KNOWING Residency Event July 19, 2011

KNOWING What the leader knows in company with the Church and its basic doctrines: the ability to think theologically and integrate theology into the practice of ministry.

Integrate theology into the practice of ministry Basic doctrines Think theologically Integrate theology into the practice of ministry KNOWING

What are the basic doctrines of the Church?

What is your definition of theology? Integrating Theology

What is your understanding of Wesleyan theology? Integrating Theology

What is the current context for the practice of ministry?

Shifting Uncertainty Chaos Practice of Ministry

How do the basic doctrines and your definition of theology provide: Connection Context Framework Possibility Integrating Theology

Reframing identity and purpose Journey in the Wilderness: New Life for Mainline Churches, Gil Rendle Reframing identity and purpose Practice of Ministry

Adaptive Questions Identity – the question of who we are Purpose – the question of why we are Practice of Ministry

Three shaping questions: Who are we? What has God called us to do? Who is our neighbor? Practice of Ministry

The Great Emergence: How The Church is Changing and Why Phyllis Tickle 500 year giant rummage sales in which the Church evaluates its identity and narrative Practice of Ministry

Gathering center Holistic Connecting narrative Mystical Practice of Ministry

Faithful Remembering Faithful Equipping Faithful Encouraging Does Your Church Have a Prayer? In Mission toward the Promised Land Marc Brown, Kathy Merry, John Briggs Faithful Remembering Faithful Equipping Faithful Encouraging Practice of Ministry

Practice of Ministry Faithful Remembering Remembering the story of God’s faithfulness in the past and God’s promise of faithfulness for the future. Leading the congregation to understand how they are part of the larger story of God’s faithfulness. Practice of Ministry

Practice of Ministry Faithful Equipping Connecting the story of individual life to the larger story of faith in Jesus. Guiding the congregation in aligning behavior (congregational culture) with vision and mission. Practice of Ministry

different from the past. Faithful Encouraging Shaping a future that is different from the past through intentional personal decisions. Aligning congregational change through decisions that result in a future that is different from the past. Practice of Ministry

Practice of Ministry Faithful Encouraging Using language that envisions the future rather than protects the present or past Asking questions that create community Influencing the community to face its challenges Realizing that the only person you have the power to change is yourself Practice of Ministry

Chaos Shifting identity and purpose Permanent whitewater Practice of Ministry

Responses to Chaos: Avoid Control Destroy Embrace Practice of Ministry

When your church encounters chaotic situations, has its history been to. . .

Practice of Ministry

What were the responses to the reality of being stuck What were the responses to the reality of being stuck? What would be required to transform the reality of being stuck? Practice of Ministry

Transformational Leaders Assess current reality Influence present and future opinion Ask right questions Teach new language Align behavior and actions Encourage Practice of Ministry

Transformation A movement of hope into a future that is different from the past Practice of Ministry

Christian Transformation Alignment with the future God has redeemed through Jesus Practice of Ministry

Respond to present condition (Lecture) Leaders: Respond to Present Condition There are all kinds of leaders. Some leaders respond to the present condition in which a community finds itself. They assess the current challenges and strengths of an organization. And, they influence present opinions and outcomes by helping an organization to acknowledge its current reality.   Leaders Respond to present condition

Transformational Leaders Shape present & future condition in alignment with a desired outcome (Lecture) Transformational Leaders: Shape present and future condition in alignment with a desired outcome Transformational leaders have the ability to respond to the present condition of a community by shaping both present and future opinions. By assessing the current challenges and strengths, they can help an organization acknowledge its current reality. Rather than simply responding to present conditions, they are able to align both present and future opinions for a desired outcome of a future that is different from the past.   (STORY BY KATHY ABOUT ID CARDS) It’s hard to be a transformational leader – to think differently about the future & shape the organization in a new direction. An example comes to mind from the insurance industry where I served as an operations executive. My team & I were working in all areas of our operation to truly align our processes with customer expectations. Think ID cards. We sent out hundreds of thousands of ID cards each year for new customers. At my first monthly meeting, the managers were reporting that they met 100% of their ID Card goal. Lots of cheering & backslapping. I asked what the ID card goal was & found that it was 98% mailed within 30 days of receipt of paperwork. Now let’s think about customer expectations – When do you want your ID card? We changed that goal to 100% mailed out before the effective date. It took us a while to get there & there was much fear & lots of hard work but once we made it happen, the outcome was huge for our customers & our organization had a new capacity that was aligned with our strategy. We shaped present & future condition in alignment with a desired outcome. Leaders Respond to present condition

Christian Transformational Leaders Shape present and future condition in alignment with God’s redeemed future Transformational Leaders Shape present and future condition in alignment with a desired outcome (Lecture) Christian Transformational Leaders: Shape present and future condition in alignment with Jesus’ call to follow him Christian transformational leaders are followers of Jesus who have the ability to respond to the present condition by shaping both present and future opinions through faith in Jesus. Assessing the current challenges and strengths, a Christian transformational can help their church acknowledge its current reality. Rather than simply responding to present conditions, they are able to assess and align both present and future opinions for a future that is different from the past by nurturing people to become followers of Jesus.   (Example?) Leaders Respond to present condition

Stages of Congregational Life Thriving Progressing Plateau Wandering (Lecture) Thriving (priority of outward mission aligning the focus of congregational life) Progressing (responding to the priority of outward mission & beginning to align the focus of congregational life) Plateaued(maintaining the present routine of congregational life at the expense of outward mission) Wandering (choosing to ignore the priority of outward mission by focusing on past congregational experiences) Dying (disregardingthe priority of outward mission) (Survey) Where is YOUR church? Practice of Ministry Dying

Stages of Congregational Life Thriving Priority of outward mission aligning the focus of congregational life (Lecture) Thriving (priority of outward mission aligning the focus of congregational life) Progressing (responding to the priority of outward mission & beginning to align the focus of congregational life) Plateaued(maintaining the present routine of congregational life at the expense of outward mission) Wandering (choosing to ignore the priority of outward mission by focusing on past congregational experiences) Dying (disregardingthe priority of outward mission) (Survey) Where is YOUR church? Practice of Ministry

Stages of Congregational Life Progressing Responding to the priority of outward mission and beginning to align the focus of congregational life (Lecture) Thriving (priority of outward mission aligning the focus of congregational life) Progressing (responding to the priority of outward mission & beginning to align the focus of congregational life) Plateaued(maintaining the present routine of congregational life at the expense of outward mission) Wandering (choosing to ignore the priority of outward mission by focusing on past congregational experiences) Dying (disregardingthe priority of outward mission) (Survey) Where is YOUR church? Practice of Ministry

Stages of Congregational Life Plateau Maintaining the present routine of congregational life at the expense of outward mission (Lecture) Thriving (priority of outward mission aligning the focus of congregational life) Progressing (responding to the priority of outward mission & beginning to align the focus of congregational life) Plateaued(maintaining the present routine of congregational life at the expense of outward mission) Wandering (choosing to ignore the priority of outward mission by focusing on past congregational experiences) Dying (disregardingthe priority of outward mission) (Survey) Where is YOUR church? Practice of Ministry

Stages of Congregational Life Wandering (Lecture) Thriving (priority of outward mission aligning the focus of congregational life) Progressing (responding to the priority of outward mission & beginning to align the focus of congregational life) Plateaued(maintaining the present routine of congregational life at the expense of outward mission) Wandering (choosing to ignore the priority of outward mission by focusing on past congregational experiences) Dying (disregardingthe priority of outward mission) (Survey) Where is YOUR church? Practice of Ministry Choosing to ignore the priority of outward mission by focusing on past congregational experiences

Stages of Congregational Life (Lecture) Thriving (priority of outward mission aligning the focus of congregational life) Progressing (responding to the priority of outward mission & beginning to align the focus of congregational life) Plateaued(maintaining the present routine of congregational life at the expense of outward mission) Wandering (choosing to ignore the priority of outward mission by focusing on past congregational experiences) Dying (disregardingthe priority of outward mission) (Survey) Where is YOUR church? Practice of Ministry Dying Disregarding the priority of outward mission by protecting the past

Practice of Ministry Congregational Expectation of Leadership Thriving – shape future identity (guide through uncharted water) Progressing – shape present identity (stay on charted course) Plateau – maintain comfort (keep from rocking) Wandering – protect present identity by focusing on past (keep afloat) Dying – protect past identity (go down with the ship - rearrange the deck chairs) Practice of Ministry

F O C U S C H A O S Practice of Ministry Focus BEYOND Non-Ordered forming aligning C H A O S Non-Ordered CHAOS Ordered CHAOS wandering forgetting Focus WITHIN Practice of Ministry

Are there particular doctrines that should be emphasized in specific times of a congregation’s life? Practice of Ministry

How are the basic doctrines defining and shaping the practice of your ministry? Practice of Ministry

How are you integrating theology into the practice of ministry?