Transcript New Congregational Development

Healthy and Missional
Congregations
Rev. Ruben Duran
EOCM-ELCA
Assumptions
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It is GOD’s mission
God does not want to work alone
We are invited to participate
It is still God’s mission
We have God’s promise:
“I will build my church”
“I will be with you always”
Healthy Churches
• Our response to God’s salvific initiative
• Our participation in God’s mission and
ultimate goal: Reign of God in history
• A church is like an arrow that points to
God’s Reign
• It is part of God’s “conspiracy” to
overcome evil and establish God’s gentle
and just Reign. Church=means not end.
As the world changes, the constant
of God’s purpose remains
God’s work to bring about the Reign
Reign of
God
Church
Church called to
participate in God’s
work
Witness and
engagement
The Changing World
Challenge/Opportunity of
Context
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GEOGRAPHICAL:
balance
SOCIO-ECONOMIC: a church for all
GENERATIONAL:
emergent church
ETHNIC- specific:
5 communities
MULTICULTURAL: a church from all
• KEY: acting/reflecting out of our missional
identity (Lutheran lenses).
The Changing Church
Laity infiltrate through vocation
“Missionaries of grace”
“Communities of care”
Dr. Alicia Vargas
ITS ABOUT HEALTH
• HEALTHY LEADERS CAN DEVELOP HEALTHY
COMMUNITIES OF FAITH.
• HEALTHY ORGANISMS DO NOT GROW
FOREVER, BUT THEY REPRODUCE.
• THE GOAL OF AN APPLE TREE IS NOT AN
APPLE, BUT ANOTHER APPLE TREE.
HEALTHY CONGREGATIONS GROW AND
REPRODUCE NATURALLY.
Signs of a Healthy Church
KEY: Congregational Health
• What does it mean to have a healthy
congregation?
• What are some vital signs of a healthy
congregation?
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2 Key Studies regarding
Congregational Health
• 1. ELCA Study on Evangelism (1993-03)
• 2. The Natural Church Development
Three Keys to Transformation
(From an evangelism study of the ELCA)
• Leadership – a culture of team leadership
where clergy and laity work together as a
team. Leaders help congregations develop
the following:
– Purpose – a clear sense by the congregation
of what God is calling them to do
– Willingness to change – a spirit of openness
that is willing to initiate change to be faithful
and effective
As the world changes, the constant
of God’s purpose remains
God’s work to bring about the Reign
Reign of
God
Church
Church called to
participate in God’s
work
Witness and
engagement
The Changing World
God’s work in Christ
Kingdom/Reign
of God
Engage God:
Discern and call
Purpose/Vision
Church:
Identity as body of Christ
Assets and gifts
God’s hands/voice in world
Engage context:
Relationships of
Mission and ministry
World’s Context
RE-TOOLING for Increasing
Capacity in Evangelical Outreach
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Missional Theology: grounding
Leadership Development: equipping
lay and clergy
Reading the audience: understanding
the emerging context
Congregational Ministry: assessing
congregational health
Research: Natural Church
Development
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49.000 churches so far
Worldwide
18 languages
Inter-denominational
Looking for signs of healthy congregations
Looking for principles that propel the
church to grow naturally
Growth Forces (Biotic Principles)
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Interdependence = connecting
Multiplication = reproducing
Energy transformation = harnessing
Sustainability = sustaining
Symbiosis = cooperating
Fruitfulness = evaluating
• (From the Natural Church Development)
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Growth Forces
1. Interdependence (Connecting): Individual
units are connected to each other in a larger
system. Changes in one ministry will affect
other ministries in the church and
community.
2. Multiplication (Reproducing): Healthy
organisms do not grow endlessly, but
reproduce themselves.
3. Energy Transformation (Harnessing):
Momentum or energy already flowing,
whether positive or negative, can be
redirected to accomplish God’s purposes.
4. Sustainability (Sustaining): Resources
used should increase the capacity for
ongoing growth and development, as well
as serve multiple purposes.
5. Symbiosis (Cooperating): Different
ministries can cultivate cooperative
relationships so the mutual benefit is greater
than operating separately.
6. Fruitfulness (Evaluating): Each ministry
needs to produce discernible results in line
with its intended purpose.
Quality Characteristics
• Empowering leadership
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Gift-oriented ministry
Passionate spirituality
Functional structures
Inspiring worship
Holistic small groups
Contextual evangelism
Loving relationships
The Quality Characteristics &
Growth Forces
Growth Forces
How the Quality
Characteristics
are developed
Quality Characteristics
Example:
What a church needs to develop
Leadership according to
Growth Forces
= Empowering Leadership
An ELCA Example
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1 Year Later….
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Healthy and Missional Congregations
8 NCD Quality
Characteristics
Eye for Justice
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Basic Building Blocks
Mission clarity
Flexible/Resilient
Connected
Purpose
Foundation for
Ministry
Willing to Change
Ecclesiology
Jesus Christ
“8.5” Quality Characteristics – 8 from NCD augmented with an eye for justice
A WISE MAN ONCE TOLD ME
• Direction first, then speed
• Foundation first, then height
NEW CONGREGATIONS
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Healthy:
capacity to act and grow
Missional
evangelical orientation
Evangelizing making new disciples
Multiplying
churches starting churches
RENEWAL OF
EXISTING MINISTRIES
(Entry Point)
HEALTHY
CONGREGATIONS
(Entry Point)
STARTING
NEW CONGREGATIONS
(Entry Point)
HISTORY
• The trend has been to transfer the
responsibility for new starts to the church
structures.
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RESULTS?
1. More centralized decisions
2. Less local ownership/participation
3. Less new starts
EMERGING VISION
• TO ENGAGE LEADERS IN THE
FORMATION OF EVANGELIZING
CONGREGATIONS THAT MAKE
DISCIPLES FOR JESUS CHRIST WHO
USE THEIR GIFTS FOR GOD’S REIGN
IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE WORLD.
3 ENTRY-POINTS
• 1. Renew existing congregations with
ministry potential
• 2. Start new mission congregations
• 3. Invite healthy congregations to start a
satellite or a second campus ministry.
1. RENEWING
CONGREGATIONS
• EQUIPPING CONGREGATIONS INTO
HEALTHY SYSTEMS
The Changing Church
Laity infiltrate through vocation
“Missionaries of grace”
“Communities of care”
Dr. Alicia Vargas
EOCM: RENEWAL
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Ministry Adjustments
Turn-around congregations
Re-developments
Transformational Process
Fast-Growth congregations
Re-alignments: mergers, consolidation
Synodical Administration of churches
2. NEW CONGREGATIONS
In 2005, 38 new ministries started
• In 2006, 41 new ministries started.
• In 2007, 56 new proposals approved.
• Synodically Authorized Worshipping
Communities.
• Churches starting Churches.
• Traditional Starts (strategic contexts).
ITS ABOUT HEALTH
• HEALTHY LEADERS CAN DEVELOP HEALTHY
COMMUNITIES OF FAITH.
• HEALTHY ORGANISMS DO NOT GROW
FOREVER, BUT THEY REPRODUCE.
• THE GOAL OF AN APPLE TREE IS NOT AN
APPLE, BUT ANOTHER APPLE TREE.
HEALTHY CONGREGATIONS GROW AND
REPRODUCE NATURALLY.
Other Key Studies
• 1. The Evangelizing Congregation,
Richard Bliese and other theologians(AF)
• 2. Healthy Churches, Pr. Ron Qualley,
Lord of Life in Fairfax, VA. (in progress).
• 3. Biblical Principles for New Starts, ELCA
• 4. Living Lutheran, David Daubert; AF
Healthy and Missional Congregations
8 NCD Quality
Characteristics
Eye for Justice
`
Basic Building Blocks
Mission clarity
Flexible/Resilient
Connected
Purpose
Foundation for
Ministry
Willing to Change
Ecclesiology
Jesus Christ
“8.5” Quality Characteristics – 8 from NCD augmented with an eye for justice