Dis­ciple­ship Network

At the 2024 Annual Conference, the steering team for the new discipleship network was commissioned. Since the kick-off in July, the steering team has met twice and continued to work on the ‘network’ church. Our joint reflection has led to some insights that we would like to share:

The network

We understand the UMC of Austria as a network of relationships between very different people in different congregations. The idea of the discipleship network is to connect the relationships between different people across the boundaries of local churches. Connection between churches (regional and international) is an essential feature of United Methodist identity. Even though different people fulfill different tasks in this network, we are all part of the network together.

The steering team 

The Annual Conference has tasked the steering team with strengthening this network and feeding it with new ideas. We see ourselves as:

• a small-scale community of discipleship,
• a think tank at the Annual Conference and local church level,
• networkers who want to listen and share,
• part of the larger church network, and thus dependent on others to go along, support and share.

Currently, we see it as an essential task to listen, to better perceive the existing networks in our church and to inspire others to actively participate in the network of relationships that is ‘church’.

Companionship

In the spirit of Jesus, we want to create and maintain a community that is characterised by good cooperation and support. We want to invite more people to join such a community. We want to set an example for our children and our society by creating visions for good and successful cooperation. We are a network in which everyone treats each other as equals.

Learning community

Good communities don't just fall from the sky. They are influenced by visions, hopes and passion for what connects the community. We see ourselves as a learning community that asks how community can succeed and wants to be inspired and guided by the example of Jesus. What can nourish our community and shape it is a question that accompanies us permanently. 

Questions that have occupied us as a steering committee in past meetings

• How can a church be a place of hope in an age when we are confronted with so much discouraging news?
• How can we as a Christian community respond to the needs of our time, such as the isolation and polarisation of society?
• What contributions can we make to the preservation of creation, e.g. by setting an example, protesting, but also by carrying hope?
• How can we shape our community so that children and young people see themselves as a relevant part of our community and are supported in their development and faith?

The members of the steering committee meet monthly to share their faith, learn and lead. Feel free to contact the members of the steering committee to learn more and share your thoughts with them. And please include this work in your prayers.