Ministry and Mission Ministry and Mission in Uncertain Timesin Uncertain Times

Ministry and Mission Ministry and Mission in Uncertain Timesin Uncertain Times

Challenging Tasks in Times of StressChallenging Tasks in Times of Stress

1. Remember the calling

2. Help people reflect personally

3. Weave a helpful narrative

1. 1. Remember the CallingRemember the Calling

Revisit congregational stories and statements that express:

Who are we?

What are we here for?

Who is our neighbor?

leadership message…leadership message… Our fundamental calling

hasn’t changed

We’ve adjusted how we do it

many times before

If we stay flexible, we can move ahead in

ministry— together

2. 2. Help People Reflect PersonallyHelp People Reflect Personally

Start with people’s lives, not with “church”

Create safe space to share

Invite faith reflection

dialogue questionsdialogue questions

A. Which economic headline jumps out

at you right now?

A. How is this news affecting you personally?

B. Where is God for you in this situation? Or how might faith help you respond?

sample dialogue formatsample dialogue format

Allow 60 minutes Keep groups small (3 or 4) Clear ground-rules

Twice around the group with no interruption Time keeper raises hand when one minute left Share only what you wish to What’s shared here stays here

Hand out questions on worksheet

formatformat

Quiet Time: Jot down own answers (5 minutes)

Round One: Each person answers questions A & B (up to 5 minutes total)

Round Two: Each person answers question 3 (up to 5 minutes)

General Discussion: As time allows

3. 3. Hear / Shape the StoryHear / Shape the Story Notice how the story is being told—

among ourselves, in the media

Consider how else this story might be told

Search for resonance in biblical story

Choose how you will “frame” this situation as leader

Keep weaving that narrative over time

3. 3. Hear / Shape the StoryHear / Shape the Story

Stirring a 'Gumbo' Theology, Reverend Otis Moss III speaks on Church Vitality and Discipleship in a Hip Hop World

http://www.ucc.org/vitality/ready-set-grow/video/otis-moss.html

Making Sound Making Sound Strategic Choices in Strategic Choices in Anxious TimesAnxious Times

Churches are stressed today:Churches are stressed today:

Sustainability

Economic Downturn

Sustainability LevelsSustainability Levels

1930: 30 AWA 2000: 130 AWA

Factors leading to growing sustainability factor: Health Insurance & other

benefits Higher cost of construction Utility costs Lack of volunteers BASICALLY

EVERYTHING

Maintain ThoughtfulnessMaintain Thoughtfulness

Anxiety provokes reactivity --thoughtlessness, defensiveness, automatic behavior.

Anxiety triggers the desire to “do something” -- a false sense of urgency.

Maintain ThoughtfulnessMaintain Thoughtfulness

Acting too quickly can result in bad strategy choices

Across the board budgetary cuts are rarely the best course of action.

Maintaining ThoughtfulnessMaintaining Thoughtfulness

Step 1: Be honest about your reality

Step 2: Keep mission focus at the center of decision-making

Maintaining ThoughtfulnessMaintaining Thoughtfulness Step 3: Set priorities on the basis of mission

contribution and resource requirements

Step 4: Develop strategies for doing more with less

Step 1: Be Honest about the RealityStep 1: Be Honest about the Reality

Reflect on facts, not fear

Compile and analyze the recent trends, not just what’s happening in this moment

Step 1: Be Honest about the RealityStep 1: Be Honest about the Reality

Consider a variety of what-if scenarios

Assess the potential impact of a short term and long term deficit period

Step 2: Keep Focused on MissionStep 2: Keep Focused on Mission

Ask yourself, “What has really changed?”

Evaluate the impact and quality of your programs and ministries (What do we do best? What is uniquely ours to do?)

This may be a rare opportunity to convince people to eliminate programs that are no longer fruitful

Step 3: Set PrioritiesStep 3: Set Priorities

Low contribution to our mission

High contribution to our mission

Low use of our resources

Ask ourselves: Is this really a good fit for us?

Keep or expand these ministries

High use of our resources

Reconfigure or eliminate these

ministries

This is our core- Can we do it differently with

fewer or different resources?

Source: Kate Barr, Executive Director of the Nonprofits Assistance Fund

Step 4: Develop AlternativesStep 4: Develop Alternatives

What are the essential functions?

What can we delay, postpone, minimize or eliminate?

Where can an increase in volunteerism help?

What new partnerships can we form?

Who might help drive our resource engine?

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts Don’t unilaterally

ask your staff to do more with less.

Make good strategic choices that will position you well for your next chapter of

ministry.

Becoming Vital Congregations and Becoming Vital Congregations and Generous Disciples in tough timesGenerous Disciples in tough times

Plan for the future! Seize this as the opportune time to reposition your congregation for a healthy and robust future.  This recession will pass.

What steps can you take now to become the vital generous church that God’s calls us to be in the future?

QuestionsQuestions

What are you doing to prepare for the future during these difficult times?

What will you take from this presentation back to your church?