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

2. 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?

3. 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 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.

4. 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

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

6. 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

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

8. 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

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

10. 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

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

12. 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

13. Where is your church in the life cycle?