United Methodist Men chapters in The Florida Conference have, in the words of Rev. Michael LeBlanc, “a long legacy of effectiveness” in areas of evangelism, mission work, and servant leadership.
They are also, as one person put it, “The keeper of the pancake breakfast.”
That last one is a tasty thought, of course. However, as local UM churches throughout the state consider ways to enhance their community outreaches in the aftermath of disaffiliation-related budget cuts, something bigger is happening. Brainstorming sessions are underway about ways to help UMM have an even greater impact beyond pancakes and maple syrup.
The study began at the 2023 Annual Conference when participants received a survey asking their opinions of United Methodist Men.
Not long after the survey went out, Florida Conference co-Lay Leader Derrick Scott III approached Pattison during a meeting in Daytona Beach and asked if the reboot of UMM was somewhere he would consider serving.
We all love pancakes, but there are vital areas well beyond that where UMM can make a difference. Getting there requires listening and understanding a wide swath of people in a diverse state.
“We want to hear from the men in the Conference about what they’re facing in life,” Pattison said. “That’s so we’re not trying to design something that just a handful of people made.
“We’re trying to be intentional about capturing a cross-section of the Conference. We want to reach across the Conference in terms of age and ethnicity and try to continue to build something that will last.”
This won’t be a quick fix. It starts with throwing out suggestions that might sound outlandish at first and then thinking it through. It can’t be the same ol’ same ol’ and chances are good that the “new” UMM won’t look much like the old one.
“We want programs and ideas that are outside of United Methodist world. In many ways, this re-start is like the doors just opened and we get to walk out on Mars what men’s ministry looks like,” Rev. LeBlanc said. “It’s the start of something brand new.
“We want to look and see what others have done well, then take and make it Wesleyan and Methodize it. It’s not what it historically was, but what it could be. “We’re also planning to have a podcast to elevate men’s issues, but ultimately, we realized that the only way this ministry does well is if it happens in the local church.”
Still, the Conference will play a role in shaping things going forward.
“What we want to do is provide some resources and a toolkit for churches to decide how they might implement a vital men’s ministry within their local church,” Pattison said.
“But also want to provide some district and Conference resources. We’re looking at various types of retreat models and spiritual formation models that would enable men to go away and come back to go away and then come back to their local church.”
That could include adapting models currently in use at churches like Hyde Park UMC in Tampa. There, dozens of men have formed so-called “Joe Groups” of five to seven that meet regularly for Bible study and support.
They also have a gathering called JoeCon where all the groups come together for fellowship and planning. They call themselves just ordinary guys, average Joes, who are trying to be disciples of Jesus.
But there’s nothing ordinary about that.
Imagine what a group of dedicated and determined United Methodist Men, working in their neighborhoods and towns across the state, could accomplish as disciples.
That’s the idea behind all this.
excerpt from a story by Joe Henderson, News Content Editor
This story represents how United Methodist local churches through their Annual Conferences are living as Vital Congregations. A vital congregation is the body of Christ making and engaging disciples for the transformation of the world. Vital congregations are shaped by and witnessed through four focus areas: calling and shaping principled Christian leaders; creating and sustaining new places for new people; ministries with poor people and communities; and abundant health for all.
