Watchful Preparation: Congregational Vitality and Relevance for the 10s David Schoen Congregational Vitality & Discipleship Local Church Ministries United Church of Christ Including material used with permission from Rick Morse, V.P. New Church Ministry, Christian Church (DOC) Church Extension © 2007 And Matt Carlisle, Founder, Big Heart Design All rights reserved

ITS A WHOLE NEW WORLD Taxes done in India McDonalds order taken 2 states away Hundreds of marketing choices in any area Instant communication 44% of Christians change traditions/denominations 60-80% Unchurched

Result of Karl Fischs, Colorado high school teacher, study on this rapid change So how much have things changed?

Churches are stressed today: Generational Challenges Birth rates Cultural factors Church changes What does it all mean to the Church?

More generations today than ever… Gen Z (11-0) Millennials ( 28-12) Survivors (29-49) Boomers (50-67) Silents (68-85) Builders (86+) Each generation has unique events that formed it, and a different view of life.

Dominant values and behaviors of older boomers and older groups Whatever is right for the group is right for me Appreciate sameness (i.e. Traditional liturgy) Committee structures that are tried and true Deferred pleasure until you have what you need to make the purchase Spirituality of place Organize as a group to form a block (tenacious about position) Circle the wagons; get people on your team to protect whats important Get it done! 35% of the US Population

Dominant behaviors of young boomers and younger groups: Ask first, what is good for the individual Individualized style and differentiation Appreciate Difference/multiple choices Trained to look for segments of population so that one size never fits all See themselves as the correctors of the previous generations Spirituality of journey…find spiritual insight wherever they are and in relationship, not primarily place Tribal 65% of the US Population

Churches didnt use to worry about generations… Founders Their children Grandchildren & families A few transplants Stephen Compton

Many Churches have Lost a generation or 2: Churches do not anticipate loosing youth…(even though that has been the pattern for 40 years) Young adults report: Relocation after college or school Difficulty in assimilation because church style IF they visitlittle generational affinity Most mainline youth become unchurched Roof and McKinney

Another part of the issue is membership orientation Pay dues…sign line EXPECT care, access, privilege, control, service by staff…etc. Loses vision for a mission that can be characterized by Gods love in Christ for the world. It is Exclusive The post-modern world has little interest in membership organizations POWER SURGE, Michael Foss

The result is aging congregations While the younger cohort equals 65% of the population, they are only on average about 30% of existing congregations Growing Gaps in understanding

Age of Protestant Populations – Total Population Total Protestants Nondenom Charismatic Churches Nondenom Evangelical Churches Church of God in Christ Assemblies of God American Baptist Churches Southern Baptist Convention African Methodist Episcopal United Methodist Church Ev. Lutheran Church of America Disciples of Christ Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod Presbyterian Church in America Episcopal Church in the USA Presbyterian Church USA United Church of Christ Anglican Church

Birth Rates: Since the pill Anglo birth rates dropping / / Mainline Anglos have a very low birth-rate due to aging populations VERY Little Biological Growth!

There has been significant change in our racial-ethnic population Racial ethnic composition of most neighborhoods has changed since 1960 Many congregations have little or no affinity with their neighbors

Racial ethnic growth must be recognized Ethnic growth: In the next 50 years the US Pop. Will grow by 50%. 90% of that growth will be people of color In 2000, Hispanics became the largest racial ethnic minority The US has the 3 rd largest Spanish speaking population By 2050 there will be no majority racial group By 2100 Hispanics will be the largest group

Racial Ethnic Birth Rates: African Am Native Am Asian Pac. I Hispanic 22.6 (Anglo 11.7) Per 1000 Most future growth will be in Racial Ethnic congregations

There is also a shifting attitude towards organized religion 65% of the US population cannot remember a time when clergy were respected. Denominational loyalty means nothing to most people. The average person believes that no particular religion has claim to truth.

Shifting attitudes towards faith

Since 1991 adult population in the US grew by 15%. During that same period the unchurched population grew by 92%! 75 million US adults do not attend church 'Unchurched' Americans say church is 'full of hypocrites' consider Christianity to be more about organized religion than about loving God and people, …unchristian. Unchurched USA

New Generations – Outsiders to Christian Faith Age% OutsidersPopulation to Christianity 61+23%12 Million %21 Million %34 Million %24 Million

44 percent -- agreed that "Christians get on my nerves. Vast majority of young non-Christians view Christianity as anti-gay, judgmental hypocritical, unwelcoming, too political, out of touch. But 78 percent said they would be willing to listen to someone who wanted to tell them about his or her Christian beliefs. Almost three-quarters percent -- agreed that God "actually exists and an even larger percentage percent -- said they believed they could have a good relationship with God without church involvement.

21 st Century Culture and Church Change from Modern to Postmodern World Its a Whole New World – Anthony Robinson Reason Where moderns wanted their preachers to explain mystery, post-moderns want to experience mystery. Optimism & Objectivity Post-moderns are not so sure that salvation is around the corner or that objective science and technology are our saviors. What some call objective truth, is the interest of the powerful and privileged.

21 st Century Culture and Church Change from Modern to Postmodern World Universality & The Grand Story Post-moderns revel in the local, indigenous and the particular. Post-moderns tend to be skeptics about this big story. Small stories, particular stories, and different versions of reality appeal to the post- modern mind. For Post-moderns Make it spiritual and experiential. Make it personal, real and authentic Make it about mission & ministry not committees Make it fit and reflect their lives

21 st Century Culture and Church Change from Modern to Postmodern World While modernity was liberating and powerful in many ways, it was also and especially for Christianity, reductive. highly moral, but not especially spiritual modern Christianity explained miracle and mystery (away) and proposed moral values and lessons as universal truth. What was missing was spiritual connection and experience, the experience of a sacred, numinous, transcendent Other.

Postmodern Culture and Church Christianity in North America has moved (or been moved) away from its position of dominance loss not only of numbers but of power and influence within society. Rather than occupying a central and influential place, North American Christian churches are increasingly marginalized, in our urban areas they represent a minority movement It is now a truism to speak of North America as a mission field. Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America, Edited by Darrell Guder, the Gospel and Our Culture Network

Watchful Preparation: Congregational Vitality and Relevance for the 10s We are all at a threshold, a kairos moment

It means CHANGE!

Congregational life has changed: Mimeograph Yellow pages Volunteers Hospital visits Organ Stairs Committees Budgets

It means CHANGE! PHYLLIS TICKLES basis thesis is that every 500 years, the Church goes through a rummage sale, and cleans out the old forms of spirituality and replaces it with new ones. Play Video

Change = Opportunity

In these new times…. There is a future for the church The stillspeaking God calls us to be Churches that the tomorrow requires Churches that new times demand Missional in purpose Relational in outreach Conversationl in witness

Missio Dei – Mission of God The real problem is much more deeply rooted than programmatic and methodological solutions. It has to do with who we are and what we are for. The real issues of the church are spiritual and theological. In The Other Side of 1984: Questions for the Churches Bishop Leslie Newbigin analyzed the challenge presented by the changing context of Western society. What had once been a Christendom society was now clearly post-Christian and in many ways anti- Christian. The missiological consensus that Newbigin focused on may be summarized with the term missio Dei, mission of God.

Missional Church The Church exists to serve Gods Mission Mission as Missio Dei, UCC Committee on Structure, 1992 The church of Jesus Christ is the instrument and sign of Gods mission and realm. Gods mission is calling and sending us, the church of Jesus Christ, to be a missionary church in our own societies, in the cultures in which we find ourselves.

Vital Churches in 21 st Century Local Churches are Missional Communities, moving from membership based social organizations to discipleship forming missional communities. Our mission focus is transforming lives, by transforming both individuals and wider social culture.

Difference between church with mission and missional church Mission in 20 th Century became program of church Mission boards emerged Mission workers became professional Mission work become financial support Mission arena was someplace else Our challenge today is to move from church with mission to missional church.

Vital congregations discern Gods call and mission The greatest characteristic of a vital congregation is the ability to articulate and live Gods purpose. What is God calling this church to be and do at this time, in this place, with the gifts we have on this corner of Gods realm that we are placed?

Identity and Mission Reverend Otis Moss III from Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago speaks on Church Vitality and Discipleship grow/video/otis-moss.html grow/video/otis-moss.html

Missional Purpose Cathedral of Hope UCC The Mission of the Cathedral of Hope is to reclaim Christianity as a faith of extravagant grace, radical inclusion and relentless compassion. We are a people of compassion We are a people of inclusion We are a people of liberation We are a people of hope We are a people of Jesus

Missional Church outreach to community and neighborhood God is still speaking to us in culture and community. Gods purpose is that our communities are not forsaken or the land desolate. Church no longer center of community, but it can be good neighbor. Church can accompany community to be all that Gods realm would want the community to be.

Vital churches are vital in community where they are located No congregation can afford to ignore its context or those in the surrounding community. Congregations that live only for themselves are starting a trip toward extinction. Herb Miller, How to Build a Magnetic Church Vital congregations are vital on the corner of Gods realm where they are planted. Gil Rendle

Theology makes a difference in missional focus Mainline Protestant and historically black denomination churches engage with their communities by caring for others and advocating on behalf of those in need. Conservative Protestants typically involve worshipers talking about their faith and inviting people to participate in community of faith. Vital congregations balance their attention between both.

Community Involvement = Growth? Involvement or focus on the community does not necessarily lead to growth Congregations scoring high on focusing on the community place considerable emphasis on serving the needs of those outside the congregation. They may de-emphasize or overlook the importance of inviting people to become part of the congregation and welcoming them warmly when they visit. Focusing on the community must be one of the other aspects of vitality, including spirituality and faith formation, welcoming new people, meaningful worship, caring for children and youth, engagement in the congregation and a sense of belonging. Places of Promise

Location, Location, Location? Congregational Life Survey points to the relative unimportance of location in predicting either congregational strength or numerical growth. Congregational location plays a minimal role in the numerical growth that congregations experience. Few measures of location had an impact on strength or growth. Vital growing congregations, as well as non-vital declining congregations can be found in any location. Places of Promise: Finding Strength in Your Congregations Location: US Congregation Survey 2008

The One important factor The one location factor that does play a role in congregational vitality is the match between a congregations worshipers and the people in the community who are between 18 and 44 years of age. This critical age group must be recruited and openly welcomed in our congregations and we need to ensure our worship and activities meet their needs.

Places of Promise Finding Strength in Your Congregations Location Traditionally we think about context as location. In this view: Community context determines who we were, what we are, and what our future holds. Congregations are passivelocation has the upper hand! Leaders use contractual language about locationour location is a piece of real estate with a specific land value, appraised as a retail outlet might appraise a location. Its a commodity.

Places of Promise Finding Strength in Your Congregations Location InsteadThink about context as place. Location is Gods gift to us. The congregation is in this place at this time for a reasonGods reason. Congregations can achieve strength and effectiveness in their present location. God claimed this place for us; the place claims us as people of faith. We have inherited this place from those who first worshiped here, and we have an obligation to use it wisely and care for it.

Places of Promise Finding Strength in Your Congregations Location Questions to be asked: How did our congregation come to be in this location? What is our birth story? Why has God planted us here? What significant things have happened in this location that continue to shape our ministry? What do we believe are the strengths of our location? What steps can we take to build on the strengths of our location? Who is in our community that we can reach out to?

Missional Congregations Places of Promise Sister Act (really!) St. Johns UCC, Columbus OH Cathedral of Hope UCC, Dallas TX Plymouth Congregational UCC Lawrence, KS Asylum Hill Congregational UCC, Hartford CT Emmaus Road Church, Seattle WA Northwest Hothouse Ecumenical Group

Missional in Purpose Vital congregations clear sense of purpose Vital congregations are sent churches Vital congregations reach out beyond themselves Vital congregations reproduce and plant new congregations

Missional in Purpose Relational in Outreach Ministry in 21 st Century is Relational Build community with those outside the church Get to know the unchurched people and culture

Relational in Outreach Bridge the gap by building relationships The days of waiting for people to come to church to welcome them are over. Instead of waiting inside, we go outside

Relational in Outreach What do you think when you hear the word…. EVANGELISM ?

Celtic Evangelism In The Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can Reach the West... Again, George Hunter writes about the difference between what he describes as the evangelism approach in Roman and Celtic Christianity.

Celtic Evangelism Roman Model Celtic Model Presentation Fellowship Decision Ministry and Conversation Fellowship Belief, Invitation to Commitment

Belonging and Believing Christianity is more caught than taught! As Professor Robin Gill observes, belonging comes before believing. For this reason, evangelism is now about helping people to belong so that they can believe.

Missional Outreach Go to where the unchurched are: Coffee shops, Book stores Parks, Gyms I stopped wondering about how to draw younger folks into my church and started focusing on how to draw my congregation out of its building and into relationship with the world outside its doors.

Go Forth…. Into the Virtual World. In Asia, Europe and North Americaan entire generation has experienced the Internet as a means for maintaining relationships with family and friends. The Internet is a lifeline for users whose mobility is limited by disability, chronic illness or advanced age. The Internet is where we can find and engage seekers.

The Socialization of the Web You Now Control the Message! The socialization of the web…..is now forcing a renaissance that is transforming information distribution, human interaction and everything….. Brian Solis, Unveiling New Influencers 6/29/2009

Modern day example

Costs are nominal or FREE!

Relational in Outreach Conversational in Witness Conversational ministry is central to the future of the church in 21 st Century Count conversations, not conversions Brian McLaren, More Ready than You Think

Conversational Ministry The postmodern world calls for disciples who reach out to a world that is hungering for good conversation about faith, values, hope, meaning, purpose, goodness, beauty, truth, life after death, life before death and God. Engaging in everyday faith conversations will not only help others become Christians, it will help us become better Christians, who know and love the still speaking God more than ever.

Conversational in Witness Spiritual Seekers want to talk. Holy Conversations – Richard Peace We are the ones not talking. Reverence for God – silence and service. Tell it Like it is: Reclaiming the Practice of Testimony - Lillian Daniel An unchurched world doesnt know why we do what we do.

Conversational in Witness Buzz Marketing Evangelism One beggar telling another where there is food Come and See!

Witness and Invitation UCC-Style Tricking the church into Evangelism – Taking it back! What do you say when someone asks you about your comma? For us it means Gods not stuck. God still has more light and truth for us today. My church believes that God is still speaking to us today. It means that no matter how bad things are in my life or in the world, God is in the midst of it.

Are you still speaking?

Are You Ready to Talk? Why do you love your church? What impact has believing in God and following Jesus made in your life? How is God still speaking in your life?

God is still speaking, Through you and me!

Eight Challenges Richard Peace We need to learn how to talk about Jesus We need to create spaces within which both seekers and committed Christians can explore together their spiritual journeys. We need to learn how to invite others We need to move beyond our stereotypes, fears and negative experiences of evangelism for new creative and wholistic ways of outreach.

Eight Challenges Richard Peace We need to heal the split evangelism and justice issues so it is a both/and and not an either /or. We need to find the energy to engage in and to sustain an outreach ministry. We need to stay open to transformation, our own transformation even as we invite others to be transformed. We need to learn how to discuss all of this in non-theological terms.

Where will we be in 2020….? The still speaking God calls us to become Churches that the Future Requires Missional in purpose Relational in outreach Conversational in witness

And in Conclusion…… Seven Missional Lessons God is calling the Church to be a missional community in an unchurched world. Missional congregation is to be a sign and instrument of Gods realm in its community. Missional congregation listens for and seeks out the still speaking God in culture and its community. Missional congregation finds transformation and vitality in its location.

Missional congregation is driven to discern, articulate and live Gods calling and purpose for church and community. Missional congregation is relational and conversational in outreach. Missional congregation engages cultures tools, especially the web to reach out to world of seekers. And in Conclusion…… Seven Missional Lessons

Resources for Missional Congregations Vitality Resources on Its a Whole New World Anthony Robertson Vitality Interviews Vitality Powerpoint - Retreat Resources Web ministry resources resources-for-internet-ministry.html MissionInsite demographics

Two questions Where are signs of vitality in Plymouth Congregational UCC today? What one thing stood out for you from this presentation and what might it mean for your congregation and ministry?

In these challenging new times…. There is a future for the church The stillspeaking God calls us to be Churches that the tomorrow requires Churches that new times demand Missional in purpose Relational in outreach Conversational in witness

Thank You! Thank you for your Vital Leadership Thank you for Your Support of Changing Lives: Thats Our Churches Wider Mission