engage people of all ages in forming disciples?

2. Developing Christ-like leaders

  • How can we identify and nurture emerging leaders within our congregation?

  • What training or resources do leaders need to effectively embody this vision?

  • How can leadership practices in our church align more closely with the example set by Jesus?

3. Standing in solidarity with the poor and vulnerable

  • What specific needs exist among the poor and vulnerable in our community, and how can we address them?

  • How can we amplify their voices and advocate for their well-being?

  • What long-term initiatives can we pursue to ensure ongoing support?

4. Seeking health and wholeness for all

  • How can our church contribute to physical, emotional, and spiritual wholeness in our community?

  • What role can we play in caring for creation and the promotion of environmental health?

  • How can we integrate health and wholeness into our worship, education, and outreach programs?

These are questions for all of us – not just the leadership of the church – to address as we begin to live into our new Vision, and Love Boldly, Serve Joyfully, and Lead Courageously.

* https://www.resourceumc.org/-/media/umc-media/2025/04/28/20/12/umcnewvision_localchurchguide.pdf

Teri Crouse
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