Table Of ContentMission of Your Church A-26
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The special way your church sends There have been five ways the church mission change, so it is helpful to need to answer our call, so we can
forth the gospel is its mission. That's has related to the culture according to review and modify the statement find helpful clues to the nature of
what mission means, because it's from Richard Niebuhr: occasionally. our mission by taking stock. For
the Latin word meaning sending • Christ against culture, which we Many churches begin with their example, your congregation may
forth. Your church's mission is its mission statement and set annual goals have a large building unused during
see in primitive Christianity that
central organizing concept--its that help them translate the broad the week; a spectacular choir; lots
condemned Roman society and
purpose, direction, essence. It is why purpose into specific tasks that can be of kids needing after school
lived apart from it.
your church exists in its place, and it accomplished. Those goals are more accommodations; or a certain kind
• Christ of culture which is the
informs everything your church does. likely to be accomplished--and your of neighborhood with certain needs.
opposite of the above, where Christ
It is determined by the theological church's mission fulfilled--if everyone Remember that your needs as well
is seen to be totally involved in our
beliefs of the members; history and in the church has an opportunity to as your assets may be gifts from
maturing civilization.
tradition; the skills, interests and help determine the goals. Each person, God. Keep them all in mind as you
experiences of the members; the needs • Christ above culture, in which as Paul told us, is “engrafted” into the discuss, dream and plan.
and opportunities in the community; Christ enters our present world, body of Christ, and each therefore is • Another aspect is the communal
needs beyond the local community; reconciling it to himself. part of, and needs to be responsible call. For individuals, this means that
and the church's resources--the • Christ and culture, a paradox where for, the mission of that community. the gifts and graces for a particular
number of members, its facilities, and the Christian owes allegiance at form of service (like ordained
finances. different times and in different ways Ways to Discover the ministry) are recognized and
to Christ and Caesar. affirmed by the community in
Mission of Your
History and • And Christ transforming culture, which the call will be answered. For
Background where Christ can, must and will Church a congregation, the call of the
community may be expressed by
completely convert individuals and
It can be helpful to review the history
the expectations and the needs of
The mission of the church is rooted in society. of your congregation, both written
the surrounding neighborhood. It
the ministry of Jesus Christ. Jesus Niebuhr believed that each point of history and the living memory of your
may also be seen in the
spoke of his own mission in his view contains truth, but none is the church’s members. What were
understanding and witness of other
hometown synagogue: “The Spirit of whole truth. There is no one answer, significant points of change? What
churches in the association or
the Lord is upon me, because he has but there is an answer for each was going on at that time? What were
conference. When a church
anointed me to bring good news to the individual Christian. As you look at the conflicts and opportunities? How
canvasses its community it is not
poor. He has sent me to proclaim your church and at the United Church did the church respond? How did the
doing “marketing”; it is seeking to
release to the captives and recovery of of Christ, which understandings do church state its mission in the past?
live out the vocation which will
sight to the blind, to let the oppressed you see? How are these What did the congregations actions
make it most vibrant and tuned to
go free, to proclaim the year of the understandings indicated? say that it valued?
its true nature. (Of course, this in
Lord's favor” (Luke 4:18-19). Jesus Each church’s mission--or its call--
turn will bring growth.)
invited his disciples to share his God- Common Practices is unique. Reinhold Niebuhr speaks of
given mission: “As the Father has sent several different elements of call for You may want to use the book
me, so I send you” (John 20:21) and Most churches have a statement of individuals. Some are helpful ways to Holy Conversations: Strategic
commanded them to “go into all the their mission in their constitution or think about God’s call to a Planning as a Spiritual Practice for
world” (Mark 16:15). covenant. That statement has meaning congregation, too. Congregations by Alice Mann and
only if it is known and accepted by the Gilbert Rendle. Engaging the spirit
The mission of the church • The providential call has to do
church members. Sometimes the can be a great way to get out of our
throughout history also has been with the “raw materials” God has
conditions that affect your church's ruts, too. From the Alban Institute at
influenced by the culture around it. provided. God has given us what we
www.alban.org.
Mission of Your Church A-26
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Study the nature of the church through quite local, but the challenge must eight. In each group, do the brief statement of no more than a few
sermons or discussion groups to inform always be present to extend the following: sentences beginning, "The mission of
your work. You could use the following perspective to the national and world • On newsprint, brainstorm the biblical our church is ______."
or other scriptural bases: communities. images of the church and theological 4. Designate one person from each
• Luke 4:16-21. Is the church to carry • What do you understand to be the concepts which group members find group to read the group's statement to
on the same purpose of ministry that mission and purpose of the Christian most important. the total group. Then post the
Jesus claimed for his ministry? Church? Our local church? • Take a break, walk around looking at statements where all can see.
• Matthew 22:34-40. How can the • What do you think God is calling our other lists and then return and incorp- 5. Ask each group to choose two
church enable people to fulfill these church to be and to do? orate new ideas into your own list. persons (one person if there are more
commandments? • What does it mean to be a servant • Talk about images or concepts your than six groups) to “fishbowl” in a
• Matthew 28:16-20. What kind of church today? group finds most meaningful, select session to work out a single mission
two and record them on newsprint. statement for all groups. Post blank
witness helps make disciples today? • In what concrete ways do you feel we Evaluate your images based on newsprint where the fishbowl group
• Acts 2:43-47. How does the sense of can express our faith more fully in our Niebuhr's concepts. can work on a new statement. These
community relate to the other tasks of worship, our acts of reconciliation • In the large group, identify the two people sit in a circle in the center of
the church? and our service to persons in need? images or concepts and the reasons the room with two empty chairs.
• What does the Bible say about our they were chosen. Members of the original groups sit
Suggested Processes for relationships with other Christian 2. In the same small groups, distribute next to one another in a larger circle
Discerning Your (and non-Christian) bodies seeking to three sheets of newsprint with one of surrounding the fishbowl group. Any
accomplish essentially the same these questions at the top of each person may move into one of the two
Church’s Mission objectives? sheet: empty chairs to ask one question or
• What does it mean to “accept the cost • What world needs and issues of make a suggestion as the fishbowl
Use one of these suggested ideas for group interacts and works out a single
and joy of discipleship”? society should the Christian Church
understanding and accepting your statement. Then he or she must move
mission. • What are the unique qualities and be concerned about today? out. Every 15 minutes the designated
characteristics of our United Church • What needs and concerns of this
Idea A: Covenant Groups people go back to their original
1. Divide the church into cluster groups of Christ that might help to shape our community should our church be groups for suggestions. The process
mission? doing something about?
that meet regularly in homes for a goes on until a mission statement is
specific length of time (six to eight • Which of Richard Niebuhr's • To what needs of persons in this agreed upon by the people in the
church should our church minister?
wspeeeckiasl)l yu ntdraeirn tehde lgeaudidearsn.c Ee aocfh group utrnydinegrs ttoan edxipnrgess so fi nc uylotuurre c ahruer cyho'us • Brainstorm responses to the three T hifsi sdhesbiognw ils. a dapted from Management
seeks to understand the mission of the mission? questions in the small groups. for Your Church by Alvin Lindgren
church by studying one or more 3. Submit findings from each cluster to • Take a break and review the lists of and Norman Shawchuck, copyright
passages of scripture: Matthew 6:1- a coordinating task group for further other groups. 1977 by Abingdon Press, pages 54-56.
21; Luke 4:14-21; John 17; Acts 1:1- sharing with the governing board for • Complete the lists and identify the top
8; 1 Corinthians 12; 2 Corinthians condensing and clarifying. four answers to each question.
3,4; Philippians 2:1-11; 1 Peter 1:1-9. 4. Present the goals to the congregation. • In the total group, identify those four ©2005 Parish Life and Leadership
2. Invite each group to identify ways answers to each question. Ministry Team of Local Church
Idea B: A Retreat or Series of
ministry might be accomplished in the 3. In the small group, review the lists Ministries, a Covenanted Ministry
Workshops
world. The natural tendency is to be from steps 1 and 2, and draft a clear, of the United Church of Christ
1. Divide into small groups of six to
