CORE VALUES OF TRANSFORMATIONAL
CHURCH-BASED COMMUNITY MINISTRY
The following dozen principles have been developed through the time-tested experience of Christian community ministry practitioners. They represent a blend of biblical wisdom and practical insight. These qualities describe the bigger picture of what faithful obedience to Christ's teachings and example looks like in the context of church-based community ministry. Use these touchstones to develop a healthy ministry and to reassess your church's ministry as it develops.
Church-based ministry that promotes lasting, holistic change in the community has these characteristics …
1. Servant leadership: The church ministers with the community, not to the community, seeking the opportunity to serve as a friend rather than a hero.
2. Asset-based: The ministry focuses not only on the community's problems but also on its assets and dreams, affirming where God's hand is already evident and building on existing strengths.
3. Developmental: The ministry goes beyond short-term relief that meets immediate needs to promote sustainable change in individuals, neighborhoods, social systems and/or the broader culture.
4. Participatory: The ministry draws on the motivation, input, and involvement of members of the community, empowers them as decision-makers, and brings them together around common goals.
5. Capacity-building: The ministry discourages dependency by not doing what people can do for themselves, or undermining the capacity of local leaders, organizations and businesses.
6. Collaborative: The ministry works with other organizations rather than replicating existing efforts, shares rather than hoards resources, and promotes an attitude of cooperation rather than competition.
7. Relational: The ministry creates opportunities to cultivate relationships characterized by respect for the image of God in each person, affirming the dignity and equality of all people.
8. Reconciling: The ministry confronts prejudices, promotes restoration across social divides, and stands with those who are most vulnerable in a community.
9. Holistic: The ministry promotes wholeness for individuals and communities across interconnected dimensions of life -- spiritual, physical, economic, emotional and relational.
10. Spiritually rooted: The ministry draws on and deepens the faith of volunteers, expands their understanding of God's heart for the poor and vulnerable, and energizes their worship.
11. Spiritually nurturing: The ministry provides opportunities for those who are spiritually hungry to encounter God's truth and grace in ways that are culturally relevant and non-coercive.
12. Excellence: The ministry promotes excellence and integrity in its standards, stewardship, and leadership.
Core Values of Transformational Ministry: Evaluation Worksheet
This tool can help you explore ways of applying a transformational dynamic to your outreach, whether you are launching a new ministry or seeking to enhance the impact of an existing program.
Above the table, write the name of your ministry program or focus (people group, neighborhood or social concern). First, reflect on how your ministry may already display these qualities. Then brainstorm suggestions for incorporating each quality into the ministry more fully. You don't have to act on every idea, but this process can help you see the options.
Ministry Focus: __________________________________________
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Core Value
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How this quality is now evident in our ministry |
How this quality could be more fully expressed in the ministry |
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Servant leadership Befriend the community in order to minister “with”, not “to”, people |
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Asset-based Identify and build on existing strengths in the community
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Developmental Go beyond short-term needs to promote sustainable change |
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Participatory Connect, empower and seek input from community members |
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Capacity-building Discourage dependency and equip people to live responsibly |
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Collaborative Work cooperatively with other organizations toward shared goals |
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Relational Cultivate restorative relationships that affirm people’s dignity |
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Reconciling Confront prejudices and build bridges across social divides |
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Holistic Promote wholeness across interconnected areas of life |
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Spiritually rooted Draw on and deepen the faith of staff and volunteers |
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Spiritually nurturing Offer spiritual care in appropriate ways to those we serve |
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Excellence Maintain high standards of conduct and outcomes |
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Core Values of Transformational Ministry: EXAMPLES
The following chart gives two sets of examples of how the core values might be expressed in a ministry program.
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Core Value
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Church outreach to a local elementary school |
Health clinic |
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Servant leadership Befriend the community in order to minister “with”, not “to”, people |
ask a parent advisory team to help guide and support the church's involvement |
staff handbook promotes seeing patients as active partners in health, not service recipients |
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Asset-based Identify and build on existing strengths in the community
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host an annual "thank you" banquet to encourage teachers / staff |
recruit neighborhood "grandmas" to help care for sick children |
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Developmental Go beyond short-term needs to promote sustainable change |
support the parent-teacher association's efforts to reduce class size |
join a state-wide campaign to promote broader access to insurance |
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Participatory Connect, empower and seek input from community members |
host a focus group of students to get ideas on what students can do to stop fights on campus |
organize patient peer learning / support groups on community health concerns |
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Capacity-building Discourage dependency and equip people to live responsibly |
affirm and reinforce to parents their critical role in supporting their children's education |
provide teaching and incentives to promote healthy lifestyle choices |
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Collaborative Work cooperatively with other organizations toward shared goals |
match struggling students with tutors from the local community college |
joint sponsorship of a health fair with the local church consortium |
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Relational Cultivate restorative relationships that affirm people’s dignity |
spend time "hanging out" with students on lunch break |
sponsor an annual picnic to allow clinic staff and patients a chance to interact outside the clinic |
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Reconciling Confront prejudices and build bridges across social divides |
offer an after-school program on creative conflict resolution |
train staff in cultural differences in health practices |
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Holistic Promote wholeness across interconnected areas of life |
provide referrals for students and their families needing economic or counseling assistance |
offer seminars on stress management, family well-being and faith as contributors to health |
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Spiritually rooted Draw on and deepen the faith of staff and volunteers |
recruit prayer partners for teachers / kids / mentors |
weekly devotions with clinic personnel |
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Spiritually nurturing Offer spiritual care in appropriate ways to those we serve |
invite students to the church's summer youth camp |
offer to pray with clinic patients |
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Excellence Maintain high standards of conduct and outcomes |
train all volunteers in appropriate conduct for interactions with youth |
annual formal quality reviews |
Heidi Unruh, unruhheidi@aol.com ~ Congregations, Community Outreach & Leadership Development Project / Compassion Coalition