Growing churches have clarity about mission
Got growth?
That’s a question that came up in this column earlier this year after the Faith Community Today (FACT) study was released. That study looked at more than 14,000 churches, synagogues, temples and mosques in the United States. The Episcopal Church was a participant in that study and Kirk Hadaway, director of research for the Episcopal Church has sifted through the data to get a picture of growth and decline in Episcopal parishes and missions.
Some of the data for the Episcopal Church looks very much like the study as a whole. For instance, a sense of mission and purpose is a key factor for churches that are growing. Those churches have their bearings – a sense of direction that makes them vital communities that others want to join.
The task of clarifying the mission and purpose of a congregation is an important one that good leaders work with all the time. Some churches do this at vestry retreats, through ongoing work with consultants, or as they move through a transition between priests. Churches that adopt something called “the mutual ministry cycle” as part of their structure have an opportunity to revisit and evaluate their sense of mission regularly, making new goals and moving ahead with them. Their work informs their priorities, directs ministries and clarifies budgeting but it also builds community.
A vital parish where I once served had a very clear priority to reach out to homeless and low-income people in the city where we were located. This might have even been written down in a mission statement, although I don’t remember seeing it. What I did see was a group of people who pulled together as they reached out into their city. Their enthusiasm and their good work attracted others who wanted to join them in their ministry; They spent their money in a way that reflected their priorities, giving generously to food banks, soup kitchens and various kinds of direct aid to people who needed it. All of this was reinforced in the worship life of that church, in its formation programs, and the budget process. There was little doubt about what was important for this community of Episcopalians and there was energy in that congregation.
This was not a “one-issue church.” Their life together included attention to pastoral care, excellent preaching, opportunities to have fun together, significant programs for children and youth and a variety of groups and guilds. It was a roomy place with a good diversity of people.
What set it apart was its clarity – a sense of purpose and focus that guided the life of the parish.
What is the sense of direction or mission in your congregation? How do you identify it? How do you strategize to move forward in you mission in your community? These are questions that you might want to discuss at a vestry/ bishop’s committee meeting or retreat.
In the next column we’ll look at what this study identified as qualities of leadership in vital congregations. If you would like to see the entire report, it can be downloaded without charge by visiting www.episcopalchurch.org/research.htm.
Canon Philip an be reached via email at kristip@spokanediocese.org.
