Congregational Vitality & Vulnerability

Slides:



Advertisements
Similar presentations
Transforming Leadership, Transforming Lives! Presents What is a Missional Church?
Advertisements

Diocesan Strategy. No Quick Fix! Long-term ( years application) Hard work! Diocesan Strategy.
Stirred by the Spirit Walking Together Engaging the World with Love Spirit Shaped Directions In Christ we are… Session 3: Spirit Shaped Directions.
The “Irreducible Core” of the Christian Faith
Closing Prayer Leader: As we come to the end of our conference let us gather, united in heart and voice as we pray… We are among your called. All: We.
CLAIMING THE FUTURE THE ASSOCIATION OF THE FUTURE.
A Contemporary Vision for Catholic Education
CHAPTER 3 WHY CAN’T I SEE GOD’S WILL IN MY LIFE? What interesting things did you find out about the Kingdom of God?
Purpose & Guiding Principles Starting Out on the Right Foot By Creating a Missional Community.
An overview of vitality for congregations. Have you Noticed-It’s not 1955 Back when…..
L iving E very D ay as D isciples SEMN Synod Fall Theological Conference November 2, 2015.
Wondering about Confirmation Terri Martinson Elton Luther Seminary.
Mission Shaped Church How do we start … Presented by The Sheffield Centre Church Army’s Research Unit.
 It Takes Time…  New Construction Is Different Than Renovation…  The Challenge: Where to Start!
CWO Operational Plan Goals We are Church 1.Congregations are growing, vibrant in their worship life and diverse, and worshippers increase their.
Matthew 28:16-20 The Great Commission Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of.
W HERE A RE W E H EADED ? September O VERALL M EMBERSHIP IS D ECLINING.
God of all Creation, You have constantly poured out your Spirit upon our Diocese and kindled here a light which has spread throughout the world. Lord Jesus,
Etc. Welcome to Week 6 Empowering Prayer.
Take the Next Faithful Step
Congregational Vitality Project Congregational Vitality in the ELCA
Take the Next Faithful Step
Lifebuilders Ministries compiled by Winston Barnett
NOW and NEXT strategic plan Overview
Growing in the gifts of the Spirit
Fearless Faith Sharing
Great Commission Living Empowered by Great Commandment Love
Creating Our Common Wealth Supporting the Growth of Others
A CALL TO ACTION THE VITAL CONGREGATIONS PROJECT
InterVarsity USA is an campus ministry that serves students and faculty on college and university campuses nationwide. Our vision is to see students and.
Face to Face With GRACE Phil Van Auken.
Being Church in a Missional Age
PRACTICING DISCERNMENT AND DECISION-MAKING IN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES
Eastern Washington – Idaho Synod October 2007
Leadership Compass Michele Rastovich 2016 Prevention Summit
Cultivating Vital Congregations
Let us have a
Open All Areas Difficulties met in the process
Mission – theological foundations
Keys to Success for Realm Connect & The City
Branding Organization Leadership Conference
Understanding Transition: God and You
“Engage” in evangelism “you Really can do it!”
Mission Developer Training Part II
When Jesus walked the earth, people could go up and physically touch His body – if they happened to live in that time and place. Since His death, resurrection,
Developing Learning To teach learning skills schools have to identify the key skills they value. This presentation is to explain the key learning skills.
Responding to the Great Commission
Faith Formation In Congregations
Next Level Innovations Alexandria and Arlington Districts
Congregational Vitality & Vulnerability
A New Heaven and a New Earth
Linda Bobbitt ELCA Presented at RRA/SSSR Oct Las Vegas, NV
Creative Disarray Models for Ministry in Changing Times
Our identity HEBA is an Association of around 170 Baptist churches in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, The Black Country, Staffordshire, Birmingham,
The Episcopal Diocese of YYYYY
Mission Developer Training Part II
Congregational Vitality Survey Debrief
Step 4: Evaluating Presbytery of the Inland Northwest
Revitalizing Mennonite Congregations
Stirred by the Spirit —Walking Together —Engaging the World with Love
BASIC CONNECT GROUP ESSENTIALS
COLLABORATIVE MINISTRY
1. A traditional crisis CRISIS
Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives
The Single Greatest Gift
IMPROVING STAFF CULTURE through the skills of stepping up
Step 3: Experimenting Presbytery of the Inland Northwest
Sacred Shifts Session 3: Shift our leadership and our metrics.
How to improve your listening skills
Christ: The Center of My Church
Presentation transcript:

Congregational Vitality & Vulnerability Linda Bobbitt Congregational Vitality Project ELCA Presented at Rocky Mountain Synod Theological Conference September 19, 2017 Colorado Springs, CO

What is a vital congregation? Congregations with life-giving, life-changing relationships with God, one another and the world. The Holy Spirit breaths through these relationships moving us to live out: Great Commandment (Love God and neighbor) Great Commission (Make disciples inside and outside the congregation) Sustainability ensures that disciples are made over time and across generations. What does a vital congregation look like?

Adaptive change cycles: Vitality looks different at different stages We need to pay attention to the fact that there are seasons to everything – like it says in Ecclesiastes. This world operates within cycles of change. They are present everywhere, in nature, societies, civilizations. In all these cycles, there are times of birth, growth, aging, death and rebirth. A vital tree looks really different in the spring than it does in the fall. The church goes through the same cycles. The seasons continue on even as individual congregations come and go. Adaptive change cycles: Vitality looks different at different stages

Adaptive change process: Vitality looks different at different stages How change happens Adaptive change process: Vitality looks different at different stages

Interacting systems

Congregation change cycle Identity established – who we are and what we are all about Crisis question: Shall we continue and if so, why? Congregation change cycle Alan Roxburgh and Fred Romanuk, The Missional Leader: Equipping Your Church to Reach a Changing World

Build Escape Imagine Vitality looks different in different seasons Vitality looks different at different stages. How to improve vitality? It depends… Green line from choice toward Red– build on who they already are. Strengthen programs and processes. Blue line from Crisis to green zone – accompany them through adaptive change, help them recognize and release boxes, open imagination for what might be next. Red zone – help them listen to one another and God enough to come to terms with where they are and be willing to stop looking back and start looking forward. Find missional folks in congregation, try to help their voices become dominant. If not, help them see a future beyond themselves. Vitality looks different in different seasons Congregations constantly move through the cycles – there is no safe place of “success”. Leadership style depends on stage.

ESCAPEIMAGINE: From Crisis to Choice Adaptive Change Journey Pain Possibility The BOX Wilderness Creative, faithful choice Allows congregations to challenge their underlying identity and perhaps even discover a new identity. Gilbert Rendle: Leading Change in the Congregation: Spiritual & Organizational Tools for Leaders

Interacting systems within congregations – One congregation’s story Congregation’s life cycle Congregation’s seasons Minister’s seasons Programs, volunteers, program staff Interacting systems within congregations – One congregation’s story

So What? Key Points Vitality looks different at each stage Change is continuous. No stage is successful, no stage is failure. Discussion What has been your congregation’s journey so far? Where is your congregation now? How does where you are interact with where the congregation is?

How do we help congregations be vital? Programs Resources Admin/Gov. Culture/Attitudes Local Context Relationships Leadership When I’m asked how to make congregations more vital, that question makes sense for blue congregations building on their present identity. It assumes that know what success looks like and we know what a good foundation is. We know weak blocks at the bottom cause collapse and we know we don’t want that, right? Those with blocks that fall lose right? What if failure is really an opportunity! Mission/Purpose God’s Presence Core Identity How do we help congregations be vital?

What if God isn’t interesting in reinforcing monolithic towers of Bable? What if God wants the blocks to knock over so God can build something new? What if that is what happens in the cycle from green to red? Then the role of the leader is to trust that God has this and allow the blocks to fall, relying only on God’s call and promise. Maybe it isn’t working because it isn’t supposed to any more. Maybe vitality looks completely different in God’s eyes than it does in our own. What if God is building something different? Can we allow God to re-arrange our blocks?

God’s Story – western civilization Denominations in US Culture Congregations Interacting systems God works through churches to change society and God works through society to change the church

What does this have to do with leadership? Key question is NOT: “How do we fix the church?” Limited by our imagination. Key question IS: “What is God doing now and how do we join?” It’s about letting go of our definitions and control, trusting and following Jesus. Leadership focuses on God questions. Discussion How can you inspire your congregation ask God questions? Who else can join you in engaging those questions?

What if God is building a new creation with us and through us What if God is building a new creation with us and through us. We are living at a really exciting time in the church. We get to see some of these changes begin to take shape. The red zone isn’t a sign of failure, it is a sign that something entirely new is now possible. GOD IS BUILDING THE KINGDOM and needs all our blocks. My answer to those synod leaders is that their job isn’t to improve the vitality of congregations or to fix the church. Their job is to accompany them forward helping them listen, reflect and experiment while they themselves listen and watch as God creates a new thing beyond what we can imagine. As Lutherans we talk about being a church that is always reforming. Lets walk forward boldly trusting that God’s creation continues in and through us. We too will be made new. What if God is building something entirely new? How can your congregation join God? For ideas visit www.congregationalvitalityproject.com