News

GBOD/Path 1 and MissionInsite to Provide Discounted Rate for Churches to Access Demographics Via the Web

(February 25, 2008, GBOD) — The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship today announced a new strategic alliance that has been formed between the agency, Path 1, and California-based MissionInsite, LLC.

As a result of the partnership with MissionInsite (www.missioninsite.com), annual (regional) conferences, districts, and local churches in the U. S. will have real-time access to community demographic information via the web at a discounted rate.

"This new partnership will assist us in fulfilling our commitment to provide relevant and useful information that helps our denomination create new places for new people and renew existing congregations," said the Rev. Karen Greenwaldt, CEO of the General Board of Discipleship.

"We're excited about the promise that this collaboration holds for conferences and churches as they use this tool, as well as the demographic and other resources that will continue to be available through the Research Office at the General Board of Global Ministries.

"MissionInsite will provide GBOD/Path 1 with resources at a substantial savings that better identify where to fish for new people to make disciples of Jesus Christ," she said.

The partnership is one piece in the agency's overall new church growth strategy.

"We are delighted that MissionInsite has this unique opportunity to provide an innovative approach to mission context analysis through our strategic partnership with the General Board of Discipleship/Path 1. All of us at MissionInsite are committed to expanding our relationships with annual conferences and their leadership, as we deliver the next generation of demographic resources to the church," said Chuck Salter, president of MissionInsite, LLC.

The Rev. Thomas Butcher, executive officer for New Church Starts and leader of the Path 1 Team, says that, through this effort, "church leaders will have access to a wealth of information about specific communities as they plan for church planting, growth, and mission."

"The partnership will provide accurate, current, and easy-to-access community demographics for churches and conferences," he said.

Available as a two-tier package, the basic community demographic package -- or tier one -- includes dynamic area analysis tools; demographics; census, calendar year and 5-year projections; church location, plotting and mapping; tools to create maps and reports; and standard aerial photography.

"I am very pleased to work with Tom Butcher to create this strategic alliance between MissionInsite and the General Board of Discipleship/Path 1. This alliance provides a variety of benefits for annual conferences in the United States and their churches," said Peter Wernett, senior vice president of MissionInsite, LLC.

"This new and most current next generation of demographic based community information is available 24/7 and includes the ability for churches to plot members on the conference map," he said.

The congregant plot and analysis package, or tier two, will allow a local church to input data and then plot and analyze where congregants are located geographically. Congregant plotting, plot analysis tools, and congregant plots will be available to churches that choose to add this service.

For more information, contact:

• Tom Butcher, 877-899-2780; ext. 7130 (GBOD/Path 1)
• MissionInsite, 877-230-3212; ext. 325 (GBOD/Path 1 and MissionInsite, LLC Strategic Alliance), and to learn more about specific benefits for conferences and churches)
• John H. Southwick, 212-870-3840 (demographic and other resources at GBGM)

GBOD's mission is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, GBOD (www.gbod.org) is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, call the Media Relations Office toll free at 877-899-2780, ext. 7017.