Questions?
If you have questions, please contact Mission and Justice Coordinator Alice Townley at (517) 347-4030 x4082.
2021 Engagemi Churches
The following churches submitted reports. EngageMI Congregations are designated with an asterisk. They participated in all the areas, and shared how they gave, served and learned:
Central Bay District
Coleman Faith*, Mayville*, Owendale*, Pigeon First*, St. Charles*, Shepherd*, Watrousville*, West Branch First*
East Winds District
Fenton, Flushing, Fostoria*, Gaines*, Genesee*, Grand Blanc First*, Grand Blanc Phoenix*, Lexington*, Mt. Morris*
Greater Detroit District
Birmingham: First*, Dearborn: Good Shepherd*, Detroit Metropolitan, Grosse Pointe*, Harper Woods Redeemer, Howarth*, Livonia: St. Matthew*, Pontiac Grace and Peace, Troy Big Beaver*, Utica*, Waterford Trinity*, West Bloomfield*, Wyandotte First*
Greater Southwest District
Battle Creek Chapel Hill* , Centreville*, Colon, Coldwater, Gobles*, Gull Lake, Kalamazoo: Westwood*, Nottawa, Union City, Scotts*
Heritage District
Carleton*, Hillsdale*, Howell, Lincoln Community, Milford*, Monroe: St Paul*, North Lake*, Northville*, Saline First*, Ypsilanti*, Walled Lake*
Midwest District
Georgetown*, Grandville*, Lowell: First,* Rockford,* White Cloud
Mid-Michigan
Bancroft*, Delta Mills*, Holt*, Laingsburg*, Lansing Grace, Owosso: First*, Nashville: Peace,* Shaftsburg*
Northern Skies
Amasa*, Crystal Falls*, Engadine*, Escanaba First, Gladstone: Memorial*, Hancock: First*,Iron Mountain Trinity*,Ishpeming*, Munising*
Northern Waters District
Frankfort*, Grawn*, Lake City*
Regardless of being closed to in-person worship much of the year, congregations found new creative and intentional means of remaining connected and caring for each other and their communities. All the churches told God-filled stories of ministry. Many of the stories told of an unexpected and amazing increase in giving due to the needs created by the continuing pandemic. Buildings may have been closed to many of the normal congregational activities, but the United Methodists in Michigan are still doing God’s work, locally and globally. All to the Glory of God!
Applications for Conference Engagemi Projects
Now Open
- RENEWING Conference projects please update contact information and share your ministry story in the applicable form.
- We have TWO Engagemi Applications for new Conference projects. The ‘Engagemi Project Full Application’ is the standard one that includes questions about the mission, activities, financial records, board of directors, United Methodist connections, and more. There is also an ‘Engagemi Project Abbreviated Application’ for the projects that relate regularly to a Michigan Conference Board or Division for support and accountability. For example, the Wesley Foundations are evaluated each summer by the Division of Higher Education and Campus Ministry.
- All applications need to be returned to Alice Townley at [email protected] or mail to: Michigan UMC, 1011 Northcrest Rd., Lansing, MI 48906, by January 31, 2023. The Conference BGM will make determinations by April 1.
- We hope to update Engagemi information on the Michigan Conference Website on an ongoing basis and release a new Engagemi Book every other year.
Engagemi Overview
Engagemi is the mission engagement program for the Michigan Conference.
Engagemi challenges Michigan Conference congregations to comprehensive missional learning, giving and action with the goal of encouraging congregations to shift from transactional “ministry to” models to relational “ministry with” vulnerable people and communities.
The Engagemi program consists of three focus areas: Learn, Give, Act. Congregations that meet the requirements in all three areas will be recognized as “Engagemi Congregations.”
“Ministry With” – Foundational Concept for Engagemi
“Ministry with” is the foundational concept for the Engagemi program. Based on The United Methodist Church’s “Ministry with the Poor” Area of Focus, “ministry with” is grounded in Jesus’ practice of ministry, and our Wesleyan heritage. It is an invitation to move from models of “ministry to” into models of “ministry with.”
“Ministry to” is defined as mission and ministry programs that merely “give to” or “do for” people. These programs can be highly efficient in distributing materials and resources to address immediate basic needs of food, water, clothing, and shelter. However, they can also create a hierarchy of “givers” over “receivers,” foster systems and relationships of dependency, and treat “givers” as saviors having all the resources and answers and the “receivers” as objects of charity and problems to be fixed.
In contrast, “ministry with” seeks not only to meet immediate needs, but, also, to foster mutual relationships where all participants are met with dignity, engaged in shared leadership, and growing together in God’s love. It is a challenge for all of us to prioritize people over programs, relationships over resources, and development of long-term solutions over quick fixes.
The Engagemi mission and ministry projects, here in Michigan and around the world, are all seeking to respond to this invitation. The goal of Engagemi is to encourage your congregation to partner with these projects and to meet the challenge of being in “ministry with” people in your congregation and your local community.