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. Introduction to Missional Conversations January 5, 2013 1
Introduction to Missional Conversations 10:00 9:15 Module II Module I Moderated Forum of What is Missional Missional Examples in Church? 12:30 Diocese of Newark Module V Taking it Home – Sharing resources Missional Congregational Stories of Stories in participant missional congregations conversations 11:45 11:00 Module IV Module III Introduction to Missional Conversations 2
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? Introduction to Missional Conversations 3
A Missional Church Diagram What is God Up To? What is God Up To? A Sending God A Sending God Faith Community Neighborhood Congregation 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 4
Missional Cycle Framework - a continuing process of ongoing Missional - requires awareness, open-mindedness, discernment informed by the Spirit vulnerability to let the spirit in - a long-term commitment by the Diocese - not just about doing Outreach; Outreach and congregations is an expression of being Missional. Spiritual Formation Engage Scripture Christian Formation Forming Relationships Discipleship Deep listening Signs of God’s Grace A Forming Identity Risk-taking Mission Discernment Continuous Discerning our gifts Experimenting Process Allowing Failure Transformational Engagement Within our neighborhood Attentive, Aware,Deep listening Not a ‘ Program ’ Introduction to Missional Conversations 5
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? Introduction to Missional Conversations 6
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 Fear of real change, failing mistakes 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 How do we increase engagement of members of our community who no longer consider church a part of our lives? congregation? Externally focused Internally focused Equipping, Empowering and Engaging others Managing others From Roxburgh, Boren Introducing the Missional Church Introduction to Missional Conversations 7
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? Introduction to Missional Conversations 8
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? Introduction to Missional Conversations 9
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? Introduction to Missional Conversations 10
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 Introduction to Missional Conversations 11
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