Introduction to Missional Conversations January 5, 2013 1 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Introduction to Missional Conversations What Can I Expect to Get out of Today’s Session?

• Be introduced to the principles, concepts and vocabulary of

Missional Church

• Hear about living examples of Missional Church in our

Diocese.

• Examine how your congregation is/might be living Missionally.
• Share personal congregational stories with people from other

congregations.

• Plan the process for introducing this strategy to your faith

community.

1

Introduction to Missional Conversations January 5, 2013

2

12:30 Module V 11:45 Module IV 11:00 Module III 10:00 Module II 9:15 Module I

What is Missional Church? Moderated Forum of Missional Examples in Diocese of Newark Missional Stories of participant congregations Sharing Congregational Stories in missional conversations Taking it Home – resources

Introduction to Missional Conversations

Introduction to Missional Conversations

Module 1 – What Is Missional Church?

Objective: To introduce the Missional concept and encourage exploring a missional way of living. (45 minutes)

• Missional Diagram – “A Sending God” – internal and external

engagement

• Missional Cycle Framework:

– Continuous: lives in the context of the community – Called – Formed – Sent:

• Based on a foundation of discipleship

What is discipleship?

• Engages the congregation on a deep spiritual level

What does it mean to ask “What are we called to be”?

• Engages the community

Examples of engaging the community?

3

Introduction to Missional Conversations

4

A Missional Church Diagram

What is God Up To? A Sending God Faith Community Congregation Neighborhood Surrounding Community WHAT IS GOD UP TO? WHAT IS GOD UP TO? Discipleship Mission Christian Formation Awareness/ Understanding Spiritual Formation Deep Listening Deep Listening Attentive to Needs, Hope Narrative (Stories) Engage Community Engage Scripture Altar in the World Discernment Mission Engagement Radical Hospitality

• Outreach

Missional Identity

• Advocacy

Relational – Forming

• IAF/Missio Engage

Community Relationship Building Signs of God’s Grace Signs of God’s Grace

Introduction to Missional Conversations What is God Up To?

A Sending God

5

Discipleship Mission Engagement Discernment

Spiritual Formation Engage Scripture Christian Formation Forming Relationships Within our neighborhood Attentive, Aware,Deep listening Not a ‘Program’ Deep listening Signs of God’s Grace Forming Identity Discerning our gifts Risk-taking Experimenting Allowing Failure Transformational

A Continuous Process

Missional Cycle Framework

• a continuing process of ongoing Missional

discernment informed by the Spirit

• a long-term commitment by the Diocese

and congregations

• requires awareness, open-mindedness,

vulnerability to let the spirit in

• not just about doing Outreach; Outreach

is an expression of being Missional.

Introduction to Missional Conversations

Module 1 – What Is Missional Church?

• How is being Missional different from doing Mission?

– It’s about Being not Doing – Mission is an expression of Missional Church – See “What Missional Is and Isn’t”

• Questions for table conversations:

– What does Discipleship look like in your congregation? – What does Discernment look like in your congregation? – What does Engagement look like in your congregation? – What does Mission look like in your congregation?

6

Introduction to Missional Conversations

What Missional Is and Isn’t

What It Is What It Isn’t A change in congregational culture A program Deep, Long-term change: a new way to ‘be church’ Short term expectations; not deep, lasting change Change suited to the context One proven way to implement Change based on listening to the spirit; called Dictated/formulaic change Being open to possibilities, taking risks, listening, learning from mistakes Fear of real change, failing Relationship-centered, people-driven Leader driven About God’s work in the world About the church as an institution Starts with ‘being’ Starts with ‘doing’ What It Is Focused On What It Isn’t Focused On What is God up to in this neighborhood? How do we attract people to church? How do we need to change in order to engage people in our community who no longer consider church a part of our lives? How do we increase engagement of members of our congregation? Externally focused Internally focused Equipping, Empowering and Engaging others Managing others

7

From Roxburgh, Boren Introducing the Missional Church Introduction to Missional Conversations

Module 2 – Examples of Missional Church

Objective: To deepen our understanding of how being Missional looks in this diocese. (45 minutes)

• Participating Congregations (will be announced)
• Qs & As
• Questions for table conversations:

– What resonated for you? – What would challenge you? – How might you prepare people to be receptive to missional possibilities?

8

Introduction to Missional Conversations

Module 3 – Discerning our Congregational Stories

Objective: To provide an opportunity for congregations to examine how they are living missionally & deepen the understanding of a missional state of mind. (45 minutes)

• Participants from the same congregation discuss:

– Choose a Ministry, tell the story about how that Ministry came about, using the Missional Cycle Framework – How has this Ministry made an impact on your congregation and on your community? – What is God asking you to do next with this Ministry?

• Large group discussion:

– What insights did you have as you spoke about your Ministry? – How could this type of conversation help your congregation?

9

Introduction to Missional Conversations

Module 4 – Sharing Our Stories

Objective: Participants hold Missional conversations with one another (from different congregations) (45 minutes)

• Pair up with someone you don’t know from another congregation
• 10 minutes: Pick up lunch
• 20 minutes: Interview each other (10 minutes each):

– Reflecting on your experience in your congregation, share a time when you felt most alive, most involved, spiritually touched or most excited about your involvement. – Three years from now, what would you imagine your “missional” congregation doing both internally and in the community? – What is God asking you to do now?

• 15 minutes: Sharing at tables:

– Share your partner’s story (1-2 mins.) – What insights did you have hearing your partner relate your story? – How might this be used with your congregation?

10

Introduction to Missional Conversations

Module 5 – Taking It Home

Before you leave here today:

• Please give us feedback!– Return the form in your packet.

After you leave here today:

• Talk with your vestry about your experience today
• Talk with your congregation about your experience today
• Share your insights; provoke others to have insights with questions
• Use the resources you have from this session/from the Diocese:

– Appreciative Questions: use these before meetings – Mission Strategy Committee: ready to help

• E-mail Canon Greg Jacobs (gjacobs@dioceseofnewark.org) if you would

like someone to speak with your congregation or facilitate Missional Conversations

• Come to the Diocesan Convention January 25-26, 2013

11

Introduction to Missional Conversations