Rebooting the Church for the 21st Century

The blog title comes from the Synod of Lakes and Prairies leadership training event that took place this past weekend at Camp Clearwater, Deerwood, Minnesota.  The keynote speaker for this event was Dr. Leonard Sweet who has written many books on social, cultural and congregational change issues.   His latest book is titled, The Gospel According to Starbucks (2007).

Dr. Sweet's presentations were very informative and challenging.  I would like to share with you a few of his comments for reflection about your own congregational transformation/renewal process.

1)  Dr. Sweet said that we need to move away from being ABC churches to MRI churches.  ABC churches focus on attendance, building and cash.   MRI churches focus on being missional, relational and incarnational.  MRI churches have a purpose for being and not just trying to survive.  "A missional church is out there."  MRI churches are more participatory and connective rather than being spectators and heavily individualistic.  MRI churches get their members to grow deeper into and with the culture rather than to avoid or deny the cultural changes taking place.  "When God is incarnated within a culture, it should become indigenous.  Gospel should not transform culture but be incarnated within one's culture."

2) Dr. Sweet said that we should use image statements rather than mission statements. It's sort of like the Nike swoosh image which tells people - Just do it.  Dr. Sweet says that the church should move from being word driven to image rich. "Mission statements are used to attract, not to send out."  We should be inviting people to come to Christ, not to the church.  "We need to tell people to get off your butts and your  buts and go out and do mission in the world."

3) Finally, as I thought about how some churches wrestle with and resist being transformed by God to do God's mission, the following thoughts from Dr. Sweet really hit home for me - "We need to treat the bible as a subject rather than an object."  He said that pastors should not be trying to figure out how to make the bible come alive for their people, but rather realize that the scripture is already alive with God's word and what we need to do is to submit ourselves to scripture and to God so that we can become alive. This made me wonder, what would happen to the churches that resist God's transforming spirit; if they really approached God's Word this way in their personal and congregational discernment processes. No doubt these churches would be "rebooted" to carry out God's unique call on their lives both individually and collectively. 

Comments

[Dennis Sanders]

Hello. I am the Communications Specialist for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, and I'd like to use this post for our newsletter. Could I use it as well as a picture of Mr. Tom?

You can email me at communications@ptcaweb.org or call me at 612-871-7281. Thanks.

Dennis Sanders

[Drew Ludwig]

I like Sweet's thoughts, and the way that you have summarized them here. One question: why is a "mission statement" necessary attractional? I can think of plenty of mission statements that send.

Do you have any other examples of "image statements," especially in a church context?

[Dan Bennett]

I assume from your statements that you are now using your blog and position as an associate to be political and show us your political leanings. Your comments do nothing but further divide an already divided country not to mention our church. Our church needs to get on with spreading the gospel and the works of the church will follow more freely.

[Phil Tom]

Dear Dan,
Thank you for your response. I don't think I was taking a political position. I was simply supporting the fact that the Presbyterian Church has been involved with community organizing for over 50 years creating positive change and improvement for the lives of many families and communities in rural, urban and suburban communities. I was in Detroit this past weekend working with the Detroit Presbytery on Domestic Violence and the Metropolitan Detroit Coalition of African American Clergywomen Against Domestic Violence. These faithful men and women of the Church are working hard to organize their churches and communities to battle the issue of domestic violence in their communities and their churches. Community organizing is tough and hard work. So when any person, regardless of political affiliation, puts downs this particular form of ministry, I think it is important for us to correct that mis-perception.

Community organizing is a ministry tool that helps transform not only our communities but also our congregations.

I be glad to share with you stories about how Presbyterian Churches across the country are faithfully serving their communities, sharing the Good News through the ministry of community organizing.