Rev. Dr. Rick Rouse Congregations of the Florida-Bahamas Synod may use this material in their ministries with appropriate credit attributed to the author. All others should obtain permission from © Rick Rouse before public use.

 Common View: Congregations have a mission.  New Testament: God has a mission and congregations to help carry it out—sharing the Good News for the sake of the world!  A missional congregation is one that seeks to be a partner in God’s mission!

 The Missional Congregation understands that it is primarily a missional community of people being trained and equipped to live among the world as daily disciples. It’s purpose is to carry out God’s gospel mission for the healing and redemption of the world.

Grow Maintain Decline 18% 14% 68% Florida-Bahama Synod Congregations % Based on worship attendance 2007 to 2012 elca.org Based on worship attendance 2007 to 2012 elca.org

Source: Annual Congregational Reports, ELCA. Prepared by Research and Evaluation, November, 2009.

1. Our congregations ecology. 2. Our congregational culture. 3. Our congregation’s missional orientation.

 1. Develop a vision for mission.  2. Build ownership for the vision.  3. Teach Biblical stewardship as one of the spiritual disciplines.  4. Move congregation from a theology of scarcity to a theology of abundance.  5. Help congregation release the bounty of their resources for ministry.

 1. NONE category now 16% (8% in 1990)  2. Oregon 20% in 1990; Vermont now 34%  3. 69% believe in personal God; 30% NO  4. Mainline Protestant: 12.9% (5.8% loss)  5. Non-denominational: 14.6% (.6% loss)  6. Pentecostal: 3.5% (.3% gain)  7. Mormon: 1.4% (0 loss/gain)

 From 1990 to 2010, those who identified them selves as Christian dropped from 86% to 69%.  At present rate of change, most Americans will be non-Christians by the year  While 50% over 45 attend church, only 30% of those under 45 attend.  Just 1/3 rd of adults in their 20’s and 30’s claim to be committed Christians.  Yet 80% of them claim that religion or spirituality is important in their life.

 Religious people are hypocritical, judgmental and insincere.  Religions are partly true, but none are completely true.  Religious organizations are too focused on rules, not spirituality.  Religious leaders want money and power.  Religious people are anti-science. Kenneth W. Inskeep, Research and Evaluation, ELCA, 2012.

17 Source: General Social Survey, National Opinion Research Center, Prepared by Research and Evaluation, ELCA. 40% 34% 21% 5% 44% 9% 59% 5% 7% 6% 47% 41% 23% 12% 29% 19% 13% 23% 24% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% I follow a religion and consider myself to be a spiritual person interested in the sacred and the supernatural I follow a religion but don't consider myself to be a spiritual person interested in the sacred and the supernatural I don't follow a religion but consider myself to be a spiritual person interested in the sacred and the supernatural I don't follow a religion and don't consider myself to be a spiritual person interested in the sacred and the supernatural Catholic Mainline Conservative Evangelical None General Population

 MAINTENANCE Church-going Insider Focused inward  MISSIONAL Gospel-carrying Outsider Focused Outward

As a Missional Church, we surrender to a vision of God greater than our own so that we can be transformed into the image of Christ. We become the face of Jesus to the world, his hands and his feet.

 We want to be a church that belongs to Christ with a place for everyone.  We want to be a church whose unity is in Jesus, who gathers us around word and water, wine and bread.  We want to be a church that believes Jesus is God’s “yes” to us and that our lives can be a “yes” to others.  We want to be a church that believes God is calling us into the world--together a church that rolls up its sleeves and gets to work (restoring and reconciling communities). Kenneth W. Inskeep, Research and Evaluation, ELCA, 2012.

 We want to be a church that is a catalyst, convener and bridge builder.  We want to be a church that is energized by lively engagement in our faith and life (continually striving for a deeper understanding of what the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ means for the world.)  We want to be a church that is deeply rooted and always being made new. Kenneth W. Inskeep, Research and Evaluation, ELCA, 2012.

God’s Mission: To heal and bless a troubled world. The Church’s Task: Create disciples of Jesus who live differently and who make a difference in their world.