Welcome to Transformational Ministry!

1. Welcome to Transformational Ministry!

2. 1991 Churchwide Evangelism Strategy • ELCA Decade of Evangelism

3. 1991 Churchwide Evangelism Strategy • ELCA Decade of Evangelism • Overwhelming Support

4. 1991 Churchwide Evangelism Strategy • ELCA Decade of Evangelism • Overwhelming Support • Millions of dollars invested

5. 1991 Churchwide Evangelism Strategy • ELCA Decade of Evangelism • Overwhelming Support • Millions of dollars invested • Nearly 300 resource programs, conferences, books and manuals

6. 1991 Churchwide Evangelism Strategy • ELCA Decade of Evangelism • Overwhelming Support • Millions of dollars invested • Nearly 300 resource programs, conferences, books and manuals • Membership and attendance dropped by over 100,000

7. Effects of Evangelism Programs

8. Effects of Evangelism Programs • Congregations that used evangelism programs initially showed some growth

9. Effects of Evangelism Programs • Congregations that used evangelism programs initially showed some growth • When programs ended, increases leveled off and decline generally happened

10. Effects of Evangelism Programs • Congregations that used evangelism programs initially showed some growth • When programs ended, increases leveled off and decline generally happened • After 5 years, congregations using an evangelism program were smaller than when they started and smaller than those that did nothing!

11. Effects of Evangelism Programs • Congregations that used evangelism programs initially showed some growth • When programs ended, increases leveled off and decline generally happened • After 5 years, congregations using an evangelism program were smaller than when they started and smaller than those that did nothing! • Programs do not grow the church!

12. Effects of Evangelism Grants • In 1994 the ELCA awarded 160 outreach grants to existing ministries ($2.3 million)

13. Effects of Evangelism Grants • In 1994 the ELCA awarded 160 outreach grants to existing ministries ($2.3 million) • After 5 years, 10% of them closed

14. Effects of Evangelism Grants • In 1994 the ELCA awarded 160 outreach grants to existing ministries ($2.3 million) • After 5 years, 10% of them closed • After 5 years, worship attendance declined by 1950 worshippers per week

15. Effects of Evangelism Grants • In 1994 the ELCA awarded 160 outreach grants to existing ministries ($2.3 million) • After 5 years, 10% of them closed • After 5 years, worship attendance declined by 1950 worshippers per week • Money does not grow the church!

16. The Good News Among the Bad • In studying this, we learned a lot!

17. The Good News Among the Bad • In studying this, we learned a lot! • Emphasizing programs and money is a mistake

18. The Good News Among the Bad • In studying this, we learned a lot! • Emphasizing programs and money is a mistake • Not all congregations shrunk

19. The Good News Among the Bad • In studying this, we learned a lot! • Emphasizing programs and money is a mistake • Not all congregations shrunk • Healthy, growing congregations did reveal some common traits

20. What We Learned • Growing and shrinking congregations DO the same things (there are no “magic bullets” or best practices)

21. What We Learned • Growing and shrinking congregations DO the same things (there are no “magic bullets” or best practices) • However, growing congregations have a clear sense that God is active and using them and shrinking congregations lack this same sense

22. More Specifically Growing ELCA Congregations Have:

23. More Specifically Growing ELCA Congregations Have: • Purpose: A contextual sense of what God wants them to do discerned through reading scripture, prayer and discussion

24. More Specifically Growing ELCA Congregations Have: • Purpose: A contextual sense of what God wants them to do discerned through reading scripture, prayer and discussion • Willingness to Change: Congregations are willing to make the changes necessary to accomplish the purpose

25. More Specifically Growing ELCA Congregations Have: • Purpose: A contextual sense of what God wants them to do discerned through reading scripture, prayer and discussion • Willingness to Change: Congregations are willing to make the changes necessary to accomplish the purpose • Leadership: Laity and clergy work together to accomplish the purpose

26. The Transformational Ministry Process • Purpose: • Discerning God’s Will

27. The Transformational Ministry Process • Purpose: • Discerning God’s Will • Spiritual Change Precedes Mechanical Change

28. The Transformational Ministry Process • Purpose: • Discerning God’s Will • Spiritual Change Precedes Mechanical Change • Use Principles and Facilitate Process Rather than Techniques or Models

29. The Transformational Ministry Process • Purpose: • Discerning God’s Will • Spiritual Change Precedes Mechanical Change • Use Principles and Facilitate Process Rather than Techniques or Models • Bathe the Process in Worship, Bible Study and Prayer

30. The Transformational Ministry Process • Willingness to Change:

31. The Transformational Ministry Process • Willingness to Change: • We Often Don’t Like Change

32. The Transformational Ministry Process • Willingness to Change: • We Often Don’t Like Change • Holy Spirit Driven Change

33. The Transformational Ministry Process • Willingness to Change: • We Often Don’t Like Change • Holy Spirit Driven Change • Pain Can Cause Us To Change

34. The Transformational Ministry Process • Willingness to Change: • We Often Don’t Like Change • Holy Spirit Driven Change • Pain Can Cause Us To Change • The Declining Church is Painful

35. ELCA 2008 Trend Report • From 2002 to 2008 • Number of Congregations -3% • Baptized Membership -8% • Worship Attendance -13% • Child Baptisms -16% • Adult Baptisms -21%

36. ELCA 2008 Trend Report • From 2002 to 2008 • Number of Congregations -3% • Baptized Membership -8% • Worship Attendance -13% • Child Baptisms -16% • Adult Baptisms -21% • Lost 500,000 members in last 15 years • Mainline Churches have dropped 25% since 1958

37. The Transformational Ministry Process • Willingness to Change: • We Often Don’t Like Change • Holy Spirit Driven Change • Pain Can Cause Us To Change • The Declining Church is Painful • Need An Action Plan to Change • (Use some of the teaching resources I have used for other congregations)

38. Dissatisfaction + Vision + • Concrete Action= • TRANSFORMATION

39. The Transformational Ministry Process • Willingness to Change: • We Often Don’t Like Change • Holy Spirit Driven Change • Pain Can Cause Us To Change • The Declining Church is Painful • Need An Action Plan to Change • Asset Based Change • (Use some of the teaching resources I have used for other congregations)

40. The Transformational Ministry Process • Leadership:

41. The Transformational Ministry Process • Leadership: • The Team Approach

42. The Transformational Ministry Process • Leadership: • The Team Approach • Equipping Leaders

43. The Transformational Ministry Process • Leadership: • The Team Approach • Equipping Leaders • Modeling Christian Community

44. The Transformational Ministry Process • Leadership: • The Team Approach • Equipping Leaders • Modeling Christian Community • Coaching

46. The Purpose of the Church • Please take a few moments and jot on a piece of paper what comes to mind when you think of “the purpose of the church.”

49. Called by God