Transcript Mission as Missio Dei

Vision, Mission, Identity and
Branding
David Schoen
Congregational Vitality and
Discipleship Ministry
Postmodern Culture
and Church
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Christianity in North America has moved (or been
moved) away from its position of dominance
 loss not only of numbers
 but of power and influence within society.
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Rather than occupying a central and influential place,
North American Christian churches are increasingly
marginalized,
 in our urban areas they represent a minority
movement
 It is now a truism to speak of North America as a
mission field.
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Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America, Edited
by Darrell Guder, the Gospel and Our Culture Network
Missio Dei – “Mission of God”
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The real problem is much more deeply rooted than
programmatic and methodological solutions.
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It has to do with who we are and what we are for.
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The real issues of the church are spiritual and
theological.
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In The Other Side of 1984: Questions for the Churches
Bishop Leslie Newbigin analyzed the challenge presented
by the changing context of Western society.
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What had once been a Christendom society was now
clearly post-Christian and in many ways anti-Christian.
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The missiological consensus that Newbigin focused on may
be summarized with the term mission Dei, “mission of
God”.
Missional Church
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“The Church exists to serve God’s Mission”
Mission as Missio Dei, UCC Committee on Structure, 1992
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The church of Jesus Christ is the instrument
and sign of God’s mission and realm.
God’s mission is calling and sending us, the
church of Jesus Christ, to be a missionary
church in our own societies, in the cultures
in which we find ourselves.
Who are we
and what are we for?
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The church of Jesus Christ is not the
purpose or goal of the gospel. God’s
mission embraces all of creation. “God so
loved the world” is the emphasis of the
beloved gospel summary in John 3:16.
This does not mean that the church is not
essential to God’s work of salvation – it is.
But it is essential as God’s chosen people
“who are blessed to be a blessing to the
nations.”
Missional Challenge for Church
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This is challenge for the Church:
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Neither the structures nor theology of Western
traditional churches is missional.
We have been shaped by the legacy of
Christendom.
Formed by centuries in which Western civilization
considered itself formally and officially Christian.
Christendom – the system of church-state
partnership and cultural hegemony in which the
Christian religion was protected and privileged
religion of society and the church its legally
established institutional form.
Difference between church with
mission and missional church
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Mission in 20th Century became program
of church
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Mission boards emerged
Mission workers became professional
Mission ‘work’ become financial support
Mission arena was someplace else
Our challenge today is to move from
church with mission to missional church.
What is Missional Church?
Mission is not a program or project some people in
the church do from time to time; the church’s
very nature is to be God’s missionary people.
We use the word missional to mark this big
difference. Mission is not a project or a budget,
or an event somewhere; it’s not even about
sending missionaries.
A missional church is a community of God’s people
who live into the imagination that they are, by
their very nature, God’s missionary people living
as a demonstration of what God plans to do in
and for all of creation in Jesus Christ.
The Missional Leader: Equipping Your Church to Reach a Changing World
Missional Church outreach to
community and neighborhood
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God is still speaking to us in culture and
community.
God’s purpose is that our communities are
not forsaken or the land desolate.
Church no longer center of community, but
it can be good neighbor.
Church can accompany community to be
all that God’s realm would want the
community to be.
Theology makes a difference
in missional focus
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Mainline Protestant and historically
black denomination churches engage
with their communities by caring for
others and advocating on behalf of
those in need.
Conservative Protestants typically
involve worshipers talking about their
faith and inviting people to participate in
community of faith.
Strong congregations balance their
attention between both.
Vital congregations discern
God’s call and mission
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The greatest characteristic of a vital
missional congregation is the ability to
articulate and live God’s purpose.
What is God calling this church to be
and do at this time, in this place, with
the gifts we have on this corner of
God’s realm that we are placed?
Missional Statement –
Branding message
No matter who you are or
where you are
on life’s journey,
you are welcome here.
Never put a period where God has put a comma
Missional Statement –
Branding message
Cathedral of Hope
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The Mission of the Cathedral of Hope is to
reclaim Christianity as a faith of
extravagant grace, radical inclusion and
relentless compassion.
We are a people of compassion
We are a people of inclusion
We are a people of liberation
We are a people of hope
We are a people of Jesus
Missional Statement –
Branding message
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First Grace UCC, Akron OH
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First Congregtional UCC Santa Rosa
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First grace…..then faith and works!
Making God’s love visible
Others
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Strangers no more
Jesus loves you…this we know!
Keeping faith, reaching out, welcoming all!
In the Heart of the City with the City in our Heart
A Church Just for You, A Just Church for You!
Missional in Purpose
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What is Your Mission Statement?
Mission Statement should be:
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7 – 9 words or less
Engaging
Compelling
Visionary
True
Exploring Your Congregation’s Vitality
UCCvitality.org (ucc.org/vitality)
Discerning Your Church’s Mission