(re)Vitalization

New Program from the Office of Church and Ministry Development of Metropolitan Community Churches

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(re)Vitalization

(re)Vitalization

The Office of Church and Ministry Development (OCMD) is now offering a program of support and coaching for congregations that are desiring (re)Vitalization. Through a communal process of discernment congregations will answer the following questions:

• Why do we exist?
• Who are we?
• Who are our neighbors?
• How is God calling us to respond both
• faithfully and fruitfully?

(re)Vitalization

• In the US, the percentage of adults who identify as Christians has dropped from 78.4% to 70.6% from 2007 to 2014
• In Great Britain, the percentage fell by 10% from 2001 to 2011
• Mainline Protestant, Catholic, and Evangelical affiliations have all declined
• In 2005, 47% of U.S. churches were averaging below 100 in attendance, but that number has jumped to 58% in 2015�

Culture Shifts: Declining Religious Affiliation

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(re)Vitalization

• In England and Wales, the unaffiliated rose from 25% in 2011 to 48.5% in 2014
• Religiously unaffiliated in the US rose from 16% in 2007 to 23% in 2014
• 35% of 18-34 year olds - the Millenial generation - are unaffiliated
• “Dones” is a growing group of those who are leaving organized ChristianityFormer Christians represent 18% of U.S. adults overall��

Culture Shifts: Rise of the Nones and the Dones �

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(re)Vitalization

• Globalization occurring worldwide
• More connected than ever
• In the U.S.
• More ethnically, racially, religiously, linguistically, and sexually diverse
• Trust in social institutions broken
• Democratization of knowledge
• information now readily available
• Challenge to the idea of universal truth - social location shapes us�

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• Increasingly spiritual but not religious ‘SBNR’
• Increased desire for a spirituality that is
• grounded and experiential
• relational and practical
• embodied and sensual
• more permeable
• authentic and connected
• Questions have shifted from
• Who and What? to Where and How?�

Other Culture Shifts in the 21st Century

(re)Vitalization

Culture Shifts in the 21st Century

The culture has shifted; it is not anyone’s fault. There’s nothing any of us could have or can do to stop the progress of the shift; it is not going back. Just trying harder will not change anything.�

The world has changed - rapidly and in ways we may not even have been able to imagine - and now the Church needs to develop in order to fulfill and thrive in our mission from God.

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Through the (re)Vitalization process, we can explore together what it means to be a 21st church that transforms lives, neighborhoods, and our world. ��

(re)Vitalization

(re)Vitalization is not:

• a “quick fix,”
• a “how-to,”
• a series of “steps.”

It is a process that does not, and cannot, happen quickly

It is a process that requires

• complete dedication to listen for and follow God
• humility to learn together and deepen your faith
• taking risks and daring greatly

It is a process that is the work of the congregation with the Spirit, facilitated by OCMD resources, guidance, and support

(re)Vitalization

Assessment: Through a primarily self-directed, but OCMD-supported, assessment, the most likely to be effective path of (re)Vitalization is identified, agreed upon, and embarked on.

(re)Vitalization

Life Cycle Stages of Congregations

(re)Vitalization

Life Cycle Stages of Congregations

• At any point, a congregation can start a new life cycle by going through a process of transformation and resurrection, of (re)Vitalization
• BUT -The further down the Life Cycle, the more it takes - spiritually, emotionally, financially - to go through the process to start a new Life Cycle�

(re)Vitalization

Assessment of the congregation, its ministries, its resources, and its community will help provide guidance to the most effective (re)Vitalization path for each congregation.

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PATH 1 Redefining for New Possibilities with God

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PATH 2 Redesigning with Fruitful Life in Christ

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PATH 3 Redeveloping by the Upbuilding of the Spirit

(re)Vitalization

PATH 1 Redefining: Evaluating with a view to change, to give new meaning.

• This is for congregations who are settled into their programs and policies and have essentially plateaued in growth of all kinds, and that want to creatively explore

New Possibilities with God.

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PATH 2 Redesigning: Revising content and function, with extensive changes inside and out.

• This is for congregations who have become inwardly focused, have started few or no new ministries recently, and have begun to show decline, and that are willing to listen for and follow wherever God calls, to be a vital 21st century church with a Fruitful Life for Christ.

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PATH 3 Redeveloping: Developing again differently, constructing anew on a pre-existing site.

• This is for congregations who are in ‘survival mode’ with programs and staff cuts and serious decline in many areas, and are committed to a complete overhaul and the hard work of making extensive change to be created anew by the Upbuilding of the Spirit.

(re)Vitalization

Through the assessment process, it can become evident that there are other issues that need to be addressed. OCLH will offer support and resources to assist with:

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Transformation of Conflict to be addressed before process begins.��Transitional Ministry if there is a change in pastoral leadership.

�Transpiration, celebration of a ministry at the end of its current life cycle.

(re)Vitalization

Through the assessment process, it can become evident that there are other issues that need to be addressed. OCLH will offer support and resources to assist with:

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Transformation of Conflict: Sometimes in preparing for revitalizing, a highly pressing, urgent issue or conflict may arise that must be addressed before the process can begin and be effective. An OCLH Conflict Transformation Team can assist the congregation with this.��Transitional Ministry: At any time in the life of a congregation, there may be a change in Pastoral Leader. During any time of pastoral transition, OCLH will provide support through the OCLH Transitional Ministry Program.��Transpiration: Sometimes, as the process of revitalizing begins, it becomes clear that the congregation has come to the end of its current life cycle. OCLH will provide a supportive process that celebrates the ministry and the legacy that it leaves.��

(re)Vitalization

• The (re)Vitalization process is different for each congregation

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• It will, though, usually follow the same general pattern, with different emphases and resources for each congregation as appropriate.

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• While the process is presented in a somewhat linear fashion, several of the steps may actually be occurring simultaneously.

(re)Vitalization

(re)Vitalization

Opening:

• Awareness of need for change,
• with willingness to ask for and receive feedback and help.
• Leaders begin a conversation with OCMD and
• share information freely for assessment.
• Leaders start to lay the groundwork with the congregation for the process.
• Begin to understand context of congregation and community.

(re)Vitalization

Holding:

• Creating the holding space where it will be safe for everyone to listen and to share.
• Discover and address any issues of
• shame, blame, conflict, reactivity that would be a barrier
• to authentic conversation and challenging questions.
• Discover and celebrate congregational gifts.
• If there are technical challenges,
• provide resources for technical fixes.

(re)Vitalization

Listening:

• Unearthing the congregation’s story and values to
• name, claim, and reframe as needed.
• Becoming present to God, one another, and neighbors,
• asking curious questions and paying attention,
• taking risks to show up and build up relationships.
• Understand the current congregational context.

(re)Vitalization

Discerning:

• Engaging in spiritual practices together
• come together intentionally to hear and see
• how God is showing up and
• how to join God’s work in the neighborhood.
• Make the practices
• accessible,
• rooted in tradition, but
• relevant for current context.

(re)Vitalization

Experimenting:

• Creating and cultivating an atmosphere of permission-giving and encouragement.
• Beginning with simple experiments,
• try out some new ideas and innovations, and
• be willing to fail for the right reasons.
• Ensure efforts are
• grass-roots,
• collaborative, and
• allow rapid prototyping.

(re)Vitalization

Learning:

• As pilot experiments are underway, determining
• how and when they are evaluated, and
• what measure(s) of positive difference/success will be.
• Based on results,
• keep going,
• make changes, or
• discontinue.
• Determine what can be learned from each experiment, involving the congregation.
• Participate with other leaders and congregations in in cohort group learning

(re)Vitalization

Next steps:

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• Share this information with other key leaders in your congregation.

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• Form a prayer team and pray together about if and how God might be calling you to participate in (re)Vitalization

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• Contact OCMD to ask questions, seek clarification, or consider moving forward
• Rev. Lisa Heilig, Resource Development Specialist

revlisaheilig@mccchurch.net

(re)Vitalization

And as you pray about and consider how God might be calling your church:

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• How would you like us to pray for your church?

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• For you as a leader?

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• For your community?