Denominational Spotlight:

Mahoning Valley United Methodist District

Strong relationships are essential to building any organization.  Whether one is looking to strengthen a neighborhood group, make a parent association more effective, or mobilize a congregation around mission, knowing how to effectively engage leaders through one to ones is vital.  At the core of all that MVOC does as an organizing project, is the foundational discipline of community organizing; the one to one meeting.   During a one to one meeting, members of any organizations are given an opportunity to explore what moves, drives and pushes the other members of the group.  When a group is seeking to effectively carry out its mission, it needs to have the ability to discern the collective interest of the group throughout one on one conversations and individual meetings.  

District Superintendent Rev. Dan Bryant, and Youngstown U.M. pastors Rev. Solomon Hill of Centenary United Methodist Church, Rev. Steve Sparling of Trinity United Methodist, and Rev. Joyce Lawson of Mahoning United Methodist, along with about 20 leaders from their respective congregations gathered for a MVOC training led by MVOC organizers and trainers Chris McKee, Jr. and Tammy Thomas.  This group represented congregations from different sides of the City and memberships with diverse backgrounds, however, no matter how different the stories in the room were, all participants were committed to building stronger connections to impact the Youngstown community. 

This training not only provided those present with an introduction to basic community organizing tools, but participants felt empowered to start building stronger relationships within their congregations and beyond into their communities.

Rev. Sparling was so encouraged by the possibility of lay-leaders at Trinity receiving additional formal organizing training, that he is sending 2 leaders to the Ohio Organizing Collaborative’s Weeklong training which will take place July 18 – July 23.   According to Rev. Sparling, “the training was valuable.  I am excited about what leaders will bring back from weeklong…this is what we need for our church.”

As the Mahoning Valley United Methodist District looks towards it future, its pastors and leaders are encouraged by the potential of congregations reaching-in as the reach-out through utilizing the tools of community organizing.  

If you would like more information about how your congregation can take part in one of MVOC’s faith-based trainings please contact Chris McKee, Jr. at (330) 743-1196 or cmckee@mvorganizing.org.