Transcript Slide 1

Mission Planning for Congregations
Synod Assembly 2012
LIFT – Living into the Future Together
 What do you believe God is calling your congregation
to be and do in your community?
 Could you see your congregation joining together with
other congregations in your community to develop and
carry out a mission plan in your community?
 In what kinds of networks are you participating within
and across our synod that will engage people in
creative approaches to ministry?
Guiding Principles for Congregational
Mission Planning:
1.
Mission planning involves Three Great Listenings:
God, community, household of faith
2. Mission planning is relational and fosters
partnerships.
3. Every congregation is uniquely gifted by God.
4. Mission planning pays attention to context.
5. Mission planning is a shared journey.
6. Mission planning is ongoing.
Effective Evangelical Congregations:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
have a clear vision of God’s mission, focused on Jesus
Christ and the Great Commission
are centered on Jesus Christ to make disciples
are deeply involved in Bible study and prayer
have inspiring worship that is connected to the needs and
resources of the people in the community and
congregation
empower their lay leaders to use their spiritual gifts
invite, welcome, and integrate newcomers effectively
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
engage the needs of the community and world
have courageous, passionate, and contextual leaders who
see themselves as witnesses to Jesus Christ
are able to deal openly and productively with change and
conflict
recognize the need for joy, love, and community in those
around them
reach out to children & youth in their community
work for justice and community transformation
Thriving (growing or stable) in GMS share these traits:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Strong pastoral leadership – culture of trust
mutuality, and respect
Wide distribution of power/responsibility and
ministry sharing
Respond to the local culture – operate as mirrors and
bridges of their locations
Strong missional understanding – with a variety of
direct, hands-on engagement
Strong ecumenical ties
6. Balance of strong programmatic (attractant) and
missional expressions
7. Intentional, open, and engaging communication
8. Emphasize building community including sense of
belonging and connection
Where is here?
•End of long term pastorate
•Arrival of new pastor
•Departure or death of key leaders
•Arrival of dynamic new members/leaders
•Crisis in the community
•Shift in population
•Conflict
•Financial loss/gain
•Fire/disaster
•New building
•Etc.
What’s Driving Your Congregation?
 Tradition
 Personality
 Finances
 Programs
 Buildings
 Events
 Purpose
Questions to Explore
 What study/prayer/action has begun already in your
congregation?
 How do you already see God at work in the community
around you?
 How has scripture informed your understanding of
God’s activity?
 How is your congregation already engaging in God’s
activity in the community?
 How has your congregation involved others partners
e.g. ecumenical, synodical, churchwide and
community?
 How is leadership being multiplied and equipped?
Simple Assessment Tool
Commitment to God’s Mission
No Clue
Fully Engaged
Willingness to Change
OMDB
FSA
Leadership
Mired in Conflict
All on the same page
Where are you going?
What is the vision?
For this time….
For this place. . .
Action Steps: Cast Your Vision
 Pray & Go deep in the Word
 Listen to the hopes and dreams of your church
…and your community
 Talk about, write about, hone and shape your vision
 Share your vision with the people and invite the
community to shape it
Select a guiding coalition (Dream Team, 20/20
Vision Team)
How will you get there?
Break things into concrete action
Do them
Evaluate
Make adjustments
Take the next step
Faith in God changes everything!
Mission Planning Toolbox
 www.milwaukeesynod.org
 Click on Resources
 Mission planning toolbox for congregations – in box
on right side of page
LIFT (Living into the Future Together) Outcomes:
 Make accessible mission planning resources from
across the church
 Connect and develop lay leadership & rostered leaders
who can engage in relational work
 Develop guiding principles for congregational mission
planning
 Focus on long-term change of building relationships
with communities and neighborhoods, rather than
quick fixes
 Develop local mission tables
 Work together to nurture congregations that are
evangelical (proclaiming God’s reconciling forgiveness,
mercy, and love) and missional (engaged in witness
and service in God’s world) through which God makes
disciples of Jesus Christ
 Encourage completion of congregational mission plans
by the end of 2012.
Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you;
and be gracious to you;
the Lord LIFT up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace.