Welcome to the seventh article in a series designed to enhance the use of the Small Membership Church Guideline. Ideally, this Guideline will be shared among your church leaders, read, discussed together, and used to strengthen ministry.

Here is added material that will help you get the most out of this resource in your small-membership church. Try one or more of these exercises to stretch your "passion for people."

Exercise 1: Passion for People Survey
Print this page. Then read each question and then write the number in the space at the end of the line that accurately describes your response in the situation.

Response Key
1= No way!
2= Depends on the person
3= Sometimes . . .
4= Usually/I really try to do this, but
5= Always, no exceptions

a. When there are visitors at the church, I speak to them.	____
b. I encourage others who are in leadership.	____
c. New members should be given positions of responsibility.	____
d. Even younger people can serve God.	____
e. I believe all are equal at church.	____
f. The church should be accessible.	____
g. Having outside groups use the church facility is important.	____
h. Taking the time to listen to another is a caring act.	____
i. I invite people to worship and to church activities.	____
j. Building trust and respect is an ongoing process.	____
	_____ Total

Total Your Score
If your score is 50 points, congratulations — you're a people person!
A score of 35-45 means that you are people aware.
A score of 25-30 shows potential.
A score under 25 means you need a "people passionate" coach.

If you want more help in cultivating "people passion," read Partnersteps: Developing Cooperative Ministries Today (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2003).

Exercise 2: Show Respect
We respect members and visitors when we give appropriate attention to their needs, abilities, and gifts. One marker of respect is using language that is inclusive, welcoming, and clear (no acronyms, using full names, explaining positions, describing programs). Others include having accessible facilities, using age-appropriate language and illustrations, serving food that accounts for various dietary concerns, racial and ethnic sensitivity, clear signage and directions for classrooms and other areas of the church, and so on.

Think of the last worship service that included guests, or a gathering in the church that included people from the community or another church, or some other mixed gathering. List specific ways your members showed respect for:

1. Leaders:
2. Newcomers or visitors:
3. Children:
4. Youth:
5. Middle adults:
6. Older adults or elderly adults
7. People with disabilities:
8. People different from the majority of the membership:
9. Others:

As you review this list, are there groups that are not served or are underserved? What two or three things might you do to raise your sensitivity and care for these people or groups?

Exercise 3: Pastor-Parish Relations Committee Check-up
In The United Methodist Church, the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee has responsibility for supporting healthy relationships between the pastor and the church. An important prior step is in maintaining a healthy personal spiritual life. How does your committee do this? For those serving on the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee:

• Do I participate fully in the life of the congregation?
• Am I growing as a disciple?
• Can I listen to others without being judgmental?
• Am I able to care about others and still be objective about the life of the congregation?
• Can I keep confidences?
• Am I willing to support and respect the pastor even if we disagree?
• Do I tend to want to tackle complex or difficult issues or tend to keep the peace?
• Am I willing to do what's right for the entire church?
• Will I give this work the time it deserves?

Which of these questions (and the activities they imply) come easily and naturally? present a challenge? seem impossible for you? If you have responded no to several of these questions, what do you think that means for your presence on the committee?

Exercise 4: Decision-Making Factors
Prioritize how decisions are made in your church by ranking the following from first to last.

___	Cost (How much will it cost and where will the money come from?)
___	Facility (Who gets to use the facility, when, and how?)
___	Calendar (Can the church accommodate more than one activity or group meeting at a time?)
___	Membership Preference (Are decisions usually or always oriented to serve only the members?)
___	Community Needs (Is the congregation aware of these needs and able to respond appropriately in a timely manner?)
___	Season/Traditional Routine (Can your regular routine also support the emerging needs of the congregation and/or community?)
___	Making Disciples (Is the mission of the church to make disciples a high priority?)
___	Someone says, "Do it!" (Do certain members have a stronger decision-making voice than others?)
___	Other __________________

Review your priorities. What do they say about the importance of people in the ministry decisions of your church?

Copyright © 2004 The General Board of Discipleship. Permission is granted for use in local church training or study groups. No portion of this article may be reprinted or republished in any form for any other reason without written consent.

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