A Model for Mission-Centered Ministry: The Fractal Model Part 2

Stepping into the future-

Our Next Step- is not about a model, its about living into our calling.
Over the past five weeks we've covered a lot of ground. Beginning with an examination of the history and culture of Good Shepherd- we drew on some common threads that have served us well throughout our history. We've examined our corporate calling as expressed in Mission2018 and explored the importance of this document, its scriptural foundation and its ultimate goal of "transforming the world through the love of Jesus Christ." We've also examined our Parish Profile- a document that was derived through a thoughtful process and that spells out who we feel we are and who we hope to become. Most importantly, this document expresses our desire to "do business differently" which is necessitated not only by our growing size- but also our desire to live into the possibilities we have envisioned. All of this brings us to today's discussion. Again, it's not about the model, it's about living into our calling. The fractal model will allow us to do just that.

The Fractal Model

It must be noted that the best way to get a handle on what this model means to ministry at Good Shepherd, is to actually sit down and work through an example. At each Mission Highlight event ( May 14th- Outreach, May 21st- Community Imperative and May 28th- Spiritual Growth Imperative) we go through a variety of different activities that help illustrate how this model can be applied. I would encourage you to attend one of these evening events.

Also, as we said last week, our time here is just the beginning of our learning together and as this is an organic process, we will learn a great deal as we apply the model.

To Review
The word "fractal" was coined by mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot as a new branch of geometry that aimed to describe the "self similarity" of objects. Consider a chunk of broccoli. From a distance the broccoli cluster has a given shape. As you "zoom in" you notice that from a floret down to the individual pieces that make up the floret- the shape is similar. This concept is called "self-similarity", small parts are similar to the overall structure.

This observation- which is seen everywhere in nature- is what we typically think of as a hierarchical structure. One might map out a corporation with sub-groups that have specific functions whose product contributes to the overall whole. It is just so with fractals. For example-the leaves of an oak tree create energy for the entire organism to utilize. The principle difference between a corporation's hierarchical structure and the fractal structure is that we are in an organization- a church- whose participants are here because they have said "Yes" to God's invitation to be in fellowship with our community. Likewise, we as people of Christ have been charged with "The Great Commission". For us it's not just about the product- the ministry- for us as Christians,

...it's about making disciples that make disciples.

Simply put, as we become more oriented towards discipleship in Jesus, we feel compelled to be involved in ministry and mission. In a volunteer organization such as ours- where people are here by choice, it becomes imperative to provide a scaffolding to support an individual's call to ministry and to assure that it is successful and sustainable.

Fractals make Fractals

Disciples make Disciples

Recall too our discussion of the transition from a "Priest-Centric" to a "Mission-Centric" congregation. Instead of the clergy identifying the needs and then funneling the resources to meet those needs (priest-centered), the mission becomes the center of the organization. We as laity are then compelled not only to identify the needs and then see that those needs are met- but the role of the clergy becomes one of empowering us to do so. Conceptually- we understand this- but when we examine the structure of our organization, we often rely on our rector to be the impetus for us to act. At Good Shepherd we often use the "arm around the shoulder" illustration as a picture of being priest-centered. In a Mission-Centered structure, the impetus for us to act is our connection and compulsion to live into our corporate calling, Mission2018.

To reiterate- Our story- our culture, our calling- is Mission2018. This document is more than just nice words on a page- it is the product of 15 years of corporate discernment; Good Shepherd's attempt to wrestle with and articulate what God is calling us to live into. It is our story. It is our Mission....and our desire to live into our calling, our vision to be people who transform the world through the love of Jesus Christ, and most assuredly live into the Great Commission to make disciples that make disciples, is the reason for us to examine "doing business differently". This model will allow us to do that.

Just what does the model look like at Good Shepherd?
Consider an oak tree as the picture of a fractal. The overall structure has a given shape. As you follow a limb, branches spring from the limb in the same overall shape as the oak tree in it's entirety. This pattern continues as you travel from the limb, to a branch, to a stem, to a leaf cluster, and even down to the veins of a leaf. Trees are lovely illustrations of fractals.

Considering then this image of an oak tree, and Mission2018-
Trunk= Scripture, Mission Vision
Limbs= Mission Imperatives
Branches= Aspects of Mission
Stems= Focus
Leaves= Work Groups
Rooted In= Culture, Tradition, Values, Faith, and Prayer

Organizing Our Ministries

Focusing on the illustration of a limb being analogous to a Mission Imperative, Good Shepherd would have seven limbs on it's tree: Leadership, Spiritual Growth, Community, Resource Growth, Diversity, Evangelism, and Outreach. To help us get a picture of what our "tree" looks like, the Vestry completed a mapping activity where we examined each ministry at Good Shepherd and then categorized them based on the Mission Imperative (MI) they best illustrated. For example, our participation in Winter Hospitality Overflow (W.H.O.), an overflow shelter program for homeless folks in Clark County, would best fit under Outreach. (Check out the "Spotlight on Ministry" section on the right hand side of this blog for additional information about WHO). Sorting ministries in this way was easier to do for some than others. With some ministries, we discussed the possibilities that they might live into how we might employ them as tools to further our mission. For example- we placed our Website Ministry under the Evangelism Imperative. The question then becomes, how does being placed in a given imperative inform the way you do your ministry?

Regardless of where ministries find themselves on the "tree", in order to be Mission-Centered, we must look at living into each of the imperatives in the context of whatever ministry we are engaged in. Therefore, although folks helping with the Winter Hospitality Overflow ministry are clearly doing Outreach, they might also ask themselves how they can live into the Community Imperative within the context of addressing the issue of homelessness. Being Mission-Centered means we're living into all seven imperatives while doing ministry. This is a choice, a posture, a stance of being deliberate while doing ministry and connecting to our corporate calling.

Elements of a Fractal
These elements are a combination of the culture we have at Good Shepherd as well as what we've learned about "best practices" for ministry in a church our size. Although these Elements are listed below, I cannot stress enough the importance of "working it through" in the context of your own ministry. This is where attending a Thursday Mission Highlight will be helpful. In a nutshell- a fractal-

1. Utilizes small group practices such as Prayer and acknowledging the presence of Christ in our lives. "Where have we seen Christ since we last met", is a common question as part of an opening routine for groups.
2. Work group- there is a task to be done
3. Connects to Mission2018 and our Vision Statement-___________so that we might transform the world through the love of Jesus Christ.
4. One leader, four members (ideally). Keeps the task manageable and the work shared.
   
5. Participation in two fractals only-so that others might have an opportunity to serve and to avoid burnout. Illustrates discipleship.
   
6. No distinction between paid and non-paid members
7. Decisions are made through the fractal structure not around it

Forming a Fractal

1. The following is a simplified method of developing a fractal
2. Designate a leader and define a written purpose for the fractal
3. Divide the task into (four) responsibilities
4. For each responsibility, decide what skills and capacities are needed. Leadership may be a skill needed, or the ability to delegate.
5. Until there is adequate participation (5 folks) the fractal does not move forward. This promotes sustainability and share leadership
6. Decide who should be responsible for each of these responsibilities.

Our Scriptural Foundation
As a community of faith, the center of our tree- the core if you will, is our calling (Mission2018), Scripture and our Vision. All of this is to live into the fact that- as Fr. Tom often says..

"Jesus Christ is at the center of it all."

This flows through every branch. The Vestry has been in the process of examining the scriptural foundation of Mission2018. We have attempted to organize ourselves around issues we are called to in the Gospel. For example in the Gospel of Matthew, Christ calls us to share our abundance-

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me......Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." Matthew 25:31-40

As we look at the ministries we engage in at Good Shepherd, many address the issue of hunger, welcoming, clothing, etc. These then become natural fractals- ministries grouping around a shared calling. By examining what Scripture says in relation to each of these Imperatives we have added another level of depth and relevance to support and connect our ministry. It aids us in deliberately connecting to Mission.

An On-going Dialogue
As I said last week, we don't have all the answers. This is an organic process- one that will be refined in the years to come. We have the benefit of having two ministries, Pastoral Care and Hospitality that have already worked with the model, have learned a lot, and will continue to learn how this might affect their ministry. We also have an opportunity to examine how this model might work for us when we engage in Outreach activities- as there is currently no Outreach Committee. By working with ministries that have already received training as well as with a committee on the ground floor as it were, to determine how this model might benefit their ministries, we hope to start small, learn a lot, and refine the process.

It's not about the model-
it's about living into our calling.

Next Week

Join us next week for our final installment in this series as the Vestry has a Question and Answers session during the Adult Education time. 10:15-11:00. We will continue to provide opportunity to dialogue about the challenges and possibilities of living into God's calling.

Change is tough, tough work. But we know that God will be with us and through grace, prayer, and faith- God will provide everything we need. We are reminded in the gospel of Luke- "Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need" (Luke 12:31). Please continue to join us in conversation. Together, we'll continue to work into our Vision Statement to "transform the world through the love of Jesus Christ."

A Model for Mission-Centered Ministry- The Fractal Model Part 1

Just what is our "Next Step"?

Our Next Step- is not about a model, its about living into our calling. It would serve us well to take time to tie together the last three weeks with our current state of affairs before we launch into our hopes for the future. Over the past three weeks we examined the history of mission at Good Shepherd. What we have discovered are common threads that have held true since the inception of this church family. These common threads still remain and will serve us well in the years ahead.

1. We have been a community of deep faith, prayer, and mission from the very beginning.
   
2. We have a "pioneer spirit" that has served us well when we've faced the unknown.
3. We have been willing to step into an uncertain future- knowing that God will provide abundantly.

We've also lived in interesting times-

1. The Episcopal Church has had its share of challenges in recent years.
2. Our society at large is at what Phyllis Tickle has termed a "hinge point" where there appears to be a confluence of events occurring that results in more dramatic change- not only in the church, but in our larger society as well.

Good Shepherd has also had its share of adventure-

1. We have undergone a series of visioning processes that have ultimately resulted in Mission2018, our corporate "calling" which was derived through a process of congregational discernment.
2. We have said "good bye" to Father Bob and Christy as well as our interim priest, Father Jim.
   
3. We engaged in a process of dialogue, discovery and goal setting to craft our Parish Profile in which we not only described our goals over the next 5-10 years, but more importantly- who we are today and who we hope to become.
4. We have welcomed Father Tom and his family to join us on our journey of faith- and just this weekend we celebrate a year together.

Let us pause and acknowledge the landmark events our parish has moved through in recent years. Change, change, change......and transformation. If you consider our vision statement "A world transformed by the love of Jesus Christ", transformation is our middle name! So- here's the question- "If we've done all of this "transitioning", why can't we just hang back and let the dust settle?" The answer lies within our past, our present, and God's call to our future.

Our Past

Our past- which is discussed in the last three blog entries- includes an inclination to move into mission. Whether it's becoming a diocesan mission or building a new sanctuary with our own hands- we have not shied away from going to the next level in the name of God's call to our community.

Our Present

As we were reminded in the second session of this series, parishes find themselves on a continuum based on size of active participants. Parishes are typically categorized under the following descriptors: family, pastoral, program (resource), and corporate. A family-sized parish has roughly 25 active members, a corporate church has 250-300. Not surprisingly, a rector of a family-sized parish "does business" differently than the rector of a corporate-sized parish. In the same way the owner of the Mom and Pop corner grocery store does business differently from the CEO of a major grocery chain, different models of ministry are utilized in order for the parish to grow and have effective ministry based on the needs and resources of the parish.

The truth is, our current needs as a faith community and the resources and the way in which we employ those resources have out-paced the model for ministry we are currently using. Our current model places the rector at the center of our "organization" and in doing so is expected to identify the needs and see that the resources get funneled to meet those needs. This is what is meant by a "priest-centric" model of ministry.

Please don't misunderstand these last statements. Jesus Christ is clearly at the center of our community. That is clear- and important to remember and say over and over again- in the midst of all of this organizational "stuff". However, as we have learned both in the process of developing Mission2018 and in the process of drafting our Parish Profile- we as a community of faith are desirous of doing more- extending our reach and influence far beyond our four walls and to really live into our mission as expressed in Mission2018. In this way- we place Mission2018 at the center of our organization and take on the responsibility of seeing that we are identifying the needs and employing the resources to meet those needs- both within our own faith community and beyond. This is being Mission-centered.

So what is our "next step"? Our next step is firstly recognizing that we are at a time when we need to "do business" differently if we are to live into what we have articulated in the Parish Profile and more importantly- continue to be a place of welcome and relevance to the changing face of our society. Recall the "hinge point" discussed earlier- "change" is in the air. Moreover, we are at such a size that one- or even more than one- clergy cannot solely support the organization. More than that though, we have said that we are called to do more. Thus, beginning in 2005 the conversation regarding another model for ministry that did not involve a clergy person at the center, began to take center stage for the leadership of the church.

Here are a few key highlights in relation to this discussion-
2005- The Vestry attends a conference where one of the main discussions is the transition from a Modern to a Post-Modern age in society and the implications for ministry in this transition. In the same way that Good Shepherd has been purposeful about forecasting 15 years into the future, the Vestry begins to consider the age in which we're living, Bob's upcoming retirement and the various transitions we are going to have to face. We pulled from various resources including a consultant and programs from prominent gurus in the field such as Reggie McNeal, regarding managing change and transition.

As a relevant side note- The speaker at the Seattle conference was from All Saints Beverly Hills, California, a parish of roughly 2,000 parishioners. At this time we were also looking at ways to implement Mission2018. Ministries were asked to author actions plans that purposely connected their ministry with our corporate calling. This was largely ineffective and felt like "work", and thus did not have the impact we hoped.

2007- Christy Close-Erskine, our associate and I- attended "The Great Church Conference" in Beverly Hills; home of the same speaker we heard two years earlier in Seattle. It was there that we learned of a different model of ministry they were using called "The Fractal Model". This had allowed their parish to grow all the while maintaining their culture and connection as a community. More importantly- they had been able to make a large impact with dynamic ministry. Christy was engaged in a process of discernment at the time relating to her own departure from Good Shepherd. What we learned there would prove to be useful.

2007-2008 Christy employs key points from "fractal model' in the areas of Pastoral Care and Hospitality at Good Shepherd. This had its successes....and challenges as well. One thing is certain, we learned a lot. The Parish Profile was also being drafted at this time. It was clear as we gathered information that we were in need of a model change in order to live into our calling. Our intent to do so- an intent which had been forming for a number of years now, was then made clear in drafting the Profile. This is an important piece to underscore- in seeking our new rector we acknowledge the necessity to "do business" differently. This expectation then was not only in terms of our new rector's role, but also our role as laity.

Fr. Jim, our interim had also joined us at this time. The Vestry, under his leadership, was organized into "sub committees". This was new for Good Shepherd. As a system, it involved the Vestry meeting only once per month. While this model has been used in other parishes, for our culture- the Vestry had noted a 'disconnect'. Again, we learned a lot.

May, 2008- We welcome Father Tom, Saran and the boys. It's been an exciting year and a challenging one as well.

We, in most ways, continue to be a "priest-centered" congregation. And yet, as we've discussed, this is not sustainable. So here we are, again faced with realization that we need to "do business" differently.

Our Future

I posed a question earlier in this blog- "If we've done all of this "transitioning", why can't we just hang back and let the dust settle?" The answer, I had stated, lies within our past, our present, and God's call to our future. God's call to our future lies within examining our foundation, our culture, our DNA, and our corporate call- Mission2018. The intent of the first three sessions was to draw on those common threads that have always been part of Good Shepherd- to recognize that we stand firmly on a solid foundation. And it is these threads and foundation- and most assuredly God's guidance- that will allow us to learn to do "business differently".

Part of the discernment process has been a weaving-in of our Mission to some of the principles of the Fractal Model. In this way, it is truly ours- not a "program". In truth- it's not all that revolutionary. This model, describes what we see in nature all the time- it describes how we naturally tend to organize ourselves. And the best part is- we are already using it without even knowing it!

The Fractal Model

Before I give a brief description of the model- it must be said that if I asked you to describe how your company works in two hours or less such that another might be able to articulate how your organization functions, you may be hard pressed to do so. The same is true for our discussion today and next week as well. Our time here is just the beginning of our learning together. That being said, the goal of today's session is to provide a general sketch of a "fractal". Next week we will look more closely at how this would relate to Good Shepherd. I would ask then, that we work to not get bogged down in the details, but instead try to absorb the concept and how it will help us live into our Mission.

A Math Lesson-

The word "fractal" was coined by mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot as a new branch of geometry that aimed to describe the "self similarity" of objects. Consider a chunk of broccoli. From a distance the broccoli cluster has a given shape. As you "zoom in" you notice that from a floret down to the individual pieces that make up the floret- the shape is similar. This concept is called "self-similarity", small parts are similar to the overall structure. Take a look at your side-dish the next time you eat!

This observation- which is seen everywhere in nature- is what we typically think of as a hierarchical structure. One might map out a corporation with sub-groups that have specific functions whose product contributes to the overall whole. It is just so with fractals. For example-the leaves of an oak tree create energy for the entire organism to utilize. The principle difference between a corporation's hierarchical structure and the fractal structure is that we are in an organization- a church- whose participants are here because they have said "Yes" to God's invitation to be in fellowship with our community. Likewise, we as people of Christ have been charged with "The Great Commission". For us it's not just about the product- the ministry- for us as Christians, it's about making disciples that make disciples. So why do we need to look at a model whose aim is to produce disciples, employs dynamic and effective ministry where everyone- you, me, our brother and sister in Christ who has yet to come through our doors, and even those who may never come to our church- everyone, can have a place and system that helps us to live into our calling?

Here's a Key Point
Simply put, as we become more oriented towards discipleship in Jesus, we feel compelled to be involved in ministry and mission. In a volunteer organization such as ours- where people are here by choice, it becomes imperative to provide a scaffolding to support an individual's call to ministry and to assure that it is successful and sustainable.

A recent study profiling the successful application of the fractal model in a non-profit, volunteer organization stated that there were two elements that helped the model succeed. Firstly- the use of systematic logic when communicating. This is always a challenge for us as we meet once a week- or at least a third of us meet once a week depending on what service you go to. The second element which helped this model succeed, was "telling their story".

Well, just what is our story? For our purposes here, our story- our culture, our calling- is Mission2018. This document is more than just nice words on a page- it is the product of 15 years of corporate discernment; Good Shepherd's attempt to wrestle with and articulate what God is calling us to live into. It is our story. It is our Mission....and our desire to live into our calling is the reason for us to examine "doing business differently". This model will allow us to do that.

Questions?

Let it be said that we don't have all the answers. This is an organic process- one that will be refined in the years to come. We have the benefit of having two ministries, Pastoral Care and Hospitality that have already worked with the model, have learned a lot, and will continue to learn how this might effect their ministry. We also have an opportunity to examine how this model might work for us when we engage in Outreach activities- as there is currently no Outreach Committee. By working with ministries that have already received training as well as with a committee on the ground floor as it were, to determine how this model might benefit their ministries, we hope to start small, learn a lot, and refine the process.

It's not about the model-
it's about living into our calling.

Next Week

Join us next week as we examine how the principle of self-similarity as described in the fractal model and Mission2018, merge together to help us map out a way to move forward. Change is tough, tough work. But we know that God will be with us and through grace, prayer, and faith- God will provide everything we need. We are reminded in the gospel of Luke- "Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need" (Luke 12:31). Please continue to join us in conversation. Together, we'll continue to work into our Vision Statement to "transform the world through the love of Jesus Christ."

All Parish Family Meeting

Re-Connecting with Mission2018

Today we gathered for a time of fun and fellowship as we re-connected with Mission2018, our corporate calling. As we've explored in the past two weeks, Mission2018 is the product of at least fifteen years of Good Shepherd wrestling with language that articulates God's call to our community. It is a remarkable document- and it's filled with possibilities.

Today's meeting was an opportunity to "dust off" our calling as expressed in Mission2018. We participated in a "speed-dating" activity of sorts where folks were asked to examine the seven Mission Imperatives and then choose two that interested them the most.

As the not-so-subtle theme to "The Magnificent Seven" played in the background, folks traveled to meet Vestry members that were posted in various places around the Parish Hall and Sanctuary. Each Vestry member facilitated conversation asking three questions:

1. What does this Mission Imperative mean to you personally?
2. Consider ministry here at Good Shepherd: Where are we living into this Mission Imperative?
3. What are the possibilities for ministry in our community as we examine this Mission Imperative?

We then asked ourselves where the Spirit was leading us. Each member of the congregation was given a card and asked to rank their top three Mission Imperatives. As we sang "Lead Us Lord", these cards were laid upon the altar- a re-commitment to Mission2018, it's Core Values and it's Mission Imperatives.

Thank you to all who attended this memorable event!

Please join us as we continue the conversation and discover together what God has in store for our community. See you next Sunday!

Mission2018 and Our Parish Profile

The Story Continues-

In the last session we took a look at the pioneer spirit that has infused the community of Good Shepherd since its inception in 1967. Within moments of major discernment- be it becoming a diocesan mission, building a new sanctuary and parish hall, or most recently calling Fr. Tom to join us on our journey of faith, the people of Good Shepherd have not been afraid to "take the next step".

Phrases such as "a philosophy of abundance" have challenged us step out in faith, even if we didn't exactly know what the result would be. As the apostle Peter reminds us, "His divine power has given us everything we need..." (2 Peter 1:3). Looking back at the history of Good Shepherd yields proof of God's abundant blessings for our community. The product of all of this has been a parish that has grown from 25 folks, to over 700 engaged persons that are eager to do more for Christ. Mission2018, at it's heart- is our corporate calling- and it will provide the road-map for the years ahead.

A Prelude to Transition

A Bit of History- Beginning in 1996, Good Shepherd underwent its first strategic planning process entitled Vision2001. In addition to guiding the parish through a rapid time of growth and establishing of 32 different ministries, the parish and its leadership also learned a great deal about the "process" of corporate discernment and transition. Among the key points garnered was that in order for a church to be "relevant" and prepared to minister to the needs of today's society, we must be willing to be strategic in our visioning process- looking out 15 years ahead. We had also learned that there was a societal shift from modern to post-modern thinking and perspective. This helped to inform our discussions and desire to be relevant to the "world outside of our four walls". The leadership, both the Council of Elders (Vestry) and other leaders in the church, engaged in programming designed to hone our leadership skills, become versed in the societal change occurring, and moreover- examine that change in the context of our upcoming transitions relating to the departures of Fr. Bob and Christy and in preparation for our next stage of growth and development.

We also examined the history and landmark changes that had occurred at Good Shepherd as well as how those transitions were made effectively. In truth, Fr. Bob was able to adjust his leadership style several times over the course of the past 30 years in order to manage the growth of the parish. While our laity had always been deeply involved in carrying out the work of the church, our participation was often initiated by an invitation from our rector. This system illustrated a priest-centered model of ministry. As the term suggests, our rector was at the center of our system; understanding its functions and needs, directing and adjusting resources in order for us to grow. Good Shepherd however, had grown to such a size where remaining priest-centered would not have enabled us to fully realize our mission. It was then that Mission2018 began to take center stage in our conversation.

Just as our former rector had often been the "arm-around-the-shoulder" that got us involved in ministry, Mission2018- our corporate calling- would now be seen as reaching out to this body of faith and would serve as the impetus for us to engage in ministry here at Good Shepherd. Our mission, Mission2018, was now to be the center of our system. And so we've begun quite possibly the biggest transition we've yet to undergo- our transition from priest centered to Mission-centered ministry.

It should be noted too that in further anticipation of seeking our next rector, Good Shepherd transitioned from mission to parish status. There was significant discussion however, regarding our desire to maintain the culture of mission which had been at the heart of our founding mothers' and fathers' desire for our community. By this time, Mission2018 was being discussed at a ministry level and had served as the impetus for programming and discussion.

Granted, all of this is a lot to take in- which is why leadership at Good Shepherd has been engaged in conversation and action around these issues for more than a decade prior to Fr. Bob's retirement in 2006.

Our Parish Profile

In preparation for our next rector, Good Shepherd began to engage in conversation via round-table discussions and surveys where we discussed not only our dreams for Good Shepherd, but also our current views about or faith community. These thoughts and aspirations were brought together in the form of our Parish Profile. (Please take a look if you haven't already done so).

Interestingly, much of our discussion centered around our transition from a priest-centered to a mission-centered church. In doing so, many of our goals and aspirations are expressions of our own behavior and calling- our desires of obtaining a shared-leadership model in order for our church to fully realize Mission2018. This shift, though at times seemingly subtle, is also dynamic in its implication for our future. The result of this process was the realization that we, as a faith community, recognized the need to "do business" differently in order for us to take the next step towards growth and development. This too, is where we relied on our philosophy of abundance vs. scarcity- knowing that, as has so often happened here in the past, if we were truly following God's will, God will surely provide us with everything we need.

The below section outlines our Parish Profile (July 2007) goals for ourselves as well as the "details of the call" for Fr. Tom. Keeping in mind our culture shift from priest-centric to mission-centric, take a look at how we see ourselves and how we see our rector coming along side of us as we endeavor to meet our goals.

Summary of 2007 Parish Profile Goals for Good Shepherd

Over the next five years, we as a community see ourselves:

1. Responsive to community outreach with inspiring worship services
2. Finding opportunities to experience passionate spiritual growth as a parish and individually
3. Continuing to be a loving community- placing a high value on inclusive youth programs
4. Living into Mission2018
5. Developing our diversity initiative
6. Expanding facilities and parking, adult education, community engagement, and small group ministry

In order to realize these goals, we articulated "details of the call" for our new rector. These details were aimed at framing-up how our next rector would partner alongside of us to assist us in realizing each of our above goals. Again, being mindful of the shift from a priest-centered to mission-centered model of ministry, each detail was then further articulated in the context of our parish's strengths and challenges. (See our Parish Profile for a complete explanation).

We asked that our new rector-

1. Will be an inspiring, loving, faithful leader and teacher to join us on our journey of faith. We see a rector who is scripture-inspired and by sermons and worship serves to strengthen us in our daily life.
2. Will guide us in the transition from a priest-centric parish to a mission-centered/resource church in which laity are fully empowered in their ministry.
3. Will equip us for mission as stated in Mission2018 by guiding the expansion of our facilities.
4. Will broaden and strengthen our financial resources and implement processes to sustain and mange them.
5. Will assist us in growing our parish population within the context of a diverse, inclusive, community while strengthening connections among parish members.
6. Will foster opportunities for spiritual growth, education, and fellowship for all ages, increasing our sense of connection and belonging.
7. Will support a continued emphasis on outreach and foster connections with the greater community so that we might further live into the Outreach and Evangelism Mission Imperatives.

Our Next Steps
So, how do we live into our daring aspirations, especially in this time of transition? The same way Good Shepherd has always done....by ascribing to a philosophy of abundance, being strategic, transparent, and deliberate in terms of planning, leadership and communication. Furthermore, we recognize and honor the foundation that was laid- a foundation based on a pioneering spirit of faith and mission. Most importantly, we take the next step by trusting that God will provide. Scripture affirms God's provision over and over. "His divine power has given us everything we need...(2 Peter 1:3). "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need" (Luke 12:31). "And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others" (2 Corinthians 9:8).

As the verse called out last week from Zechariah urges us- "This is what the LORD Almighty says, "You who now hear these words spoken by the prophets who were there when the foundation was laid for the house of the LORD Almighty, let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built."" (Zechariah 8:9).

Our hands are strong...and we are ready.

Join Us Next Week for an All-Parish Family Meeting

We will meet for a fun-filled time of fellowship and connection with our Mission between the services 10:05-11:15. Please be sure to join us for this exciting time together!

Let Us Pray-
"O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light rises up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what you would have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in Your light we may see light, and in Your straight path we may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, p 303).

Reflection Questions-

Feel free to share your responses as comments below or join members of the Vestry in conversation following Adult Ed on Sunday.

1. Reflect on the history of visionary leadership here at Good Shepherd and our current transition from a priest-centered to mission-centered parish? What are the possibilities for us as we make this transition? What are the challenges?
   
2. Review our Parish Profile Goals. As we live into those goals as a community, where do you see yourself engaging and how will you do so?
3. Examine again Mission2018 and the seven Mission Imperatives. Which imperative(s) excite you the most and why?

Mission 2018- "Our Story"

A Beautiful Story-
The Church of the Good Shepherd was founded in 1967 when missionary families from St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Vancouver, accepted the challenge of starting a church in the rural, East Vancouver countryside. A small building was constructed and on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6th, 1968- the first worship service was held with Fr. Bob Rhodes at the pulpit. Even then, with 25 members to it's name, there was a commitment by the founding members to be a welcoming congregation that made special provision for children and their families.

Eight years later, the congregation nearly closed it's doors due to financial difficulties at it's parent congregation. The following year, 1976- Good Shepherd became a diocesan mission with an annual budget of $20,000. The word "mission" took on a whole new meaning for the congregation. Undoubtedly, in addition to being literally a mission- they were people of mission. The culture, the DNA, the very foundation that was laid in building this community of faith- was one of missional living.

Good Shepherd has been quite purposeful about seeking God's will. As a community, we have undergone a number of visioning processes- whereby the entire congregation has engaged in heartfelt discernment to articulate God's will for the parish. As difficult as this is to do on an individual level, it is even more remarkable at a corporate (parish-wide) level.

The first visioning process involved Good Shepherd deciding to establish itself as a congregation. The second process led to becoming a diocesan mission. The third led to the building of the church sanctuary and parish hall. The fourth process led to the calling of a full time Associate Priest. The fifth, entitled Vision2001, led to the establishment of 32 different ministries and guided the congregation during a time of rapid growth. The sixth hallmark happened in 2003 when the community took up the challenge of wrestling with specific language of God's call to Good Shepherd. The resulting document, Mission2018 has been our fifteen year guide post- our attempt to put into words our intention of spirit.

The year-long process of discernment and drafting of Mission2018 was in some ways, the easy part! Living into it- it's vision- it's mission- that's the challenge. Let's take a closer look at our corporate call as described in Mission2018:

Mission2018
Mission Statement-We are people of God, committed to acting in love, seeking and serving Christ in the world, one another and ourselves.

Mission Imperatives- The word "imperative" is not lightly chosen. As the word suggests, each of the seven Mission Imperatives are compulsory to our actions of faith. The Vestry is currently developing Theological Statements for each of these Mission Imperatives- and in doing so- we will be able to more fully express and relate what we have discerned God's call to be- to the teachings found in Scripture. This underpinning is truly the "why we do, what we do".

Spiritual Growth- We will support and honor each person's faith journey by seeking to awaken, deepen and empower our faith in Christ and the faith of others.

Evangelism- We will equip and encourage our congregation to reach out to the unchurched with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Diversity- We will reach out to all, recognizing and celebrating our similarities and differences as we remove barriers to fellowship and build a diverse, inclusive community.

Community- We will foster joy-filled, supportive relationships across all generations.

Leadership- We will develop, sustain and advance excellence in leadership.

Resource Growth- We will prayerfully and creatively develop the human, financial and physical resources necessary to carry out our ministries.

Outreach- We will share our abundance by responding to those in need throughout our community and the world.

All of this is to support our overall Vision- A world transformed by the love of Jesus Christ.

The Mission statement, Vision, and Mission Imperatives are all supported by five Core Values. Any decision we make must be in alignment with our core values of: Responsive to Members, Integrity, Compassion, Leadership, and Responsiveness to Community.

Our Next Step
Our visioning processes have not ended with Mission2018. If anything, change and transition has been the "buzz phrase" around our community for the last number of years. With Fr. Bob's retirement, Christy accepting a call to become a rector of her own parish, Fr. Jim Bethell joining us as the Interim priest- and now with Fr. Tom Warne joining us on our journey of faith as the second rector of Good Shepherd- there has been a whole lot of change going on. But- through it all the people of Good Shepherd have been true to the same pioneering spirit which called those few missionary families to start a congregation in East Vancouver.

Today we have grown to nearly 700 members and have an annual budget of roughly $700,000. We have greater resources to make Christ known- not only to our community but the world as well and as we discovered in our most recent visioning process where we developed our Parish Profile and set goals for ourselves to achieve over the next 10 years- we are eager to do more for Christ.

Our "next step" is living into our corporate calling of Mission2018. It would not even be possible to do so if it were not for the firm foundation we are standing on- a foundation that has been laid brick by brick, stone by stone, deed by deed- by the people of Good Shepherd. Over the past nearly forty years, each stone was laid with mortar comprised of faith and boldness- even in the midst of uncertainty.

Consider this Easter season- a time of resurrection and renewal. The opportunity ahead will be filled with blessings and challenges as well- but much of the pioneering spirit of our founding fathers and mothers still beats in our hearts today.

Over the next six weeks we will be discussing how we might fully live into our corporte calling as articulated in Mission2018. Please join us during Adult Ed- 10:15 on Sundays. If you're not able to-this blog will be posted along with a audio clip of each Adult Ed session.

Zechariah 8:9 captures the sentiments of our time ahead-

"This is what the LORD Almighty says, "You who now hear these words spoken by the prophets who were there when the foundation was laid for the house of the LORD Almighty, let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built.""

While our founding fathers and mothers might shy away from being charactarized as "prophets"- their pioneering spirit and faith have served to infuse Good Shepherd with a boldness of character. It's with that example in mind that we boldly take "Our Next Step".

Reflection Questions-

Feel free to share your responses as comments below or join members of the Vestry in conversation following Adult Ed on Sunday.

1. We've used the word "transition" frequently in recent months. What thoughts and/or feelings does this word elicit for you?
2. Consider our "Mission Time Line" as described in today's session. Where have you been involved? Reflect on the process- what was helpful? Useful? Difficult?
3. Examine the seven Mission Imperatives. Which imperative(s) excite you the most and why?

Recap Session 10: March 22nd, 2009

Welcome!

Thank you for taking time to review the recap of Session 8- Discerning God's Call in your life: Profile of a Discerning Life: The Moment of Mission. If this is your first time viewing the blog- Welcome- we're so glad you're here. Please take note of previous sessions as they lay the foundation for the topics discussed in the recap of Session 10. Note also the updates on certain sections of the blog- specifically the "Culminating Service Project" and "Join the Celebration". We're down to the home-stretch here, so please be sure to pick up your travel-sized donations for our hygiene kits and join us on March 29th to pack the kits up.

To augment your Lenten season, please visit our Good Shepherd Prayer Blog. This is a place to post your prayers and know that a community of faith is lifting them up to God. Visit the blog to get all the particulars on joining us for prayer at Good Shepherd on Sunday evenings as well as our 48 hour vigil during Holy Week. "Thank you" to Chuck Bristol for following your heart in leading this ministry.

If you are seeking a community of faith- you are most welcome to join us! We would love the opportunity know you. For more information about who we are- please see our website-www.goodshepherdvancouver.org. Whether you're in the Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington area or far away, please continue to grow in faith with us by checking our blog as we discover more about developing a discerning heart through the lessons of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the Holy Scriptures.

Just a reminder, for the remainder of Lent we will be examining the Practice of Discernment as it applies to our daily lives. This session focusing on the Moment of Mission ( and the previous session of Communion and Commitment), will help you to develop your own "profile" of a discerning life. While there is no one way of living a discerning life, there are people whose life stories reveal what might be called a 'profile of a discerning life'. For Christians, Jesus Christ's life is the ideal example of discernment. Using discernment as a lens through which to view the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus will always add to one's understanding of response to the Spirit's presence and action (Smith and Merz, 2006). As Ignatius has taught us- "Your personal relationship with God must be lived in the world and derived through a process of continual prayer, reflection, and action." The relationships that God has placed in our lives are the experiential context through which we see God. By examining other peoples "stories", listening and observing where they have encountered Christ, we can be more alert to the action of God in our own lives.

Your growing sense of consciousness of discernment can guide you as you more through the Moments of Communion, Commitment, and Mission. Congruence with the qualities found in those moments confirm the authenticity of your discerning ways and refine your appreciation of discernment. Discovering and choosing God's will occasions within you the gifts of compassion, charity, freedom, generosity, peace, joy, hope, decisiveness, and faith. The ways and values of Jesus will become apparent as you lead a life of discernment. (Smith and Merz, 2006).

As we grow in our ability to discern God's call in our lives, it is important to reflect upon how God might ask us to act on His behalf. If we are truly striving to be the hands and feet of Jesus, to do His will and follow Him such that we will experience His presence in our lives and in turn, be "Christ" to those around us. When we finally cooperate with God's will, we discover that we have become persons who have been radically changed and have turned from living according to our own will and wisdom. God's will and wisdom is manifested now by the Spirit at work in the minds and hearts of believers. Faith and trust in God's loving will for the world grounds our confidence as we discern the actions for justice to which the Spirit leads us (Smith and Merz, 2006).

Let's examine more closely the Moment of Mission~

Faith
Discernment builds upon the belief that a provident God guides our lives. Discernment provides a faith-based way of making decisions that are in harmony with God's desires for the world and for ourselves. Having discerned a decision, we must implement it in faith (Smith and Merz, 2006).

Ignatian Insight

"The First Time is an occasion when God our Lord moves and attracts the will in such a way that a devout person, without doubting or being able to doubt, carries out what was proposed." (Spiritual Exercises, 175).

Scriptural Insight

"Then Jesus answered her, 'Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish'. And her daughter was healed instantly" (Matthew 15:28).

"I have prayed for you that your won faith may not fail; and you once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:23).

"For by grace you have been saved by faith, and this is not your own doing; it is a gift of God'" (Ephesians 2:8).

Reflection Questions

• Has my understanding of faith moved from being only an acceptance of truths to a trusting relationship with God as a person?
• What have the major decisions of my life said about my faith?
• Am I aware of a shift to making assessments about life not only from a human perspective but also from a faith perspective?
• In what area of my life is my faith being challenged? What am I doing with the doubts that I have?
• Who are my friends in faith?
• Who has modeled a faith-filled life for me?
• What role did faith play in bringing you to Good Shepherd?
• Do we find opportunities to share faith in a prayerful setting with each other?
• Does our shared experience nourish and challenge our faith?
• How much effort am I making to integrate my faith into my decisions and actions regarding family, church, national, and world justice issues?

Spirit-Filled

Discernment of spirits is a process guided by the Spirit. Jesus Christ, present now through the action and gifts of his Spirit, shows us how to be attentive to, but not burdened by, seeking God's will in daily life. The grace and gift of discernment also helps us to recognize influences which are not of God (Smith and Merz, 2006).

Ignatian Insight

"Once he (Ignatius) was going out of devotion to a church situated a little more than a mile from Manresa...and the road goes by the river. As he went along occupied with his devotions, he sat down for a little while with his face toward the river which ran down below. While he was seated there, the eyes of his understanding began to be opened; not that he saw any vision, but understood and learned many things, both spiritual matters and matters of faith and of scholarship and this with so great an enlightenment that everything seemed new to him. The details that he understood then, though there were many, cannot be stated, but only that he experienced a great clarity in his understanding. This was such that in the whole course of his life, after completing sixty-two years, even if he gathered up all the various helps he may have had from God and all the various things he has known, even adding them all together, he does not think he had got as much as at that one time" (Autobiography, 30).

Scriptural Insight

"The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord" (Isaiah 11:2).

"This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you'" (John 14:17).

"By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit" (1 John 4:13)

Reflection Questions

• What does it mean to me to be filled with or to experience the Spirit?
• How are the gifts of the Holy Spirit operative in my life?
• What is my usual reaction to feeling "blank, or dry, or confused, or without understanding? Is trust in the Spirit a part of that reaction?
• What patterns and thoughts indicate to me that I am open to the Spirit? Led by the Spirit?
• What environmental conditions seem necessary for me to be attentive to the Spirit in myself and in others?
• What is my reaction when I am in the presence of someone who clearly is attentive to the Spirit?
• In what ways do I reverence the Spirit in another person?
• Do we as a church, ask the Spirit to guide our conversations and deliberations?
• What qualities characterize our interactions when the Spirit is active and heeded?
• Am I growing in a consciousness that the Spirit is always creating and re-creating the world?
• What global issues seem to be ones in which the Spirit is always creating and re-creating?
  

Actions for Justice

In a world crying out for just women and men who do the just thing, discernment must play a critical role. Discernment helps us to be attentive to the movements of consolation and desolation so that we can choose the option for justice that will give glory to God and also keep us grounded in our personal Christian identity (Smith and Merz, 2006).

Ignatian Insight

"To ask for interior knowledge of all the great good I have received, in order that, stirred to profound gratitude, I may become able to love and serve the Divine Majesty in all things" (Spiritual Exercises, 233).

"There is not sufficient time to do everything" (Spiritual Exercises, 233).

Scriptural Insight

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.' I said, 'Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, I am only a boy.' The Lord said to me, 'Do not say, "I am only a boy"; you shall go to all to whom I sen you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you...Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you....to pluck up and to pull down , to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant" (Jeremiah 1:4-10).

"Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute" (Psalm 82:3).

"If you amend your ways...act justly one with another, do not oppress the alien, the orphan, and the widow, or shed innocent blood...then I will dwell with you forever and ever" (Jeremiah 7:5-7).

"Do you love me?" And [Peter]said to [Jesus], "Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep" (John 21:17).

Reflection Questions

• Has my justice grown to include mercy and compassion?
• In my conern for justice, how do I move from sentiments and words to faithful action?
• What is my motivation for joining others in actions for justice?
• How Do my family adn work circumstances call me to act for justice?
• What have been the implications for justice in the decisions we have made as a parish in the last six months?
• Are we as a church becoming more just in our actions?
• What local injustices bother us enough to move us to some action?
• What openness do I need in order to understand how injustice can inhabit the systmes of which I am a part?
• Is justice the lens I use to view other races, classes, and world events?
  

Attentive to Facts

Effective discernment is often dependent upon the quality and adequacy of the information that is gathered and reflected upon for the sake of making connections and seeing relationships among facts. With a full understanding of adequate data, the discerning person can make judgments that are appropriate, timely and just (Smith and Merz, 2006).

Ignatian Insight

"As the pilgrim was about to set out (for his native air), he learned that he had been accused before the inquisitor, with a case brought against him. Knowing this but seeing that they did not summon him, he went to the inquisitor and told him what he had heard...Would he please pass sentence. The inquisitor said it was true there was an accusation, but that he did not find anything of importance in it...nevertheless, Ignatius again insisted that the case be carried through to the sentence. As the inquisitor excused himself, he (Ignatius) brought a public notary and witnesses to his house, and obtained a testimonial on this whole affair" (Autobiography, 86).

"It should be presupposed that every good Christian ought to be more eager to put a good interpretation on a neighbor's statement than to condemn it. Further, if one cannot interpret it favorable, one should as how the other means it. If that meaning is wrong should correct the person with love; and if this is not enough, one should search out every appropriate means through which, by understanding the statement in a good way, it may be saved" (Spiritual Exercises, 22).

Scriptural Insight

"Solomon loved the Lord...At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, 'Ask what I should give you.' Solomon said, 'You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you' and you have kept for me this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne. And now...you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child' I do not know how to go out or come in/ Your servant cannot be numbered or counted/ give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern you people, able to discern....'" (1 Kings 3:3, 5-10).

"I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans....to give you a future with hope. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord." (Jeremiah 29:11, 13-14).

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings...Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own...forgetting what lies behind and staining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal...in Christ Jesus...if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you...let us hold fast to what we have attained" (Philippians 3:10-16).

Reflection Questions

• What are the resources for reliable information which I have learned to use?
• Are there some people whom I often turn to reliable information? Why do I do so?
• Am I faithful to attending to the thoughts and feeling which occur as I consider new information? Do I notice an increase in interior freedom as I do so?
• What do I do when information challenges my prior opinions or convictions?
• Consider a relationship- Have we learned to share information freely with each other while also respecting the confidentiality required by other relationships?
• Do we make our decisions based upon full information even when further information may slow our decision making process?
• Are we free enough to ask someone we don't know well for the information we may need?
• Are we open to relevant information that may at first seem foreign to the matter we are discerning?
• In light of our varied gifts, what distinct role does each of us play in gathering, reviewing, and assessing the significance of the information?
• How does my use of the media and electronic resources aid or hinder a careful discernment process?
• Am I ready for a discerned decision that may place me in a counter-cultural stance?
  

To Sum Up

The Moment of Mission we finally cooperate with God's will and discover that we have become persons who have been radically changed and have turned from living according to our own will and wisdom. God's will and wisdom is manifested now by the Spirit at work in the minds and hearts of believers. Faith and trust in God's loving will for the world grounds our confidence as we discern the actions for justice to which the Spirit leads us (Smith and Merz, 2006).

Let us Pray

Lord, grant that in the Moment of Mission we continue to place our faith in God who has created, redeemed, adn sanctified me through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. May we deepen our faith in the Spirit acting within us at the present time and space.. May we be alert for the opportunity to act for jsutice within the circle of my relationships and influence. And finally, grant that we might be open to gathering and reflecting upon all informaiton taht is relevant and available for a decision- so that we might do Your will. All this we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.