ARE:A Renewal Enterprise

A Process Map

It’s important to remember that the renewal of the church is not a program. It is more of a journey that we are all on together. We find momentum for this journey as we learn to work together in purposeful, participative, prayerful, and playful ways; asking the right questions; and daring to take action for the sake of God’s mission…even if we’re not quite sure how it will turn out. This "process map" (below) was developed by our friend and colleague, Dave Daubert, Director for Congregational Renewal in the ELCA...and an all around great guy. Spend some time looking at it, getting your head around how it works...and then let it begin to work FOR you in your context:

A Process Map

It’s important to remember that the renewal of the church is not a program. It is more of a journey that we are all on together. We find momentum for this journey as we learn to work together in purposeful, participative, prayerful, and playful ways; asking the right questions; and daring to take action for the sake of God’s mission…even if we’re not quite sure how it will turn out. This "process map" (below) was developed by our friend and colleague, Dave Daubert, Director for Congregational Renewal in the ELCA...and an all around great guy. Spend some time looking at it, getting your head around how it works...and then let it begin to work FOR you in your context:

What’s The Big Idea?

There is one "big idea" behind church renewal (at the congregational, coalition, judicatory, or denominational level) today. It could be summed up in a variety of ways. Try this one: The church doesn’t really “have” a mission. God’s mission has a church!

What's The Big Idea?

There is one "big idea" behind church renewal (at the congregational, coalition, judicatory, or denominational level) today. It could be summed up in a variety of ways. Try this one: The church doesn’t really “have” a mission. God’s mission has a church!

Facing Facts

One of the most serious dangers we see congregations facing today? The inability and/or unwillingness to deal with unpleasant facts. There are way too many congregations, in fact, that wait until their resources are nearly exhausted to begin asking the question, "What do we need to do differently?!"Here's one possible explanation:"Research has shown that Americans are bad at assessing their performance and skills. Apparently, part of our national character — optimism — keeps us from interpreting feedback accurately. And our overconfidence results in errors that are sometimes critical." [From an NPR "Science Out Of The Box" report. Listen to the story here.If you're a church leader today, in the middle of this changing culture, one of your main jobs is to help people in your congregation face facts. It might help to know what you're up against.

Facing Facts

One of the most serious dangers we see congregations facing today? The inability and/or unwillingness to deal with unpleasant facts. There are way too many congregations, in fact, that wait until their resources are nearly exhausted to begin asking the question, "What do we need to do differently?!"

Here's one possible explanation:

"Research has shown that Americans are bad at assessing their performance and skills. Apparently, part of our national character — optimism — keeps us from interpreting feedback accurately. And our overconfidence results in errors that are sometimes critical." [From an NPR "Science Out Of The Box" report. Listen to the story here.

If you're a church leader today, in the middle of this changing culture, one of your main jobs is to help people in your congregation face facts. It might help to know what you're up against.

How Are You Getting The Word Out?

Is it appropriate for a faith community to "advertise?" Is it effective? What kind of advertising does your congregation or denomination do?In our experience, an advertising campaign that is connected to a special event can be very effective at tapping into pre-existing interest. For example, a multi-week direct marketing campaign tied to the grand opening of a building that people in your community have been watching go up over previous months can be a great way to let them know they are invited to come take a peek inside.Of course, the campaign needs to be well done. It should communicate who you are, what you're about, and how what you have might be of value to people; but it should not overpromise.

How Are You Getting The Word Out?

Is it appropriate for a faith community to "advertise?" Is it effective? What kind of advertising does your congregation or denomination do?

In our experience, an advertising campaign that is connected to a special event can be very effective at tapping into pre-existing interest. For example, a multi-week direct marketing campaign tied to the grand opening of a building that people in your community have been watching go up over previous months can be a great way to let them know they are invited to come take a peek inside.

Of course, the campaign needs to be well done. It should communicate who you are, what you're about, and how what you have might be of value to people; but it should not overpromise.

The Confessions (and Questions) of a Musical Junkie

Is there a soundtrack for church renewal?This is a question I've been wrestling with lately because, I admit it: I am a musical junkie.I love them! In film or on the stage, it doesn’t matter. I love the way a story is told through music. Rent is my current favorite. I can’t get the song “Seasons of Love” out of my head. It haunts me, really. My son, on the other hand, thinks this is the weirdest thing ever. He hates musicals (not counting, of course, the musical numbers in the Family Guy season premier a few weeks ago).I think I love musicals so much because the point(s) are made through song; and they just don’t leave your head. This is why my15-year old now walks around the house singing the songs from that Family Guy episode, no matter how stupid.And that, I think, is the point of our hymns: The gospel message is supposed to get stuck in your head.

The Confessions (and Questions) of a Musical Junkie

Is there a soundtrack for church renewal?

This is a question I've been wrestling with lately because, I admit it: I am a musical junkie.

I love them! In film or on the stage, it doesn’t matter. I love the way a story is told through music. Rent is my current favorite. I can’t get the song “Seasons of Love” out of my head. It haunts me, really. My son, on the other hand, thinks this is the weirdest thing ever. He hates musicals (not counting, of course, the musical numbers in the Family Guy season premier a few weeks ago).

I think I love musicals so much because the point(s) are made through song; and they just don’t leave your head. This is why my15-year old now walks around the house singing the songs from that Family Guy episode, no matter how stupid.

And that, I think, is the point of our hymns: The gospel message is supposed to get stuck in your head.