In this lesson Rev. Mandy Sloan McDow reflects on the challenges facing smaller churches and opportunities for congregations to use their property in creative ways to support vibrant ministries in their communities. MANDY SLOAN MCDOW is a native of Knoxville, Tennessee. She attended Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia, and Princeton Theological Seminary. Mandy served United Methodist congregations throughout the United States before accepting an appointment to serve Los Angeles First United Methodist Church in the heart of downtown LA—a church with a long history but no building. What remained was a hopeful remnant congregation, a surface parking lot in the middle of the nation’s second largest city, and a pastor who wasn’t afraid to think outside the box about church planting and church fundraising. Los Angeles United Methodist Church is now a thriving and inclusive congregation that meets in a parking lot. Mandy and her church were featured in a December 2018 article in Sojourners magazine, entitled, “A Church That Doesn’t Need Your Money: A Los Angeles church moved its service to a parking lot – paving the way for a new economic model of ministry.” Mandy holds a black belt in Taekwondo, makes music whenever possible, enjoys cooking (but loathes making dinner), knits to sit still, and is the deeply proud mother of Jackson, Cooper and Sloan, and an impossibly small dog named Posey. Together, they watch a lot of baseball. Learn more at MandyMcDow.com.

Mandy McDow interviewed by Alex Cohen re: Easter

Uploaded by UMC LEAD on 2018-04-03.

What does the future of the church, synagogue, mosque, gurdwara, temple look like? In what new vessels are people finding meaningful community? This workshop explored how traditional religious organizations have embraced innovative ideas that may shape the future of faith. A creative look beyond the church that is a taco truck...