Developing Healthy Congregations Dr. Paul D. Borden.

Developing Healthy

Congregations

Dr. Paul D. Borden

Health and Growth RelatedHealth and Growth Related

Growth – Indicates HealthGrowth – Indicates Health

No Growth – No HealthNo Growth – No Health

God created the church to be God created the church to be missionalmissional

God is a missionary GodGod is a missionary God

He picked Israel to bless so they would bless He picked Israel to bless so they would bless the nationsthe nations

Israel failed in its missionIsrael failed in its mission

Jesus came to build His churchJesus came to build His church

God created the church to be God created the church to be missionalmissional

The purpose of the church is to frustrate the The purpose of the church is to frustrate the Evil OneEvil One

The church as a mystery is to build from all The church as a mystery is to build from all nations a people for Godnations a people for God

God’s goal is that one day people from all God’s goal is that one day people from all over the world will stand before Him.over the world will stand before Him.

Lifecycles Are Indicators of HealthLifecycles Are Indicators of Health

Birth

Adulthood

Death

Living Organisms Living Organisms (Biological/Sociological) (Biological/Sociological)

Grow-Up, Mature and Die Grow-Up, Mature and Die

People – Get One LifecyclePeople – Get One Lifecycle

Congregations – Can Have Congregations – Can Have Multiple LifecyclesMultiple Lifecycles

Four Key Elements Determine Four Key Elements Determine Place on Life CyclePlace on Life Cycle

V-Vision (Changing the World)V-Vision (Changing the World)

R-Relationships (PeopleR-Relationships (People connecting with people)connecting with people)

M-MinistriesM-Ministries

S-Structure (Management)S-Structure (Management)

RV

ms

SM

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Life Cycle Of A Church

Adulthood

Birth

Infancy

Childhood

Adolescence

Maturity

Empty Nest

Retirement

Old Age

DeathVrms s

vrmS

vRMS

VRMs

VRMs

VRms

vrMS

vRMS

VRMS

VVisionÉÉÉÉ Where are we going?

RRelationshipÉ Who is going with us?

MMinistryÉÉÉ How do we get there?

SStructureÉÉ ..What do we control?

Three key issues:Three key issues:

Vision ( Changing the world)Vision ( Changing the world)

Purpose ( Mission)Purpose ( Mission)

Vision (Itself)Vision (Itself)

ValuesValues

Vision-Purpose (Mission)Vision-Purpose (Mission)

Purpose – MissionPurpose – Mission List All Congregational Activities List All Congregational Activities

(Ministries)(Ministries) Then ask the question WHY?Then ask the question WHY?

Only 3 possible answers to the question, WHY?


We conduct our ministries (primarily) for ourselves!

….the question, WHY?


We conduct our Ministries (primarily) for those not here yet!


We conduct our ministries (primarily) for both:• Ourselves• Those not here yet



Crucial Question must then be asked ????


….Who gets served first???

If the answer is those not here yet

– OUTWARD FOCUS

If the answer is ourselves – INWARD FOCUS


No need for a mission statement !No need for a mission statement !Just one question !Just one question !

Are you as a congregation focused:Are you as a congregation focused:INWARDINWARD Or Or

OUTWARD ?OUTWARD ?

Vision-ItselfVision-Itself

Vision is the answer to the question:Vision is the answer to the question:

What will it look like in five to ten years if we implement our mission well?


Key question: Is your vision Key question: Is your vision expressed in relation to your: expressed in relation to your:

CONGREGATION? Or COMMUNITY ?


Congregation – Selfish – Congregation – Selfish – Non-MotivatingNon-Motivating

Community – Outward Focus – Fuels the Community – Outward Focus – Fuels the soulsoul

Vision-ValuesVision-Values

Values – Values – Our most basic beliefs that affect our Our most basic beliefs that affect our

everyday behavioreveryday behaviorAndAnd

Govern how we do ministry as a Govern how we do ministry as a congregation.congregation.


Most congregations do not know their Most congregations do not know their realreal values. values.

RealReal values revealed under stress ! values revealed under stress !


For a congregation to move to:For a congregation to move to:

An OUTWARD focused missionAn OUTWARD focused missionandand

A Vision of a changed communityA Vision of a changed community

They must go through stress !

Going up the lifecycle means:Going up the lifecycle means:

Birth

Adulthood

DeathOUTWARD focused Mission

Vision of a changed community

Values consistent with such a mission and vision

Relationships Relationships (People connecting with people)(People connecting with people) People are NOT looking for friendly People are NOT looking for friendly

congregationscongregations

People are looking for friendsPeople are looking for friends

(People need to be able to develop meaningful and sustained relationships

as quickly as possible).

FIVEFIVE KEY CONCEPTS KEY CONCEPTS

RelationshipsRelationships

Full legos are people with saturated Full legos are people with saturated relationships (can have no more)relationships (can have no more)

Partially full legos are people with Partially full legos are people with unsaturated relationships (can have more)unsaturated relationships (can have more)

People are like LEGOS

Everyone is seeking a place where Everyone is seeking a place where they are valued for who they are not they are valued for who they are not what they do.what they do.


THIRD PLACES

Large groups-Unity around worship and Large groups-Unity around worship and missionmission

Mid-sized groups-Fellowship and teachingMid-sized groups-Fellowship and teaching

Small groups-Intimacy and accountabilitySmall groups-Intimacy and accountability


GROUP DYNAMICS

What was comfortableWhat was comfortable Provided statusProvided status Enabled them to have influenceEnabled them to have influence Made them significantMade them significant


TRANSITIONS: People do not resist change, they resist the loss of:

Each congregation is unique (gifts, Each congregation is unique (gifts, talents, abilities, backgrounds, etc.)talents, abilities, backgrounds, etc.)

Each congregation is designed to reach Each congregation is designed to reach different people.different people.

Healthy congregations remove cultural Healthy congregations remove cultural barriers and build cultural bridges to the barriers and build cultural bridges to the GOSPEL!GOSPEL!


UNDERSTANDING YOUR NICHE

FIVE KEY CONCEPTSFIVE KEY CONCEPTS

LegosLegos Third PlacesThird Places Group DynamicsGroup Dynamics TransitionsTransitions NicheNiche

Relationship: People Connecting with People

Ministries (Programs)Ministries (Programs)

Ministries are designed to help disciples mature Ministries are designed to help disciples mature and make more disciples.and make more disciples.

Ministries that do not grow (which means they are Ministries that do not grow (which means they are no longer meeting needs for the entire no longer meeting needs for the entire congregation) must either be:congregation) must either be:

ChangedChanged

DiscontinuedDiscontinued


1. How does any ministry contribute to an outward 1. How does any ministry contribute to an outward focused mission?focused mission?

TWO MAJOR QUESTIONS MUST BE ASKED

-- Is it growing by attracting un-churched people?Is it growing by attracting un-churched people?

- Do those leading the program understand that - Do those leading the program understand that programs strategic significance in relation to the programs strategic significance in relation to the congregation’s mission?congregation’s mission?


-- Does the implementation of ministry reflect Does the implementation of ministry reflect missionary thinking?missionary thinking?

-- Do ministries start where people are to move Do ministries start where people are to move them on to discipleship?them on to discipleship?

-- How are the ministries helping the How are the ministries helping the congregation to grow?congregation to grow?

2. 2. How does a congregation develop an How does a congregation develop an overall strategy for their programs?overall strategy for their programs?


WhyWhy? Convert consumers into ? Convert consumers into committed disciples of Jesus committed disciples of Jesus Christ.Christ.

Which onesWhich ones? Meet culturally ? Meet culturally determined expectations.determined expectations.

ONE STRATEGY MODEL FOR PROGRAMS


Worship and MusicWorship and Music Relationships/Groups/Friends (Legos and Third Places)Relationships/Groups/Friends (Legos and Third Places) Care:Care: Newcomer careNewcomer care

Congregational careCongregational care Meet family needs: Infants/children/youth/adultsMeet family needs: Infants/children/youth/adults Education: Training and personal developmentEducation: Training and personal development PreachingPreaching Well-kept facilitiesWell-kept facilities Financial stabilityFinancial stability


LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT:LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: This This ministry is not culturally assumed but ministry is not culturally assumed but if not implemented well the if not implemented well the congregation will not be healthy and congregation will not be healthy and grow!!!grow!!!


Meet cultural expectations (Missionary Meet cultural expectations (Missionary thinking)thinking)

Must occur, even if people must be paid to Must occur, even if people must be paid to make them happenmake them happen

Are staff led (staff people can be volunteer, Are staff led (staff people can be volunteer, part-time or full-time)part-time or full-time)

How are these ministries developed and conducted?

Structure (Management)Structure (Management)

If it can be seen the body is in trouble.If it can be seen the body is in trouble. If there is too little the body is in trouble.If there is too little the body is in trouble. If it does not grow and develop the body is If it does not grow and develop the body is

in trouble.in trouble.

Management is like the skeleton in the body


1-1- The pastor must be developing as a leader and The pastor must be developing as a leader and developing other leaders.developing other leaders.

Congregational growth is in proportion to the development of Congregational growth is in proportion to the development of leadersleaders

The pastor develops three groups of leaders:The pastor develops three groups of leaders: The StaffThe Staff The BoardThe Board Key leaders in the congregationKey leaders in the congregation

Healthy congregational management systems require the implementation of three concepts.


2- Leadership marries three key ideas:2- Leadership marries three key ideas:

Authority: The power to conduct ministry tasks.Authority: The power to conduct ministry tasks. Responsibility: The ministries that enable the Responsibility: The ministries that enable the

mission to occur.mission to occur. Accountability: Evaluating how well leaders Accountability: Evaluating how well leaders

accomplish ministryaccomplish ministry

(Note: Groups cannot lead or be held accountable, therefore the focus in on INDIVIDUALS!)


3- The pastor(s) must turn the ministry over 3- The pastor(s) must turn the ministry over to the laity and the laity must give the to the laity and the laity must give the leadership of congregation to the pastor.leadership of congregation to the pastor.

The board governs through policiesThe board governs through policies The Pastor leadsThe Pastor leads The staff leads and managesThe staff leads and manages The congregation ministersThe congregation ministers

ConclusionConclusion

Vision: Mission--OutwardVision: Mission--Outward Vision: Views the CommunityVision: Views the Community Vision: Values--What we really believe – Vision: Values--What we really believe –

must be consistent with the mission and must be consistent with the mission and visionvision

Healthy growing congregations are always ascending the life-cycle (even if they have to create new ones)


LegosLegos Third PlacesThird Places Group DynamicsGroup Dynamics TransitionsTransitions NicheNiche

Relationship: People Connecting with People


Converting Consumers into Converting Consumers into Committed Disciples of Jesus Committed Disciples of Jesus ChristChrist

Programs: One strategy


Board-GovernsBoard-Governs Pastor-LeaderPastor-Leader Staff-Lead/ManageStaff-Lead/Manage Congregation-MinistryCongregation-Ministry

Structure: Management

Going up the lifecycle means:Going up the lifecycle means:

Birth

Adulthood

Death

VRMS vrms

Developing Healthy Congregations Dr. Paul D. Borden.

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