|
|
Expanded
Focus Questions
1.
Think of your congregation's various programs and projects. Which
are the most fun, satisfying and energizing?
- Are
the programs size and context appropriate?
- What
are your most innovative programs?
- What
new ideas have you tried?
- How
are programs evaluated after they've been tried?
- How
does your church discontinue programs?
2.
What do people in your community think about and expect of your
congregation?
- How
do you project a positive image to the community?
- Identify
at least one community need to which your congregation is responding?
- What
community need could you respond to in the future?
- How
is awareness raised of this need?
-
Is it deliberately studied or haphazard?
- Is
the response seen as the task of a single person or the group?
- How
do you get all involved?
- What
expectations does your community have of your church and your
pastor?
- On
what is this based?
-
How did you earn your "reputation"?
- How
does participation with other churches energize your church?
- How
does your congregation welcome/adopt newcomers?
- Is
your worship inviting to strangers?
- Are
you an open or closed congregation?
3.
How does your congregation equip your members for, and encourage
them in, Christian ministry?
- What
gifts and talents are already present that could utilized more
or in new and other ways?
- Are
the efforts of all participants acknowledged, appreciated?
- How
do you feel about being a sending congregation -a training ground
- a place where church leaders elsewhere came from?
- Do
you have ways of blessing/confirming this role?
- What
support systems are in place (or would you consider using) to
help your members to develop skills in ministry?
- Lay
leadership empowerment?
- Does
the whole congregation see itself as pastoral, missional?
- Seeing
individual potential?
4. What are the challenges that you as a congregation need to face
related to the future?
- Identify
pain in your congregation or community that hinders unity, hospitality,
outreach, involvement, creativity, optimistic energy.
- How
do you see conflict, as something to avoid or as an opportunity
for growth?
- Threatened
by change or open to trying new things?
- How
does your congregation deal with anxiety and the issues that
caused it?
-
With difficulties finding people and resources?
5.
If you were to wake up tomorrow to find a vibrant congregation meeting
those challenges and serving your community, what would it be or
look like?
- Are
you a cautious or risk-taking church?
- How
could you develop and implement new programs/projects?
- Are
creative and visionary people heard or are they silenced?
- What
more can you do to build up your church?
- In
worship?
- In
service?
- Outreach?
- Nurture?
- Collaboration
of pastor and people?
Optional Question (used when some people didn't seem to have had
an opportunity to speak); asked of each person in turn:
What,
for you as an individual, is the very best thing or the best part
of being a part of ______________ Mennonite Church?
|
"Everyone
gets involved
and out of that comes
incredible energy,
and 'work' becomes 'fun'."
|
