Developing Healthy Congregations Dr. Paul D. Borden

Health and Growth Related Growth – Indicates Health No Growth – No Health

God created the church to be missional God is a missionary God God is a missionary God He picked Israel to bless so they would bless the nations He picked Israel to bless so they would bless the nations Israel failed in its mission Israel failed in its mission Jesus came to build His church Jesus came to build His church

God created the church to be missional The purpose of the church is to frustrate the Evil One The purpose of the church is to frustrate the Evil One The church as a mystery is to build from all nations a people for God The church as a mystery is to build from all nations a people for God God’s goal is that one day people from all over the world will stand before Him. God’s goal is that one day people from all over the world will stand before Him.

Lifecycles Are Indicators of Health Lifecycles Are Indicators of Health Birth Adulthood Death

Living Organisms (Biological/Sociological) Grow-Up, Mature and Die Grow-Up, Mature and Die People – Get One Lifecycle People – Get One Lifecycle Congregations – Can Have Congregations – Can Have Multiple Lifecycles Multiple Lifecycles

Four Key Elements Determine Place on Life Cycle V-Vision V-Vision (Changing the World) R-Relationships R-Relationships (People connecting with people) M-Ministries M-Ministries S-Structure S-Structure (Management)

R V m s

S M r v

Three key issues: Vision ( Changing the world) Purpose ( Mission) Purpose ( Mission) Vision (Itself) Vision (Itself) Values Values

Vision-Purpose (Mission) Purpose – Mission Purpose – Mission List All Congregational Activities (Ministries) List All Congregational Activities (Ministries) Then ask the question WHY? Then ask the question WHY? Only 3 possible answers to the question, WHY?

Vision-Purpose (Mission) We conduct our ministries (primarily) for ourselves! ….the question, WHY?

Vision-Purpose (Mission) We conduct our Ministries (primarily) for those not here yet! ….the question, WHY?

We conduct our ministries (primarily) for both: Ourselves Those not here yet Vision-Purpose (Mission) ….the question, WHY? Crucial Question must then be asked ????

Vision-Purpose (Mission) ….Who gets served first??? If the answer is those not here yet – OUTWARD FOCUS If the answer is ourselves – INWARD FOCUS

Vision-Purpose (Mission) No need for a mission statement ! Just one question ! Are you as a congregation focused: INWARD Or Or OUTWARD ?

Vision-Itself Vision is the answer to the question: What will it look like in five to ten years if we implement our mission well?

Vision-Itself Key question: Is your vision expressed in relation to your: CONGREGATION? Or COMMUNITY ?

Vision-Itself Congregation – Selfish – Congregation – Selfish –Non-Motivating Community – Outward Focus – Fuels the soul Community – Outward Focus – Fuels the soul

Vision-Values Values – Our most basic beliefs that affect our everyday behavior And Govern how we do ministry as a congregation.

Vision-Values Most congregations do not know their real values. Most congregations do not know their real values. Real values revealed under stress ! Real values revealed under stress !

Vision-Values For a congregation to move to: An OUTWARD focused mission and A Vision of a changed community They must go through stress !

Going up the lifecycle means: Going up the lifecycle means: Birth Adulthood Death OUTWARD focused Mission Vision of a changed community Values consistent with such a mission and vision

Relationships (People connecting with people) People are NOT looking for friendly congregations People are NOT looking for friendly congregations People are looking for friends People are looking for friends (People need to be able to develop meaningful and sustained relationships as quickly as possible).

FIVE KEY CONCEPTS

Relationships Full legos are people with saturated relationships (can have no more) Full legos are people with saturated relationships (can have no more) Partially full legos are people with unsaturated relationships (can have more) Partially full legos are people with unsaturated relationships (can have more) People are like LEGOS

Everyone is seeking a place where they are valued for who they are not what they do. Relationships THIRD PLACES

Large groups-Unity around worship and mission Large groups-Unity around worship and mission Mid-sized groups-Fellowship and teaching Mid-sized groups-Fellowship and teaching Small groups-Intimacy and accountability Small groups-Intimacy and accountability Relationships GROUP DYNAMICS

What was comfortable What was comfortable Provided status Provided status Enabled them to have influence Enabled them to have influence Made them significant Made them significant Relationships TRANSITIONS: People do not resist change, they resist the loss of:

Each congregation is unique (gifts, talents, abilities, backgrounds, etc.) Each congregation is unique (gifts, talents, abilities, backgrounds, etc.) Each congregation is designed to reach different people. Each congregation is designed to reach different people. Healthy congregations remove cultural barriers and build cultural bridges to the GOSPEL! Healthy congregations remove cultural barriers and build cultural bridges to the GOSPEL! Relationships UNDERSTANDING YOUR NICHE

FIVE KEY CONCEPTS Legos Legos Third Places Third Places Group Dynamics Group Dynamics Transitions Transitions Niche Niche Relationship: People Connecting with People

Ministries (Programs) Ministries are designed to help disciples mature and make more disciples. Ministries are designed to help disciples mature and make more disciples. Ministries that do not grow (which means they are no longer meeting needs for the entire congregation) must either be: Ministries that do not grow (which means they are no longer meeting needs for the entire congregation) must either be:ChangedDiscontinued

Ministries (Programs) 1. How does any ministry contribute to an outward focused mission? TWO MAJOR QUESTIONS MUST BE ASKED -Is it growing by attracting un-churched people? -Is it growing by attracting un-churched people? - Do those leading the program understand that programs strategic significance in relation to the congregation’s mission?

Ministries (Programs) -Does the implementation of ministry reflect missionary thinking? -Do ministries start where people are to move them on to discipleship? -How are the ministries helping the congregation to grow? 2. How does a congregation develop an overall strategy for their programs?

Ministries (Programs) Why? Convert consumers into committed disciples of Jesus Christ. Why? Convert consumers into committed disciples of Jesus Christ. Which ones? Meet culturally determined expectations. Which ones? Meet culturally determined expectations. ONE STRATEGY MODEL FOR PROGRAMS

Ministries (Programs) Worship and Music Worship and Music Relationships/Groups/Friends (Legos and Third Places) Relationships/Groups/Friends (Legos and Third Places) Care:Newcomer care Care:Newcomer care Congregational care Meet family needs: Infants/children/youth/adults Meet family needs: Infants/children/youth/adults Education: Training and personal development Education: Training and personal development Preaching Preaching Well-kept facilities Well-kept facilities Financial stability Financial stability

Ministries (Programs) LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: This ministry is not culturally assumed but if not implemented well the congregation will not be healthy and grow!!!

Ministries (Programs) Meet cultural expectations (Missionary thinking) Meet cultural expectations (Missionary thinking) Must occur, even if people must be paid to make them happen Must occur, even if people must be paid to make them happen Are staff led (staff people can be volunteer, part-time or full-time) Are staff led (staff people can be volunteer, part-time or full-time) How are these ministries developed and conducted?

Structure (Management) Structure (Management) If it can be seen the body is in trouble. If it can be seen the body is in trouble. If there is too little the body is in trouble. If there is too little the body is in trouble. If it does not grow and develop the body is in trouble. If it does not grow and develop the body is in trouble. Management is like the skeleton in the body

Structure (Management) 1-The pastor must be developing as a leader and developing other leaders. Congregational growth is in proportion to the development of leaders Congregational growth is in proportion to the development of leaders The pastor develops three groups of leaders: The pastor develops three groups of leaders: The Staff The Staff The Board The Board Key leaders in the congregation Key leaders in the congregation Healthy congregational management systems require the implementation of three concepts.

Structure (Management) 2- Leadership marries three key ideas: Authority: The power to conduct ministry tasks. Authority: The power to conduct ministry tasks. Responsibility: The ministries that enable the mission to occur. Responsibility: The ministries that enable the mission to occur. Accountability: Evaluating how well leaders accomplish ministry Accountability: Evaluating how well leaders accomplish ministry (Note: Groups cannot lead or be held accountable, therefore the focus in on INDIVIDUALS!)

Structure (Management) 3- The pastor(s) must turn the ministry over to the laity and the laity must give the leadership of congregation to the pastor. The board governs through policies The board governs through policies The Pastor leads The Pastor leads The staff leads and manages The staff leads and manages The congregation ministers The congregation ministers

Conclusion Vision: Mission--Outward Vision: Mission--Outward Vision: Views the Community Vision: Views the Community Vision: Values--What we really believe – must be consistent with the mission and vision Vision: Values--What we really believe – must be consistent with the mission and vision Healthy growing congregations are always ascending the life-cycle (even if they have to create new ones)

Conclusion Legos Legos Third Places Third Places Group Dynamics Group Dynamics Transitions Transitions Niche Niche Relationship: People Connecting with People

Conclusion Converting Consumers into Committed Disciples of Jesus Christ Converting Consumers into Committed Disciples of Jesus Christ Programs: One strategy

Conclusion Board-Governs Board-Governs Pastor-Leader Pastor-Leader Staff-Lead/Manage Staff-Lead/Manage Congregation-Ministry Congregation-Ministry Structure: Management

Going up the lifecycle means: Going up the lifecycle means: Birth Adulthood Death VRMSvrms