1. Rev. Dr. Rick Rouse

5.  Common View: Congregations have a mission.  New Testament: God has a mission and congregations to help carry it out—sharing the Good News for the sake of the world!  A missional congregation is one that seeks to be a partner in God’s mission!

7.  The Missional Congregation understands that it is primarily a missional community of people being trained and equipped to live among the world as daily disciples. It’s purpose is to carry out God’s gospel mission for the healing and redemption of the world.

10. Grow Maintain Decline 18% 14% 68% ELCA Congregations 2000-2010 82% Based on worship attendance 2000 to 2010 elca.org Based on worship attendance 2000 to 2010 elca.org

13. Source: Annual Congregational Reports, ELCA. Prepared by Research and Evaluation, November, 2009.

14.  1. NONE category now 16% (8% in 1990)  2. Oregon 20% in 1990; Vermont now 34%  3. 69% believe in personal God; 30% NO  4. Mainline Protestant: 12.9% (5.8% loss)  5. Non-denominational: 14.6% (.6% loss)  6. Pentecostal: 3.5% (.3% gain)  7. Mormon: 1.4% (0 loss/gain)

16.  1. Is the ELCA facing a time of crisis or opportunity?  2. What are the lessons from Trinity Lutheran? How did they move forward after the fire?  3. What new opportunities may God be opening up for your congregation?

18.  A place of refuge and inspiration?  A place to hide from the world?  Self-preservation is antithetical to the cross.  The public arena is God’s arena  The lesson of the LIGHTHOUSE

20.  MAINTENANCE Church-going Insider Focused inward  MISSIONAL Gospel-carrying Outsider Focused Outward

39. As a Missional Church, we surrender to a vision of God greater than our own so that we can be transformed into the image of Christ. We become the face of Jesus to the world, his hands and his feet.