The Church Council and missional growth

In this moment, in this place, all is wonder, all is grace, in this moment, in this place, we are one. silence waits. Trish Watts

John 17:13-23 13 But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

The Peace of Wild Things Wendell Berry When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

In this moment, in this place, all is wonder, all is grace, in this moment, in this place, we are one. silence waits. Trish Watts

Assumption 1 We know our community

Assumption 2 Our church is not already on mission

Assumption 3 The members are mature in faith and ready for mission

Challenge the assumptions: Equip the saints. Ephesians 4 11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. Be the Body of Christ Acts 2

Challenge the assumptions: Be the Body of Christ Acts 2 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Here is how the Uniting Church describes it:

Mission begins with a maturity audit of faith, and community Constitution: … as the embodiment in one place of the one holy catholic and apostolic church, means those people (members and adherents) who worship, witness and serve as a fellowship of the Spirit in Christ, meeting regularly to hear God’s Word, to celebrate the sacraments, to build one another up in love, to share the wider responsibilities of the Church, and to serve the world, and who are recognised as a Congregation by the Presbytery.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHURCH COUNCIL (See Para 24, Constitution) 3.1.2 (a) The Church Council shall give priority in its life to building up the Congregation in faith and love, sustaining members in hope, and leading the Congregation to a fuller participation in Christ’s mission in the world. This priority shall be reflected in the agenda of its ordinary meetings. (b) The responsibilities of the Church Council include: (i) sharing with the Minister(s) in mission and in the pastoral care and spiritual oversight of the Congregation; (ii) nurturing the members and adherents in their growth in grace; (iii) making decisions in accordance with the Regulations concerning baptism, confirmation and membership, and the keeping and reviewing of the rolls of the Congregation; (See Part 1 of these Regulations) (iv) assisting the Minister(s) in the conduct of worship and in the administration of the sacraments;

(v) determining the time and place of services of public worship; (vi) carrying out its functions in accordance with the Regulations concerning applicants for the specified ministries; (vii) managing the financial affairs and the general administration of the Congregation including the reception, preparation and presentation of all necessary budgets, statements and reports; (viii) arranging for audit, presentation and examination of the accounts of all the funds of the Congregation; (See Reg. 3.8.7) (ix) managing and controlling property in accordance with the Regulations; (See Reg. 4.4.1) (x) preparing and presenting to a meeting of the Congregation an annual report concerning the life and work of the Congregation including its worship, mission and service, and making recommendations with regard to the program for the ensuing year; (xi) exercising oversight of the appointment of officers and leaders of Congregational organisations; (xii) referral of matters to Presbytery as prescribed; (xiii) discipline of members (See Reg. 5.1.2 – 5.2.5); (xiv) carrying out its functions in relation to Ministers-in-Association (See Reg. 2.11.1).

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHURCH COUNCIL (See Para 24, Constitution) 3.1.2 (a) The Church Council shall give priority in its life to building up the Congregation in faith and love, sustaining members in hope, and leading the Congregation to a fuller participation in Christ’s mission in the world. This priority shall be reflected in the agenda of its ordinary meetings. (b) The responsibilities of the Church Council include: (i) sharing with the Minister(s) in mission and in the pastoral care and spiritual oversight of the Congregation; (ii) nurturing the members and adherents in their growth in grace; (iii) making decisions in accordance with the Regulations concerning baptism, confirmation and membership, and the keeping and reviewing of the rolls of the Congregation; (See Part 1 of these Regulations) (iv) assisting the Minister(s) in the conduct of worship and in the administration of the sacraments;

The Process of Discipleship 1. INTERFACE 2. ENGAGE 3. EMBED 4. EDUCATE 5. EQUIP 6.ENTHUSE 7. MISSION Where do you personally feel most uncomfortable in this process? Where is your congregational system most likely to break down?

Creating a community of mature Christians is the first key to effective missional churches. Tom Bandy: This is the question of DNA. Who are we really?

So, how do we engage in effective mission? Look Listen Learn Assumption 4 We know our community

Look: When was the last time the church council walked your neighbourhood looking for where people gather and where are the points of need? “Church growth eyes” Look for the harvest!

Listen: A mission audit will involve listening to key community leaders: Local council (mayor) Police Medical and welfare Schools Aged care providers Shopkeepers and traders Sporting groups The question is: “What could our church do to help make this a healthier community?” (Mark Berry)

Learn: What capacity do we as a congregation have to respond? Bandy calls this identifying the heart-bursts of members (It only takes 2 or 3)

Evaluate your Spiritual Formation and Christian Education programmes Some suggestions: Evaluate your Spiritual Formation and Christian Education programmes Give over one meeting per year to consider (only) how members are being nurtured for mission Do a ‘walk about’ and visit local leaders Document what you are learning and what it implies for action (LRP) Make these considerations a priority for prayer

The interface between your church and the community The issue of trust How do we listen? What do we have and how do we share it?

The interface – not them and us With–out With- in Inextricably linked

The great interface “Technique and technology are important, but adding trust is the issue of the decade.” Tom Peters, business author in the 1990s Max Weber… “We have lost trust because of “the inexorable lies of bureaucracy”

Stephen M R Covey (the son) CHARACTER Integrity Intent ( trust grows when our motives are straightforward and based on mutual benefit) COMPETENCE Capabilities Results In other words…. What we start out with and where we end up

Self-trust (credibility) Relationship trust (consistent behaviour) 5 Waves of trust Self-trust (credibility) Relationship trust (consistent behaviour) Organisational trust (alignment) Market trust (reputation) Societal trust (contribution)

Trust behaviours 13 behaviours Talk straight Demonstrate respect Create transparency Right wrongs Show loyalty Deliver results Get better

Trust behaviours (2) Confront reality Clarify expectations Practice accountability Listen first Keep commitments Extend Trust

How do the practices of our Church Council build trust in the congregation? How do the practices of our Congregation build trust in the community

Two more questions! How do we listen? - As a Council, and as a faith community? How do we learn to listen in community – not just as individuals? What do we have and how do we share it? Remember our resources: Spiritual maturity, passion for life and living well, skills, property, finance, a ready community, integrity and trust.