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Partnership for Missional Church Introduction & Preview Central States Synod- ELCA Dwelling in the Word Luke 10:1-12 Listen to Word read… Where does it capture you? Share with a ‘reasonably friendlylooking stranger’ Report to the group what you new friend noticed… History of the Church Christendom Assumptions • Culture is Christian • Concept of Parish- maintain the flock • Ministry revolves around: hatching, matching and dispatching After-Christendom • • • • • • • Biblically illiterate Ritually incompetent Highly self conscious Trauma or stress Distrustful of institutions Ill defined spiritual hunger Shame A “Missional” Church—Or NOT 1 2 4 3 Are we pregnant or just ‘sick and tired’? Five Questions What will you “have” at end of PMC? 1. Extensive demographic study of congregation and community with theological reflection (Church Future Finder) 2. Ethnographic study of life of congregation (Congregational Discovery) 3. Congregational History (Congregational Timeline) 4. Identified Missional Focus ( Missional Challenge) 5. Missional Action Plan (MAP) 6. Missional Vocation Statement 7. Vision for Embodiment 8. Long range plan 9. SMART Plans of action 10. Staff Covenant Traditional Strategic Planning But we are facing unfamiliar challenges in an era of rapid discontinuous Howchange… we’re going to get there! Where we are now! Where we want to go! The Gap Model! This works well when we are dealing with a familiar problem in a relatively stable environment and predictable incremental change. Everett Rogers declares that there are even five different stages that members of a culture go through when they have met a change… Partnership for Missional Church KEY: kickoff event cluster gatherings Preparation, finding leaders Celebration event ! What Happens in Partnership Congregations? The results of a 15 year longevity study conducted by external auditors found these results. What happens in congregations • A God-centered, biblical vision for mission through the practice of corporate spiritual discernment. • A greater sense of God’s activity in their congregation. • Ownership of the mission of the congregation by members • Members committed to and capable of making disciples • Both a vision for being missional and a practical plan of action to achieve it. • Recognize the strengths of the tradition of their congregation. What happens in congregations cont’d • Practical skills for managing change and attending to conflict. • The habits or practices of a missional church • Dramatic expansion of the involvement of church members • Decision process for planning activities and budget. • A faithful and hospitable congregation • Relationships with other partner churches Changes in life of congregation • Expand number of members in congregation who are involved in life and mission of congregation. • Discover sense of mission that uses gifts and character of congregation. • Develop clear and strong relationships with a segment of the community to whom God has sent the congregation. • Members of congregation have experimented in connecting with part of community in mission. Four Discoveries 1. The Christian imagination of lay leaders is critical to the missional church. 2. Missional churches decide to change from just maintenance, or from “having mission”, to being and doing mission. 3. Missional churches learn how to make disciples in an age of consumerism. 4. Missional churches learn how to receive and embrace change as God’s gift for Christian growth. Journey PMC May Not Be for You Now If: • Congregation is in severe conflict • Congregation already has answers to the questions about how God has called it into His mission and is effectively responding to that call • The Congregation has solved the process of change. For Further Information Contact • Len Dale at the Synod Office Phone: 816-8616584 E-mail: [email protected] • Alan Walter Phone: (913) 486-8745 E-Mail: [email protected] Questions & Special Issues • • • • • Cost to the Congregation Interim situations Multi-Congregation parishes Small congregations Others?