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!