1. Leadership for Developing Congregations
Mission Developer’s Training
ELCA

2. Marked with the cross of Christ forever we are:
Claimed
Gathered
Sent
Baptism
Communion
Mission
For the sake of the world (God’s Reign in the world).
“I am the vine and you are the branches” John 15

3. It’s all about God This is God’s doing
The kingdom is not just a hope but a promise
In Jesus God has sealed the deal

4. As the world changes, the constant of God’s purpose remains
God’s work to bring about the Reign
Reign of God
Church
Church called to participate in God’s work
Witness and engagement
The Changing World

5. It’s all about you (As long you as you are up to the same thing as God is up to)
God invites us to participate
God uses people
Your call is to carry out your role in God’s purpose
Your calling is more than a job – it is a way of life
Leadership is essential

6. In Diads (Groups of 2)
Discuss your sense of God’s call in your life and how that relates to your current call to lead the development of a new congregation.
Close the time with prayer for each other.

7. Emerging Learnings for the Field
Ministry focused on the God’s Reign not the institution
Organic and contextual churches not cloned models being built
Leaders that raise up and multiply leaders not followers
Congregations as training centers for mission rather than service centers
Groups/congregations that reproduce more groups and congregations
A heart for conversion and transformation not just members to notch our belts

8. The New Church
Life/ministry as witness
and “parable of the kingdom”

9. The Changing Church “Communities of care” “Missionaries of grace”
Laity infiltrate through vocation
“Communities of care”
“Missionaries of grace”
Dr. Alicia Vargas

10. Three Keys to Effective and Healthy Ministry (From an evangelism study of the ELCA)
Leadership – a culture of team leadership where clergy and laity work together as a team. Leaders help congregations develop the following:
Purpose – a clear sense by the congregation of what God is calling them to do
Willingness to change – a spirit of openness that is willing to initiate change to be faithful and effective

11. EVANGELICAL – LEADERSHIP
Multiplication
Of leaders
RENEWAL OF
EXISTING MEMBERS
(Entry Point)
Renewal/Discipleship development (aided by coaching)
HEALTHY
LEADERS AND
DISCIPLES
(Entry Point)
Disciple-making processes
(aided by coaching)
MAKING
NEW DISCIPLES
Multiplication
Of leaders
(Entry Point)
EVANGELICAL – LEADERSHIP

12. Clarity of purpose/vision
Attitude of spiritual
willingness to change
( Both needed )
Clarity of purpose/vision
Individual/Leader
facilitate
Leadership Team
New leaders called & challenged to more responsibility
facilitate
Action Plans
Congregation
The key is that the DNA
for the next level of leaders
Is in the prior one!
Coaching can help keep each
Level of the process focused
On the right things.
facilitate
World
“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done…”
(Transformation)
A Leadership Process for Transformational Mission

13. Purpose & Guiding Principles
Starting Out on the Right Foot

14. Bible Study: Acts 2, 10 & 16 What is God doing in the text?
What are the disciples doing in the text?
Lessons:
What is God saying to the WHOLE Church in this text?
What is God saying to YOU personally in this text?

15. Purpose God’s purpose for your ministry
The lens for everything you do – keeps team and/or congregation focused
Helps determine course of action (reference point for decision making)
Involve a lot of people as you work toward this for the congregation
Use the purpose to identify the church and include in worship, flyers, bulletins, letters, signs, etc.

16. Mission and Purpose Based on this text complete the following phrases:
Group: God’s purpose for the church is _________.
Individually: My purpose in the new ministry to which I am called is _________.

17. Guiding Principles
Values that are in the vision that we can begin to practice now – may conflict with present behaviors.
These are embodied in our decisions – provide guidance to help achieve the purpose.
In the present we need accountability to help us stay the course.

18. Guiding Principles: Examples
Church at the Center, Seattle: “Everything accessible to the unchurched…”
Bethel, Palatine, IL: “We are God’s hands and voice in the world.”
Living Lord, Bartlett, IL: As disciples of Jesus, we grow to serve and we serve to grow”

19. Some Examples Jesus is Lord. Everyone is welcome. Love changes people.
Everybody has something to offer.
The world needs what we’ve got.
Jesus is Lord and Savior.
Deepening our faith strengthens our discipleship.
Everyone is a minister.
God sends us as gifts to the world.
We love to tell the story.
We invite all to join us in God’s work.

20. Guiding Principles of the Early Church?
1. Look at Acts 2, 10 and 16
2. Group: List the key principles at work in making the key decisions in your chapter. Narrow the list down to the top 5 guiding principles of the disciples that advance their work for God?

21. Guiding Principles: Your Life
Individually: start a list of the 5 principles that you will have to guide your ministry as you begin.
Group: Share with each other.

22. Some other places to look for more on guiding principles:
Read the scriptures and ask, “What is most important to God’s people in this text?”
Hope Lutheran Church, W. Des Moines, IA
King of Kings LC, Michigan
Church at the Center, Seattle, WA
Kelly Fryer’s book: Reclaiming the “L” Word (available from Augsburg Fortress)
Dave Daubert: “Living Lutheran”, Augsburg F.

23. Working with Purpose and Guiding Principles back Home
Start with Bible study and prayer. Get as many people in the congregation involved as possible
Look at Biblical behaviors. The Bible study from Acts 2, 10, and 16 is one helpful way.
Define the values at work, especially using the “Lessons for the Church” section
Get groups to draft ideas for guiding principles at the retreat. Use these for input to the leadership as they write.
Have a leadership team draft statements
Facilitate conversation and feedback throughout the congregation
Adopt Guiding Principles at congregational meeting