Life Cycles of a Congregation Ken Wiedrick Adapted from Paul D. Borden and George Bullard

Lifecycles of a Congregation Recline Incline Decline Death Birth Lifecycle is one assessment tool. There are many…. What observations can you make about lifecycles? Health is defined differently at different points. You can not skip lifecycles Moving from one stage to anther is a natural normal process Question: What forms of life naturally experiences a lifecycles?

Four Key Elements Determine Place on Life Cycle V-Vision (Changing your Community) R-Relationships (People connecting with people) M-Ministries (Meeting Needs) S-Structure (Management) The interaction of four key dynamics determines where an organization is on the lifecycle. Those key dynamics are: Vision, relationships, Ministries, and Structure. George Bullard began writing on this in 1998. He used four key dynamics as well. They were Vision, Inclusion, Programs, and Management. Evaluate the four key dynamics in at least two ways. They are their position in the system and how well developed they are. Vision is the current understanding of God’s spiritual strategic direction for a local congregation that is cast by the leadership and owned by the congregation. Relationships: the relational processes by which persons are brought to faith in God through Christ Jesus, become connected to a local New Testament church, are assimilated into the fellowship and care of the ministry. Have opportunities for spiritual growth and development, and utilize their gifts and skills for kingdom development. Ministries: The functional ministries, services, activities, and training for people connected to the congregation. Structure: the administration of the resources of the congregation, the decision making structure of the congregation, the formal and informal culture of the congregation, and the openness of the congregation to change.

Incline VRMS VRMs VRMs VRms VVision…………Where are we going? RRelationship…Who is going with us? MMinistry………How do we get there? SStructure……..What do we control? Birth Death Vrms s

Incline Vision is well developed and influences decisions Relationships are healthy and expanding Ministries are meeting needs Flexible structure supporting vision

Recline vRMS VVision…………Where are we going? RRelationship…Who is going with us? MMinistry………How do we get there? SStructure……..What do we control? Birth Death

Recline Vision has lost influence Relationships are serving ministries Ministries are the focus Structure is ensuring ministries is the focus

Decline vRMS vrMS VVision…………Where are we going? RRelationship…Who is going with us? MMinistry………How do we get there? SStructure……..What do we control? vrmS Birth Death s

Decline Vision is silenced Relationships are serving structure Ministries are suffering for lack of volunteers to run them Structure is the driving force

Life Cycle Of A Church VRMS vRMS VRMs vRMS VRMs vrMS VRms Adulthood Maturity Adolescence VRMS vRMS Empty Nest VRMs vRMS Childhood Retirement VRMs vrMS Infancy Old Age VRms VVision…………Where are we going? RRelationship…Who is going with us? MMinistry………How do we get there? SStructure……..What do we control? vrmS Birth Death Vrms s

Going up the lifecycle means: Adulthood Death Birth OUTWARD focused Mission Relationships growing with old and new persons Meetings needs with a flexible structure

Going down the lifecycle means: Recline Death Birth VRMS vrms Structure is inflexible Traditional ministries are kept going Relationships are based on filling jobs Vision is silenced

Where is your church in the life cycle?