Title: Healthy and Missional Congregations
1 Healthy and Missional Congregations
- Rev. Ruben Duran
- EOCM-ELCA
2Assumptions
- It is GODs mission
- God does not want to work alone
- We are invited to participate
- It is still Gods mission
- We have Gods promise
- I will build my church
- I will be with you always
3Healthy Churches
- Our response to Gods salvific initiative
- Our participation in Gods mission and ultimate
goal Reign of God in history - A church is like an arrow that points to Gods
Reign - It is part of Gods conspiracy to overcome evil
and establish Gods gentle and just Reign.
Churchmeans not end.
4As the world changes, the constant of Gods
purpose remains
Gods work to bring about the Reign
Reign of God
Church
Church called to participate in Gods work
Witness and engagement
The Changing World
5Challenge/Opportunity of Context
- 1. GEOGRAPHICAL balance
- 2. SOCIO-ECONOMIC a church for all
- 3. GENERATIONAL emergent church
- 4. ETHNIC- specific 5 communities
- 5. MULTICULTURAL a church from all
- KEY acting/reflecting out of our missional
identity (Lutheran lenses).
6The Changing Church
Laity infiltrate through vocation
Missionaries of grace
Communities of care
Dr. Alicia Vargas
7ITS ABOUT HEALTH
- HEALTHY LEADERS CAN DEVELOP HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
OF FAITH. - HEALTHY ORGANISMS DO NOT GROW FOREVER, BUT THEY
REPRODUCE. - THE GOAL OF AN APPLE TREE IS NOT AN APPLE, BUT
ANOTHER APPLE TREE. - HEALTHY CONGREGATIONS GROW AND REPRODUCE
NATURALLY.
8Signs of a Healthy Church
9KEY Congregational Health
- What does it mean to have a healthy congregation?
- What are some vital signs of a healthy
congregation? - 1..
- 2..
- 3.
- 4
102 Key Studies regarding Congregational Health
- 1. ELCA Study on Evangelism (1993-03)
- 2. The Natural Church Development
11Three Keys to Transformation(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
12As the world changes, the constant of Gods
purpose remains
Gods work to bring about the Reign
Reign of God
Church
Church called to participate in Gods work
Witness and engagement
The Changing World
13Gods work in Christ
Kingdom/Reign of God
Engage God Discern and call
Purpose/Vision
Willingness to change
Church Identity as body of Christ Assets and
gifts Gods hands/voice in world
Engage context Relationships of Mission and
ministry
Worlds Context
14RE-TOOLING for Increasing Capacity in Evangelical
Outreach
- 1. Missional Theology grounding
- 2. Leadership Development equipping
lay and clergy - 3. Reading the audience understanding
the emerging context - 4. Congregational Ministry assessing
congregational health
15Research Natural Church Development
- 49.000 churches so far
- Worldwide
- 18 languages
- Inter-denominational
- Looking for signs of healthy congregations
- Looking for principles that propel the church to
grow naturally
16Growth Forces (Biotic Principles)
- Interdependence connecting
- Multiplication reproducing
- Energy transformation harnessing
- Sustainability sustaining
- Symbiosis cooperating
- Fruitfulness evaluating
- (From the Natural Church Development)
Page 7
17Growth Forces
- Interdependence (Connecting) Individual units
are connected to each other in a larger system.
Changes in one ministry will affect other
ministries in the church and community. - Multiplication (Reproducing) Healthy organisms
do not grow endlessly, but reproduce themselves. - Energy Transformation (Harnessing) Momentum or
energy already flowing, whether positive or
negative, can be redirected to accomplish Gods
purposes.
18- 4. Sustainability (Sustaining) Resources used
should increase the capacity for ongoing growth
and development, as well as serve multiple
purposes. - 5. Symbiosis (Cooperating) Different ministries
can cultivate cooperative relationships so the
mutual benefit is greater than operating
separately. - 6. Fruitfulness (Evaluating) Each ministry needs
to produce discernible results in line with its
intended purpose.
19Quality Characteristics
- Empowering leadership
- Gift-oriented ministry
- Passionate spirituality
- Functional structures
- Inspiring worship
- Holistic small groups
- Contextual evangelism
- Loving relationships
20 The Quality Characteristics Growth Forces
Growth Forces
How the Quality Characteristics are developed
Quality Characteristics
What a church needs to develop
21An ELCA Example
Page 22
221 Year Later.
Page 22
23Healthy and Missional Congregations
8 NCD Quality Characteristics
Eye for Justice
Basic Building Blocks
Mission clarity
Flexible/Resilient
Connected
Purpose
Willing to Change
Ecclesiology
Jesus Christ
Foundation for Ministry
8.5 Quality Characteristics 8 from NCD
augmented with an eye for justice
24A WISE MAN ONCE TOLD ME
- Direction first, then speed
- Foundation first, then height
25NEW CONGREGATIONS
- Healthy capacity to act and grow
- Missional evangelical orientation
- Evangelizing making new disciples
- Multiplying churches starting churches
26 Multiplication
RENEWAL OF EXISTING MINISTRIES
Multiplication
(Entry Point)
Redevelopment Process(es)
HEALTHY CONGREGATIONS
(Entry Point)
Development Process(es)
STARTING NEW CONGREGATIONS
(Entry Point)
27HISTORY
- The trend has been to transfer the responsibility
for new starts to the church structures. - RESULTS?
- 1. More centralized decisions
- 2. Less local ownership/participation
- 3. Less new starts
28EMERGING VISION
- TO ENGAGE LEADERS IN THE FORMATION OF
EVANGELIZING CONGREGATIONS THAT MAKE DISCIPLES
FOR JESUS CHRIST WHO USE THEIR GIFTS FOR GODS
REIGN IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE WORLD.
293 ENTRY-POINTS
- 1. Renew existing congregations with ministry
potential - 2. Start new mission congregations
- 3. Invite healthy congregations to start a
satellite or a second campus ministry.
301. RENEWING CONGREGATIONS
- EQUIPPING CONGREGATIONS INTO HEALTHY SYSTEMS
31The Changing Church
Laity infiltrate through vocation
Missionaries of grace
Communities of care
Dr. Alicia Vargas
32EOCM RENEWAL
- 1. Ministry Adjustments
- 2. Turn-around congregations
- 3. Re-developments
- 4. Transformational Process
- 5. Fast-Growth congregations
- 6. Re-alignments mergers, consolidation
- 7. Synodical Administration of churches
332. NEW CONGREGATIONS
- In 2005, 38 new ministries started
- In 2006, 41 new ministries started.
- In 2007, 56 new proposals approved.
- Synodically Authorized Worshipping Communities.
- Churches starting Churches.
- Traditional Starts (strategic contexts).
34ITS ABOUT HEALTH
- HEALTHY LEADERS CAN DEVELOP HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
OF FAITH. - HEALTHY ORGANISMS DO NOT GROW FOREVER, BUT THEY
REPRODUCE. - THE GOAL OF AN APPLE TREE IS NOT AN APPLE, BUT
ANOTHER APPLE TREE. - HEALTHY CONGREGATIONS GROW AND REPRODUCE
NATURALLY.
35Other Key Studies
- 1. The Evangelizing Congregation, Richard
Bliese and other theologians(AF) - 2. Healthy Churches, Pr. Ron Qualley, Lord of
Life in Fairfax, VA. (in progress). - 3. Biblical Principles for New Starts, ELCA
- 4. Living Lutheran, David Daubert AF
36Healthy and Missional Congregations
8 NCD Quality Characteristics
Eye for Justice
Basic Building Blocks
Mission clarity
Flexible/Resilient
Connected
Purpose
Willing to Change
Ecclesiology
Jesus Christ
Foundation for Ministry
8.5 Quality Characteristics 8 from NCD
augmented with an eye for justice