The Michigan District utilizes Congregation Ministry Facilitators (CMF) who are deployed to serve congregations, specifically ministry staff and lay leaders, to resource and facilitate activities which strength and support the local mission and ministry of the congregation.

A Congregation Ministry Facilitator is assigned to each congregation of the District. Currently, the Congregation Ministry Facilitator team is comprised of:

Rev. Dr. Richard J. Wolfram, CMF for congregations worshiping up to 165, primarily in western and northern Michigan

Rev. Galan D. Walther, CMF for congregations worshiping 166-300, and others in southeastern Michigan

Vacant, CMF for congregations worshiping 301+
(For congregations in this area, please contact the District Office to see whether you have been assigned to Rev. Wolfram or Rev. Walther.)

Mission congregations, congregations receiving District subsidy and specialized ministries are assigned to Rev. Roosevelt Gray, Jr., Director of Missions of the Michigan District.

The CMFs have regular contact with their assigned congregations, most often with the pastor and periodically with staff and lay leadership teams in the congregation. Congregations most often request their CMF for assistance in some form of process consulting - providing a process for the congregation to plan, organize, and implement action steps and strategies which the congregation determines and which expand the effectiveness of the ministry of the congregation.

Some of the exciting resources and helpful things CMFs provide for Michigan District congregations are:

o Encouragement in ministry for the pastor and ministry staff
o Congregation self-assessment for church health and effectiveness
o Connecting your congregation's specific needs for ministry development with a church of established expertise in that area of ministry (networking)
o Strategic planning
o Defining congregation values, mission and vision
o Providing resources for local ministry opportunities, hopes and dreams
o Guiding the congregation through vacancy transition (when a pastor leaves)
o Strengthening of outreach mindset
o Leadership development
o Demographics and mission field interpretation
o Governance, structure, and organizational issues
o Staffing needs, evaluation, and relationships

Your Congregation Ministry Facilitator is willing and eager to serve you and your leadership team and to collaborate on ways to meet the needs and opportunities and fulfill the hopes and dreams of your congregation.

For more information on the District's Congregation Ministry Facilitators please view this brochure.