An Adverbial Exercise

Maybe you have heard it said that "church" isn't a noun; it's a verb. If that's true, then here are some adverbs we believe describes how a healthy, vital church acts:

1. Purposeful – Everything is connected to God’s mission in the world. People have (re)discovered this mission for their own lives and for their faith community.2. Participative – As many people as possible are involved in decision making for the sake of action. Involvement is broad based; widespread; and a special effort is made to include those who are "different," often silent, and usually on the margins.3. Prayerful – We expect the Holy Spirit to show up, surprising us, as we listen for God’s voice through Scripture, through each other, and through the strangers we meet.4. Playful – Jesus said little children have a special place in the kingdom and we believe that is, at least partly, because their playfulness leads to new discoveries and opens them up to new experiences.These things characterize the replicable processes we use here at A.R.E. as we help people articulate their purpose, guiding principles, and strategic behaviors.In what way do these things characterize the life of your faith community? What other adverbs describe your congregation, judiactory, or denomination...for better or worse? Where do you need to do some work?