Where is god_calling_your_congregation
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This document provides guidance to congregations on discerning their mission focus in order to engage in mission activities that are supported by the congregation and glorify God. It recommends a four-step process of thinking about existing connections, learning about community needs, praying for discernment, and paying attention to signs from God. Evaluating current mission modes of hands-on service, empowering partnerships, and advocacy can help clarify a congregation's focus. Assessing activities based on mission values and the discerned focus using a quadrant chart highlights strengths and growth areas. Resources from the PCUSA are available to assist congregations in their discernment journey.
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Where is god_calling_your_congregation
- 1. Where is God Calling Your Congregation? How to Discern Congregational Mission Involvement and Take Action that Makes a Difference Rev. Christine Coy Fohr Consultant for Mission Leaders Presbyterian World Mission
- 2. To explore techniques for discerning your congregations mission focus so that, 1) your mission activities are supported 2) your mission activities resonate with your congregation, and 3) your mission activities glorify God.
- 3. Why find a Focus? Energy & Enthusiasm Congregational identity Good stewardship To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7
- 4. Focusing our Mission Engagement Avoiding flavor of the month mission
- 5. Finding Your Focus Trying to get that deep, rich flavor
- 8. Mission Values = Faithful and Effective Mission Participation is Broad Activities are Faith-rooted Roles are Mutual Timing is Long-range Needs are Researched Effectiveness is Evaluated Relationships are Primary Success is Sustainable
- 10. The Discernment Journey Think Learn Pray Pay Attention
- 11. The Discernment Journey 1) THINK Where do we already have connections? What does our congregation bring to mission involvement? What burdens are on the hearts of our people?
- 12. The Discernment Journey 2) LEARN How do members of your church believe themselves/your congregation to be called? What needs to potential partners identify in their community? What communities are looking to start a mission relationship? Where are other congregations in your community engaged?
- 13. The Discernment Journey 3) PRAY Gather regularly for prayer in community Invite church members to begin a discipline of daily prayer Integrate prayer for discernment into weekly worship services Organize a clearness committee
- 14. The Discernment Journey 4) PAY ATTENTION Gods peace A sense of confidence at a very deep level that indicates you are moving in the right direction Joy A sense of energy that indicates the presence of the Spirit Persistence A message or notion that keeps coming to your group from different places in various ways Convergence A sense that various questions or pieces of information suddenly come together and make sense Fruitfulness A sense of encouragement be it ever so small along the way
- 15. The Discernment Journey Think Learn Pray Pay Attention
- 17. Modes of Mission Involvement
- 18. Hands-On Objective Meet immediate and perceived needs of others by provision of goods, services, training Theological Basis Deut. 15:7-11: Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land; Matt. 25:31-46: For I was hungry and you gave me food Relationships & Focus Serving others to meet basic needs
- 19. Empowered Partners Objective Develop relationships with partner communities and, with them, identify and seek to overcome causes of needs and injustice Theological Basis John 13:16 Servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them; 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 For we are Gods servants, working together. Relationships & Focus Partnering with others for quality of life changes
- 20. Advocacy Objective In solidarity with partner communities and members, seek humane community development and just structures and systems Theological Basis Proverbs 31: 8-9 Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. Relationships & Focus Solidarity with others for structural and personal justice and change
- 21. Mission Mode Exercise Education Hunger & Homelessness Children & Youth Immigration Hands-On Empowering Mission Advocacy Plot your mission involvement based on your mission work and mission mode. Circle the efforts that have been most life-giving for your community. Underline the efforts with the most potential for growth. Consider: are there ways we might focus our efforts to gain greater clarity of mission? Are there new modes of mission we are feeling called to explore?
- 22. Another Way to Think of Mission Mode
- 24. Bringing it all together: Mission Quadrant Exercise See how the work in which you engage measures up to both the mission values that you uphold and the discerned mission focus your congregation has identified.
- 25. Mission Quadrant Exercise Instructions: Write a list of your congregations mission activities. Plot these activities on the mission quadrant chart in the next slide. Activities that are strong will fit in the upper right quadrant because they both live into your mission values and coincide with your discernment mission focus. Activities that are weak will fall in the lower left quadrant, meaning they neither fit with your mission values nor follow your discerned mission focus. When doing this exercise with your mission committee, it will be helpful to create the chart on butcher paper and write the mission activities on sticky notes.
- 26. Mission Quadrant Mission Values: PARTNERS Participation is Broad Activities are Faith-rooted Roles are Mutual Timing is Long-range Needs are Researched Effectiveness is Evaluated Relationships are Primary Success is Sustainable Discerned Mission Focus high high low low
- 27. Example Mission Values Education & Empowerment high high low low Serve at local soup kitchen T-shirts for Africa International Education Partnership Book drive Offering of Letters for Education Reform
- 28. Resources to Assist You World Missions office of Equipping for Mission Involvement Mission Co-Workers Church Support Associates
- 30. Mission Magnified My soul Magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! Luke 1: 46-47 $100 full registration (includes meals)
- 31. Congregational Mission Assessment Tool
- 32. Resources Texts Available Online!
- 33. Contact information For more information on these and other resources: Christine Coy Fohr, christine.coyfohr@pcusa.org; To reach your Church Support Associate: South - Chris Roseland, chris.roseland@pcusa.org; East Elizabeth Little, elizabeth.little@pcusa.org; Midwest Bruce Whearty, bruce.whearty@pcusa.org; West Rachel Yates, rachel.yates@pcusa.org
Editor's Notes
- #4: Stewardship God has something in mind for us Young adults If you have a focus, you know what youre about Menu at a restaurant what is this place really known for?
- #5: Mish Mash Mission; programs that have had for years but dont remember why. Field requests from members to help a relative or a pet project. Though not necessarily consistent w/call of the church, not sure how to say no. Members dont see consistency, though have lots to choose from. When dont get participation desire, tendency is to add more programs or projects.
- #6: Fewer choices actually make us happier. So, long as each one has rich flavor. Today, share some ideas for how to discern mission focus and how to go deeper with chosen program/projects.
- #9: At this point take time to consider what values your congregation holds. Do they look like this? Are there additional ones?
- #22: Sheet of paper, list each of your mission activities and count how many fall into each category. Imbalanced? Maybe b/c truly have a calling in advocacy, or maybe lopsided b/c just havent thought about doing mission in these other ways. Balance has 2 key advantages: 1) bring more peoples gifts into use; 2) gain larger perspective on issue, so actions are more faithful & effective
- #29: Summarizing the what and the how how your congregation can get there