Transcript Leadership for Developing Congregations Mission Developer’s Training ELCA Marked with the cross of Christ forever we are: Claimed Gathered Sent Baptism Communion Mission For the sake of the world (God’s Reign in.

Leadership for
Developing
Congregations
Mission Developer’s Training
ELCA
Marked with the cross of Christ
forever we are:
Claimed
Gathered
Sent
Baptism
Communion
Mission
For the sake of the world (God’s Reign in the world).
“I am the vine and you are the branches” John 15
It’s all about God
This is God’s doing
The kingdom is not just a hope but a
promise
In Jesus God has sealed the deal
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
It’s all about you
(As long you as you are up to the same
thing as God is up to)
God invites us to participate
God uses people
Your call is to carry out your role in God’s
purpose
Your calling is more than a job – it is a way
of life
Leadership is essential
In Diads (Groups of 2)
Discuss your sense of God’s call in your
life and how that relates to your current
call to lead the development of a new
congregation.
Close the time with prayer for each other.
Emerging Learnings for the Field
Ministry focused on the God’s Reign not the institution
Organic and contextual churches not cloned models
being built
Leaders that raise up and multiply leaders not followers
Congregations as training centers for mission rather than
service centers
Groups/congregations that reproduce more groups and
congregations
A heart for conversion and transformation not just
members to notch our belts
The New Church
Life/ministry as witness
and “parable of the kingdom”
The Changing Church
Laity infiltrate through vocation
“Missionaries of grace”
“Communities of care”
Dr. Alicia Vargas
Three Keys to Effective and
Healthy Ministry
(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
RENEWAL OF
EXISTING MEMBERS
(Entry Point)
HEALTHY
LEADERS AND
DISCIPLES
(Entry Point)
MAKING
NEW DISCIPLES
(Entry Point)
EVANGELICAL – LEADERSHIP
New leaders called & challenged to more responsibility
Individual/Leader
facilitate
Attitude of spiritual
willingness to change
( Both needed )
Clarity of purpose/vision
Leadership Team
facilitate
Congregation
facilitate
World
“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done…”
(Transformation)
Action Plans
The key is that the DNA
for the next level of leaders
Is in the prior one!
Coaching can help keep each
Level of the process focused
On the right things.
A Leadership Process for Transformational Mission
Purpose & Guiding
Principles
Starting Out on the Right Foot
Bible Study: Acts 2, 10 & 16
What is God doing in the text?
What are the disciples doing in the text?
Lessons:


What is God saying to the WHOLE Church in
this text?
What is God saying to YOU personally in this
text?
Purpose
God’s purpose for your ministry
The lens for everything you do – keeps team
and/or congregation focused
Helps determine course of action (reference
point for decision making)
Involve a lot of people as you work toward this
for the congregation
Use the purpose to identify the church and
include in worship, flyers, bulletins, letters, signs,
etc.
Mission and Purpose
Based on this text complete the following
phrases:


Group: God’s purpose for the church is
_________.
Individually: My purpose in the new ministry to
which I am called is _________.
Guiding Principles
Values that are in the vision that we can
begin to practice now – may conflict with
present behaviors.
These are embodied in our decisions –
provide guidance to help achieve the
purpose.
In the present we need accountability to
help us stay the course.
Guiding Principles: Examples
Examples



Church at the Center, Seattle: “Everything
accessible to the unchurched…”
Bethel, Palatine, IL: “We are God’s hands and
voice in the world.”
Living Lord, Bartlett, IL: As disciples of Jesus,
we grow to serve and we serve to grow”
Some Examples
Jesus is Lord.
Everyone is welcome.
Love changes people.
Everybody has
something to offer.
The world needs what
we’ve got.
Jesus is Lord and Savior.
Deepening our faith
strengthens our
discipleship.
Everyone is a minister.
God sends us as gifts to
the world.
We love to tell the story.
We invite all to join us in
God’s work.
Guiding Principles of the Early
Church?
1. Look at Acts 2, 10 and 16
2. Group: List the key principles at work in
making the key decisions in your
chapter. Narrow the list down to the top
5 guiding principles of the disciples that
advance their work for God?
Guiding Principles: Your Life
Individually: start a list of the 5 principles
that you will have to guide your ministry as
you begin.
Group: Share with each other.
Some other places to look for
more on guiding principles:
Read the scriptures and ask, “What is most
important to God’s people in this text?”
Hope Lutheran Church, W. Des Moines, IA
www.hopewdm.org
King of Kings LC, Michigan www.koklc.org
Church at the Center, Seattle, WA
www.catc.org
Kelly Fryer’s book: Reclaiming the “L” Word
(available from Augsburg Fortress)
Dave Daubert: “Living Lutheran”, Augsburg F.
Working with Purpose and Guiding
Principles back Home
Start with Bible study and prayer. Get as many people in
the congregation involved as possible
Look at Biblical behaviors. The Bible study from Acts 2,
10, and 16 is one helpful way.
Define the values at work, especially using the “Lessons
for the Church” section
Get groups to draft ideas for guiding principles at the
retreat. Use these for input to the leadership as they
write.
Have a leadership team draft statements
Facilitate conversation and feedback throughout the
congregation
Adopt Guiding Principles at congregational meeting