1. Congregational Life Cycle
BIRTH
DEATH
Congregational Life Cycle

2. The Congregational Life Cycle
STABILITY
DECLINE
GROWTH
DEATH
BIRTH

3. Four Organizing Principles
VISION
RELATIONSHIPS
PROGRAM
MANAGEMENT

4. First Principle: VISION
Vision is the current understanding of God’s direction for a congregation that is cast by leadership and owned by everyone in the parish. Vision reflects the core values of the congregation.
Vision is the fuel or energy that will drive the congregation into the future with hope and a sense of potency.

5. Second Principle: RELATIONSHIP
How the parish attracts new people into the Christian faith journey, helps current parishioners deepen and mature in their faith journey and nurtures relationships within the church community.
Evidence of effective relationship experience is an ever-deepening spirituality, widespread ownership of parish activities and developing new leadership.

6. Third Principle: PROGRAM
Programs, ministries and activities embody the vision of the church and reflect the gifts and vocations of parishioners.
Effective programs meet real, identified spiritual, social and emotional needs of people in the neighborhood as well as the church community. Evidence of effective programs is that the church is known for the excellence of its programs, ministries and activities.

7. Fourth Principle: Management
Management are those systems that facilitate orderly decision-making, the allocation of resources, integrates new developments and establishes boundaries.
Effective management is efficient, well defined and supports the vision, relationships and programs of the church. Effective management is accountable to the congregation as well as the larger church.

8. Role of Organizing Principle and Life Cycle
Maturity
vRPM
Adulthood
VRPM
Adolescence
VRPm
Empty Nest
vRpM
Childhood
VrPm
Retirement
vrPM
Infancy
VRpm
Old Age
vrpM
BIRTH
Vrpm
DEATH m

9. Shift in Motivating Criteria
Maturity
vRPM
Adulthood
VRPM
Adolescence
VRPm
Empty Nest
vRpM
Childhood
VrPm
Retirement
vrPM
Infancy
VRpm
Old Age
vrpM
DEATH m
BIRTH
Vrpm
Vision and Relationships
Program and Management

10. Compiled for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Oakland
Compiled for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Oakland
by Michal Anne Pepper, Ph.D.
with materials from
George Bullard, D.Min.
Lake Hickory Learning Communities
and
Office of Congregational Development
The Episcopal Church Center