The Shalom Cycle - A Five Year Plan for SMUMC

As the Pastor of a 127 year old congregation, I am acutely aware of the historic perspective of long-lived churches like Sloan Memorial United Methodist Church. I am not content to set a short range vision in the light of such a generational perspective. Therefore, I have prayed and meditated upon the direction in which I should lead this historic congregation. In a word, our church will enter a period of “Shalom.” Here is my five year plan for Sloan Memorial United Methodist Church, entitled, “The Shalom Cycle.”

I am calling this period of type a “cycle” because it will be possible to repeat this five year plan over and over again. The Shalom Cycle is a ministerial focus cycle that begins with the local congregation and spreads to the wider community. I used a definition of Shalom that comes from author and Messianic Jew, David Silver.[i] He uses the Strong Concordance definition that says Shalom means, “Completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.” As a common Jewish greeting, the word is in itself a blessing from the greeter to the one being greeted that speaks peace, wholeness and wellness into his or her life. After all, the book of Proverbs, 18:21, says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” That speaks to the blessings of both the people of Israel and those of Sloan Memorial United Methodist Church as we move forward to speak, plan and work The Shalom Cycle into being.

Each year of the 5 year plan has its own title. The titles are; 1) Shalom at Sloan, 2) Shalom in the Home, 3) Shalom in Your Dome, 4) Shalom Where You Roam, and 5) Shalom Like a Foam. Year one is there year of Shalom at Sloan, when we address ministries that will bring wholeness to the congregation. Year two will be when we address family ministries in ways that promote harmony, prosperity and tranquility. Year three takes the concept of Shalom between the years of the individual by spiritually addressing mental health and wellness issues. Year four will find us well equipped to spread Shalom beyond the walls of the church in new and innovative ways. Year five is a year that intensifies our outreach efforts in a way that penetrates our community as completely as foam penetrates all the cracks and crevasses of a space where it is applied. The Shalom Cycle will operate within the context of our mission statement, which calls us to make Disciples of Jesus Christ. The concept of Shalom will help us to make Disciples and build a congregation that reflects our commitment to excellence.

I'd like some feedback on this plan. Post your comments and let's begin a discussion.

[i] http://www.therefinersfire.org/meaning_of_shalom.htm; David Silver