Essay Submission Guidelines

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Lend your voice to the conversation!

We invited a cross-section of church leaders to lend their unique voice and perspective, speaking from their own vantage point. They were asked to weigh-in on the following questions: What stands out about the state of the church? What are the notable forces in play, the yearnings and prayers of the people? What are the trends that best describe current reality? What are strategies and ministries that are most promising?

These essays were meant to stimulate continuing conversations. You are invited to join their voices by submitting your own essay about the state of The United Methodist Church.*

Guidelines for writing your essay

Be brief

Please limit your essay to no more than 600 words.

Be charitable

Please enter this conversation with the spirit of prayerful dialogue. Write from your own experience and beliefs rather than criticizing someone else's. Remember, the aim of this conversation is to discern where God is calling us to be in mission and ministry.

Be specific

Speak from your own experience. Talk about the role the church has played in your life. What about the ministry of the church gives you hope? What concerns you?

Keep these questions in mind as you write:

Where is God leading?
How are we responding?
What can we do better?

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* Submitting an essay does not guarantee that your work will be used, displayed or otherwise reproduced. We reserve the right and discretion to decide whether an essay will be posted and to edit or omit material in whole or part.