General Record Book For Ch School Sm Group Min

In a recent survey of United Methodist pastors, we learned that one of the top three “worries” on many of your minds is that the members of your congregation may not be experiencing the deep knowledge and love of God that leads to changed lives. How do people learn to love God so much that their lives are transformed? Worship is a critical setting, but this is too big an assignment to be borne by the worship service alone. Settings for the study of scripture and the sharing of our hearts and minds are essential for forming Christian community and building expectations of learning and growth. We need more settings for formation and better use of the settings we have. (Adapted from How Do People Learn to Love God? By Harriett Jane Olson. Circuit Rider Magazine, July/August 2004.)

A mundane, yet important part of insuring that we make best use the settings we have is to maintain good records to let us know how we are doing. The tools included in The United Methodist church school and small group ministry record system will help.

The newly revised General Record Book for the Church School & Small Group Ministries (which replaces the General Record Book for the Church School Secretary/Treasurer) helps you collect and summarize weekly church school and small group participation. The forms help you prepare quarterly and annual reports including the Local Church Report to the Annual Conference. The other tools in the system (Record Book for Class or Group, Individual Record Card, and Report & Offering Envelope) help you gather and use accurate, complete information from multiple classes and settings.