Romans 12 Project
Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
Nominations Process
Nominated Congregations
Intensive Congregational Survey
General Information
Q: What is Romans 12?
The Romans 12 Project is a GBOD initiative that seeks:
- to discern the guiding principals and resulting practices of vital United Methodist congregations in the U.S. that are effectively being and forming disciples, and
- to share those stories and findings in relevant, meaningful ways throughout The United Methodist Church.
Q: Why is this called the Romans 12 Project?
We are seeking to identify United Methodist congregations in the U.S. who have and are discerning God’s will for their community of faith; who have identified the gifts for living out God’s will and are using those gifts, and who are intentional about living out the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-39) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). We feel one of the best biblical description for these communities of faith is expressed in Romans 12.
Q: Why is the GBOD embarking on this initiative?
As an agency of The United Methodist Church with a focus on discipleship and congregational life, the GBOD is in a unique position to hear about and see where communities of faith are making a difference in the lives of individuals and in the places where they are located. Through this project, the GBOD is embarking on a major research endeavor to identify churches where disciples are being formed, to clarify how this is happening, and to communicate this knowledge to others. In order to do this, we need your help. We have established a nomination process so others in the connection can help us in identifying the communities of faith from whom we can all learn.
Learn more about:
Nominations Process
Nominated Congregations
Intensive Congregational Survey
Nominations Process
Q: Who nominated congregations for this project?
We solicited nominations from Bishops, District Superintendents, Church Developers, Directors of Connectional Ministries, Annual Conference Lay Leaders, Connectional Table members, National Plans and Ethnic Caucus leaders and GBOD Board members. The nomination process was completed on February 1, 2007.
Q. What were the criteria for nominating a congregation?
The Wesleyan model teaches that salvation is both justification and sanctification. Our faith requires us to hold together in one vessel the love of God and love of neighbor. Disciple forming congregations have an intentional system to do this that is grounded in scripture, informed by our Wesleyan heritage, contextual in expression, and fruit producing. Some marks of a vital faith community are:
- Clarity around the mission and vision of the congregation.
- Practice of spiritual disciplines both corporately and individually.
- Nurture of growth in discipleship through mutual support and accountability.
- Cultivation of intentional and mutual relationships with the most vulnerable – the poor, children, the imprisoned, the powerless.
- Consistent concern for inviting people into relationship with Jesus Christ, combined with wise practices for initiating them into the Body of Christ.
- Connectional relationships that facilitate participation in God’s mission of global transformation.
- Shared clergy and lay leadership.
Q. How did the GBOD determine the nomination criteria?
The criteria described in the letter emerged through a discernment process informed by:
- The Bible. In particular, the following passages were foundational: Matthew 22:37-39; Matthew 16:24; Micah 6:8; Matthew 28:19-20; John 3:16.
- The 2004 Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church. Study centered on the Doctrinal Statements, General Rules, The Ministry of All Christian and Social Principles.
- Additional study on John Wesley, his sermons, and writing.
- GBOD staff discussions and research.
- Listening to congregations and congregational leaders.
Q. How will nomination information be used?
The information you provided will be used to contact the nominated congregations. The names of nominated congregations may be released as part of the reporting process for the project.
Learn more about:
Romans 12 Project Generally
Nominated Congregations
Intensive Congregational Survey
Nominated Congregations
Q. What happens after I nominated a congregation?
All nominated congregations will be contacted and asked to complete an on-line survey. They will not be told who nominated them, but they will be told why they were nominated. You are welcome to let congregations know that you have nominated them and encourage them to participate in the on-line survey. A small percentage of those taking the on-line survey will be asked to participate in a more in depth study that may include phone interviews and/or on-site visits by GBOD staff.
Q. Who was nominated?
Click here to see the list of the 935 congregations nominated this year. We believe that these congregations represent what vitality looks like in a variety of settings, cultures and contexts. We also recognize that this is not an exhaustive list and expect to see that reflected in future quadrennia.
Q. Our congregation wasn't nominated but we feel we should have been. Is there a way for us to become a part of the study?
We are only placing people in the Romans 12 Project study pool through church leader nominations. We expect to repeat the nominations process in the next quadrennia and would encourage you to communicate with your District Superintendent about why you believe you are a Romans 12 Congregation and be open to feedback about what you might do to be considered in the round of nominations in the next quaddrennium.
Q: We were nominated. Is participation mandatory?
A: Absolutely not. The nomination should be viewed as an honor, not a mandate. Regardless of whether or not you participate in the intensive congregational survey, we hope you will share and celebrate this nomination with your congregation. Some pastors have announced it from the pulpit, others have written it in their pastoral letter, and others have celebrated it with punch and cake at fellowship times.
Q: It is past the April 1 st deadline, but we still want to participate. Is it too late?
A: It is not too late! The April 1 st deadline was to serve as a pacing mechanism. If you can't (for whatever reason) get your postcard in by April 1 st you can still participate with the goal of completing the survey by May 1st. If there are extenuating circumstances, we'd love to hear from you and create a mutually beneficial way forward. Please contact us at: clatona@gbod.org .
Q. My congregation was nominated as a Romans 12 Congregation but we didn't complete the online survey process. Now what?
If, for some reason, a congregation is unable to participate in the intensive congregational survey process, your congregation's name will be retained as a part of the general study pool and may be contacted periodically for further information (short surveys and/or phone interviews). As particular principles and resulting practices are identified, churches in the general study pool, as well as those who complete the intensive congregational survey, may be asked for related information and stories.
Q: If we take the survey will we have to do more?
A: Absolutely not. We anticipate that if you complete the survey by May 1, 2007 you will receive your congregation's data (with names and individual identifiers removed) by the Fall of 2007. A few congregations will be asked to host an onsite visit and others may be asked for more information in a variety of ways. You may say “no” at any point in the process.
Q: We have misplaced one or more elements in the packet that was mailed to us. Where can I get extra copies?
A: Some elements we can post online for your use. If you don't find what you are looking for in the list below, please contact us.
Facilitator Packet
Administrator Packet
Data Entry Person Packet
Learn more about:
Romans 12 Project Generally
Nominations Process
Intensive Congregational Survey
Intensive Congregational Survey
Q: I can't seem to access the online survey. I'm googling on it and nothing happens.
A: The survey link needs to be typed into the http address bar or click here and we'll take you to it!
If you are the data entry person for your congregation, please use this link to input data.
Q. How long does the Romans 12 Survey take to complete?
The Romans 12 Survey takes 60-90 minutes to complete. The timeline from the time of notification of a congregation's nomination until the last representative has taken the survey takes from 4 to 6 weeks.
• 1-2 weeks to invite, select and distribute post cards to representatives
• 2-3 weeks for people to take the online survey
• 1 week to follow up with those who need extra reminding and/or support
Q. Who takes the survey?
You may choose to make an open invitation to the entire congregation. This will reveal those who care deeply about the church who you may not have known about. Combine this with intentional recruitment that samples the diversity of your congregation - by age, ethnicity, gender, length of membership and involvement. A diverse sample reveals the complete reality of your congregation's vitality. The most accurate results come from a diverse sample of 17-25 people.
Q: Our church is part of a conference-wide CVI effort that is due in the same time frame. We have a small active core and folks aren't comfortable with computers. I'd hate to spring two separate surveys on them. What would you recommend?
A: One suggestion is to ask active members: What would be the best way to launch the church vitality initiative in conjuction with the honor of being nominated to the Romans 12 Project since both have surveys which are taken by a wide representation of the congregation.
Click here for a more concrete suggestion.
Q: Can the Administrator just complete the congregational snapshot or do they have to take the intensive congregational survey as well?
A: The Administrator is only responsible for representing the church on the Congregational Snapshot. If they are not also selected to provide their individual perspective via the intensive survey, they have a couple of options:
- Take both surveys online (ask facilitator for congregational ID#)
- Complete the paper version of the congregational snapshot and give that information to someone who is taking the intensive congregational survey. In the course of that survey, that person needs to identify themselves as the Romans 12 Administrator in order to access the Congregational Snapshot questions.
- Complete the paper version of the Congregational Snapshot and send the paper version to
Email: clatona@gbod.org or
Fax: 240-371-0078 or
Mail: P.O. Box 10951 , Silver Spring , MD 20914
and we'll input it for you.
Q. Can more than 25 people take the survey?
You may have up to 30 persons take the survey. We have found that more than 30 people can skew the results. As your congregation's Romans 12 Project facilitator, you perform several important tasks: explaining the Romans 12 Project , recruiting members to take the survey and serving as the point of contact between the GBOD project team and your congregation.
Q. How will our answers be used?
The Romans 12 Project team at the GBOD will collect your congregation's answers and look for trends within your congregation and among all those congregations who were nominated for consideration in the Romans 12 Project . Anything we learn from this study which we believe will be of value to other congregations and leaders within The United Methodist Church will be shared in practical and meaningful ways. Individual congregation's names will not be used without obtaining permission. Each congregation that participates in the survey will receive a copy of their survey data at some point during the study.
Q. What if some of the congregational representatives don't have internet access?
We recommend recruiting a data entry person who is a fast and accurate typist and who enjoys spending time on the computer. We have included a “Note to the Data Entry Person” and paper version of the survey if they choose to use it
Q. What if some of the congregational representatives don't speak English?
Please contact us at clatona@gbod.org and we can discuss the best way to proceed, given your context. Some people assign a Translator/Data Entry person who translates the questions and inputs the answers in English. Others choose to have us provide a translation of the questions and have the Translator/Data Entry person only translate the open-ended questions into English.
Learn more about:
Romans 12 Project Generally
Nominations Process
Nominated Congregations
For more information contact: clatona@gbod.org
