‘The Committee’ series premieres

What began as a six-episode video series to help United Methodists know more about church practice and polity has morphed into a 90-plus episode series seen by more than 50,000 people around the world.

The humorous and thought-provoking online “Chuck Knows Church” franchise premiered “The Committee” Jan. 12. In it, the fictitious Park Grove Community Church has lost its way, lost its pastor and will close its doors – unless, despite itself, it can find a new way of doing church.

For the new series, Chuck has volunteered to serve on a committee with recognizable church-member types. He makes keen observations and asks hard questions, forcing the members to determine just what “church” is, and if theirs is worth saving.

In the first episode, the committee struggles with the question “What does hospitality look like?” They soon realize it is different to each of them.

“The Committee” examines the struggles a congregation faces as it looks toward a preferred future. Designed for individual viewing and group study, each 10- to 13-minute episode also has a free downloadable study guide. A new video will be released each month on YouTube and announced on the Chuck Knows Church Facebook page.

“Chuck Knows Church” was launched in November 2012 as a video series to educate and entertain United Methodists. Discipleship Ministries produces the award-winning series directed by the Rev. Steve Horswill-Johnson, executive director of communication and brand management at Discipleship Ministries. Its popularity is due in part to its presence on a variety of social media platforms: Web: www.chuckknowschurch.com; YouTube: ChuckKnowsChurch; Facebook: Chuck Knows Church; Twitter: ChuckKnows; Instagram: ChuckKnowsChurch.

Adapted from a Discipleship Ministries news release