Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Does your congregation’s parochial report represent what is really happening in your parish? How might you change your ‘scorecard’ to represent the many ways your congregation is serving God’s mission?

These questions were raised at the recent Congregational Leadership Conference at Kanuga. Plenary speaker Reggie McNeal, author of The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church, Missional Renaissance: Changing the Scorecard for the Church, and Missional Communities: The Rise of the Post-Congregational Church, shared the startling statistic that Christianity is the fastest growing religion in the world – everywhere that is except the West and suggested that we might learn from those parts of the world where Christianity is growing "so fast that there is no time for evangelism."

McNeal asked, “What happens where Christianity is still a movement rather than an institution, where the people of God, partner with God in God’s redemptive mission in the world?” And, “how might we ‘re-scorecard’ our ministry to reflect what we celebrate in our congregations?”

What if, instead of –or in addition to - measuring average Sunday attendance, we measured other things, such as:

Prayer as defined by how many people have we prayed for? McNeal shared stories of congregations with prayer ministries for public school teachers and other public servants. These ministries might include sending written notes expressing gratitude and thanks and offering blessings as well as genuine offers of assistance or bringing small gifts of appreciation such as baked goods or lunch to teachers or police or fire fighters.

Money in terms of how much has your congregation given away? He had many examples of the ways churches have practiced generosity, including: 

• The congregation in Lexington, Kentucky where a one time experience of asking each member of the congregation to donate an additional dollar on Sunday to be given away to people in need has grown into a weekly practice and a goal to give a half a million dollars away each year. 
• A mega church in Columbus, Ohio that took a very large Sunday collection and gave it all away to people who had lost their jobs.
• A congregation that, having met its budget by November 30, invited members to give all they had planned to donate to their church during the month of December elsewhere, and then share their story with the rest of the congregation. 

Each of these congregations experienced a renewed sense of generosity and as one member put it “helped us to believe all over again.”

People sharing stories of living their lives in ways that God shows up. Again, McNeal shared stories:

• The couple in Texas who regularly host a Friday night wine tasting in their homes and end each evening by reading a brief piece of Scripture. He then invites anyone who wants to stay to pray to do so and each week some do.
• The woman who while walking her dog, prays for her neighbors as she walks by their homes.
• The woman who started a book club, reading secular fiction and finding that faith always seems to work its way into the discussion. (This happens more often than not in my book club; I was slightly surprised to learn that this is a fairly common experience...)

Time spend on service in the community, beyond the walls of the church. Let's measure and celebrate the many hours our members give to others, including and beyond service given in the name of their congregation. In his work, he often hears of stories where God shows up, offering opportunities for people of faith to share their faith with others.

Use of church facilities by others. One congregation McNeal worked with measured the number of cigarettes in their parking lot – and, knowing that a recovery ministry used their building regularly, saw a larger number as a good thing. A Southern congregation located across the street from a large construction project, welcomed construction workers inside their air-conditioned space to refresh themselves during breaks. Another southern congregation, located in an inner city, created an air-conditioned play space for neighborhood children – offering it first to people outside the congregation for birthday parties and neighborhood events. These congregations and many others recognize their sacred space as a gift to share with others and by doing so extend God’s limitless welcome the stranger.

How we use technology to share the Good News of Jesus Christ could also be measured. Are you using your church’s website to share stories of member’s engagement with the world? Might your website also offer links to key resources in the community, connecting with mission partners, community services, etc, and offering visitors and members alike ‘one stop shopping’ to find ways to stay connected within your community?

How might we begin to do this? McNeal suggested adding an addendum to your parochial report, describing the work you are doing beyond the walls of your church. Or, you might include a letter to your diocesan bishop with your report, highlighting the Missional work of your congregation. The important thing is to just do it, perhaps starting a groundswell of sharing our ministry in and with the world - demonstrating our commitment to being a movement, instead of an institution.

What do you value in your congregation? How are/would you measure this? What categories would you like to see included in your parochial reports? Please use the comment box below to share your ideas and experiences.