Transcript Becoming the Vital Churches and Disciples that Tomorrow Requires David Schoen Congregational Vitality and Discipleship Local Church Ministries United Church of Christ.

Becoming the Vital Churches and
Disciples that Tomorrow Requires
David Schoen
Congregational Vitality and Discipleship
Local Church Ministries
United Church of Christ
Exodus 3:13 - 15
• Then Moses said to God, "If I
come to the people of Israel and
say to them, `The God of your
fathers has sent me to you,' and
they ask me, `What is his name?'
what shall I say to them?"
God said to Moses,
• "I AM WHO I AM."
YAHWEH
I Will Be
What Tomorrow
Requires
The Future Question
• God will be what the future
demands,
• but,…….
• Will we be the churches and
disciples that tomorrow requires?
Vital churches in the 21st Century
Missional, Relational & Conversational
• Missional in purpose
• Relational in outreach
• Conversational in witness
Missional in Purpose
• Vital congregations
– clear sense of purpose
• Vital congregations
– are sent churches
• Vital congregations
– reach out beyond themselves
• Vital congregations
– reproduce and plant new congregations
Missional Church
• “The Church exists to serve God’s Mission”
Mission as Missio Dei, UCC Committee on Structure, 1992
• 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.
Vital congregations discern
God’s call and mission
• The greatest characteristic of a vital
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 Purpose
Cathedral of Hope UCC
– 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
• First Grace UCC, Akron OH
– First grace…..then faith and works!
• First Congregtional UCC Santa Rosa
– Making God’s love visible
• Others
–
–
–
–
Strangers no more…
Jesus loves you…this we know!
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
• What is Your Mission Statement?
• Mission Statement should be:
– 7 – 9 words or less
– Engaging
– Compelling
– Visionary
– True
Resources for Vital Congregations
• Ready, Set, Grow Resources on ucc.org/vitality
– Vital-o-Meter
– Discovering your Congregation’s Strengths
– Discerning your Congregation’s Mission
– “It’s a Whole New World”
– Vitality Interviews
– Vitality Powerpoint - Retreat Resources
www.ucc.org/vitality/retreat-resources/
Missional in Purpose
Relational in Outreach
• Ministry in 21st Century is Relational
• Build community with those outside the
church
• Get to know the unchurched people and
culture
the world has
changed
60
– 80 % unchurched
80
% of baby boomers left
80
% of youth have
negative view of church
Culture does not support
church
Relational in Outreach
• Bridge the gap by building relationships
• The days of waiting for people to come to
church to welcome them are over.
• Instead of waiting inside, we go outside
Missional Outreach
• Go to where the unchurched are:
coffee shops, bookstores, fast food,
parks, gymns
• “I stopped wondering about how to draw
younger folks into my church and started
focusing on how to draw my congregation out of
its building and into relationship with the world
outside its doors.”
Go Forth….
Into the Virtual World.
• In Asia, Europe and North America—an entire
generation has experienced the Internet as a
means for maintaining relationships with
family and friends.
• The Internet is a lifeline for users whose
mobility is limited by disability, chronic
illness or advanced age.
• The Internet is where we can find and engage
seekers.
Resources for Vital Congregations
• Ready, Set, Grow Resources on ucc.org/vitality
– Vital-o-Meter
– Discovering your Congregation’s Strengths
– Discerning your Congregation’s Mission
– “It’s a Whole New World”
– Vitality Interviews
– Vitality Powerpoint - Retreat Resources
www.ucc.org/vitality/retreat-resources/
Relational in Outreach
Conversational in Witness
• Conversational ministry is central to the
future of the church in 21st Century
• Count conversations, not conversions
– Brian McLaren, More Ready than You Think
Conversational Ministry
• The postmodern world calls for disciples
who reach out to a world that is hungering
for good conversation about faith, values,
hope, meaning, purpose, goodness,
beauty, truth, life after death, life before
death and God. Engaging in everyday
faith conversations will not only help
others become Christians, it will help us
become better Christians, who know and
love the still speaking God more than ever.
Conversational Ministry
• A world of spiritual seekers wants to talk.
• We are the ones who are not talking!
• Vital churches are communities in which
the pastor and members have invited 5 to
15 new folks to their community of faith in
the past six months.
Are you Ready to Talk?
“Tricking” the church into Evangelism – Taking it
back!
Are You Ready to Talk?
Why do you love your church?
What impact has believing in God
and following Jesus made in your
life?
What Bible text has made a
difference in your life?
God is still speaking,
Through you
and me!
Where will we be in 2020….?
• The still speaking God
– calls us to become
• Churches that the Future Requires
– Missional in purpose
– Relational in outreach
– Conversational in witness
Two questions
•
Where are the signs of vitality in your
congregation this spring?
•
What are you going to do from today’s
presentation to increase vitality in
your congregation?
Resources for Vital Congregations
• Ready, Set, Grow Resources on ucc.org/vitality
– Vital-o-Meter
– Discovering your Congregation’s Strengths
– Discerning your Congregation’s Mission
– “It’s a Whole New World”
– Vitality Interviews
– Vitality Powerpoint - Retreat Resources
www.ucc.org/vitality/retreat-resources/
Resources for Vital Congregations
• Conference Resources & Events
• Other Events and Webinars
• Center for Progressive Renewal
•
•
•
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Redeveloper Leadership Institute
Churches Birthing Churches
Evangelism and Leadership Webinars
www.progressiverenewal.org
• Congregational Vitality e-mail
• UCC Web University
Thank You!
• Thank you for your Vital Leadership
• Thank you for Your Support of
Our Churches’ Wider Mission
– Changing Lives: That’s Our Churches’ Wider Mission