News From the Presbytery of Transylvania
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There Is No Such Thing as Church Revitalization
William T. Chaney, Jr,
Lewis Center for Church Leadership
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Churches in decline or in need of renewal often seek “revitalization” in an attempt to return to their former glory. But many things that initially contributed to growth, including cultural norms, socio-economic conditions, and the population in the neighborhood, no longer exist. Real renewal comes from rediscovering their mission, reengaging their mission field, and refocusing their resources to support the mission, not from trying to revive the past.
Rediscovering, reengaging, and refocusing a congregation is equivalent to rewriting the DNA of the congregation. This kind of shift is real “church revitalization” because it is about God’s mission and not just reviving the past. These steps are essential:
1. Acknowledge the loss
When a church has been in decline for several years, the congregation must complete all stages of grief before beginning a plan to engage the future. Wanting to again experience a vibrant and healthy church and wondering each week who will show up takes a significant emotional toll on a congregation. Allowing the church to grieve before moving forward will save a lot of frustration.
2. Adopt a missionary mindset
The people groups in our neighborhoods have significantly changed in past decades. There is no longer one dominant culture that pervades most of our urban and suburban neighborhoods. To reach people who are far from God and who now live in our neighborhoods will require pastors and leaders who have a missionary mindset. This begins with intercultural competency.
3. Build a team
Leading a congregation through the process of rediscovering, reengaging, and refocusing should not be influenced by the pastor alone. The expectation that a new pastor with new ideas for church revitalization is the solution for a congregation is unrealistic. A church needs a team of five to seven influential and confident men and women who can look at the ministry context and the ministry action plan and who can implement the changes strategically as a team.
4. Pray
Prayer is the most critical component of a church rediscovering, reengaging, and refocusing on their mission. Do not trust that a golden nugget such as a great book on strategy, church consultant, ministry coach, webinar, podcast, or conference will get the church unstuck, renewed, revitalized, and healthy. I respect all of the different approaches, but unless there is prayer movement within the church, no strategy, consultant, coach, book, or podcast will do much good.
5. Consider new possibilities
Although it is difficult to entertain the possibility, not every church can rediscover, reengage, or refocus. For these congregations, they may need to consider strategies that allow their resources and gifts to be used for sake of the Kingdom, rather than just maintaining their congregational status quo. Rather than dying a slow death, these possibilities offer new life in new forms.
- Elijah/ Elisha Transfer — This is when an existing church realizes that they can’t return to health on their own. They choose to give their assets, building, and control over to a new church that is on a mission and can benefit from the church’s assets for evangelistic work. The existing church closes, and the new church emerges after several months.
- Adoption — This is when the existing church and a new church partner to take on the identity of the new church over time. There is a time of shared leadership and a predetermined time to hand over the leadership and branding to the new congregation.
- Vital Merger — This is when two churches agree that their missions align with each other and that both will eventually close without significant change. Both churches sell their properties, release their pastors, and agree on a new pastor to lead them into a new ministry context.
I have posted the full post here but to see the original, you can follow the link
HERE
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Ask the Stated Clerk:
From time to time, I receive polity questions on various issues. If you have a question or something you’ve always wondered about, send the question to me at
statedclerk@transypby.org
and I’ll address it in a future newsletter.
Here’s two related questions for this week:
Does the session moderator need to sign the minutes once they’ve been approved?
Can minutes be preserved electronically?
Answers:
The answer to the first question is no. The clerk of session should sign each set of minutes once they’ve been approved and placed in the minutes book. The moderator can sign the minutes, according to church custom or session desire, but it’s not required. (This answer comes from
Roberts’ Rules
and not
Book of Order
.)
The answer to the second question is also no, not at this time. Minutes are the historical record of the proceedings of a church council (session). Digital records cause concern for a couple reasons: verifying that they’ve been properly signed and attested (clerk’s and/or moderator’s signature) and that the minutes are the full and accurate record of proceedings (that’s why minute book pages are numbered consecutively). I understand that a new edition of
Roberts’ Rules
is being produced, and that new edition might give more guidance and acceptance of newer technologies. Right now, minutes should be printed on archival paper, signed, and placed in a permanent book. If you’d like more information about preserving session minutes, send me a note or see the Presbyterian Historical Society website (
www.history.pcusa.org
).
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Still looking for the perfect Advent resource for your personal or group studies?? It's not too late! Browse these great options at the PC(USA) Store. I would like to highlight the
Being Reformed
study for those of you who are enjoying that series, studies from Walter Brueggemann, as well as the
Simple Sundays
for youth. If you are a C.S. Lewis fan, there is a study based on Narnia and there is a study based on the scriptures used in
Handel's Messiah
... and much more!
See the PUCSA Advent Resources
HERE
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SAVE THE DATE!!
Calvin Retreat
February 7 & 8, 2020
Boone Tavern
Berea, KY
Details coming soon!!
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Church Openings and Other Jobs
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There are a number of Pastoral Opportunities available in the Presbytery. If you know of anyone who might be interested in one of the following positions, please share this information with them.
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PASTOR- First Presbyterian, London
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CHILDREN & YOUTH DIRECTOR- First Presbyterian, Winchester
First Presbyterian Church of Winchester has an immediate opening for a part-time Children & Youth Director. The Director would function to assist in the development and implementation of the mission and ministry of the children and youth of the church. The Children/Youth Director will: plan a program and curriculum for the children/youth with the assistance of the CE Committee and the Pastor, meet with the children/youth or their parents outside of the Sunday service, and plan activities that are not part of the normal Sunday service. This is a 10 hour per week position with 4-5 hours per Sunday. The remainder of hours are to be used to meet with the children/youth or their parents, 1-2 times per week. If interested, candidates should submit their resume to Pastor Ryan at:
ryanbradney@gmail.com
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First Presbyterian Church in Paris- Part-time stated Supply
First Presbyterian Church is located 18 miles from Lexington on the scenic Paris/Lexington Road, is looking for a part-time stated supply minister to lead worship and preach each Sunday, administer the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, moderate the session and congregational meetings, visit the sick and shut-in, and lead funeral services upon request.
We are a small church but have a strong music program and a full-time Music Director. We are active in the community with music and art after-school programs.
Please consider our congregation if you are looking for a part time position. Direct inquiries to Rogers Barde, Clerk of Session, 859-987-1225.
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November
1- All Saints Day
7- Spiritual Formation, 10 am, Baptist Seminary of Kentucky
8-9- Statewide Youth Event
12- Retired Clery Lunch- Noon, Belle Notte, Lexington
12- Coordinating Commission, 5pm, Maxwell Street
14- Eastern Church Co-Hort, 5:30, Hazard
17- Linda Kurz Installation, 4pm, First Presbyterian, Lexington
20- Pastoral Transitions Commission, 10am, TBD
28- Happy Thanksgiving!
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NOVEMBER
11/10 Armando Divas 64 years
11/13 Janet Prewitt 14 years
11/21 Mary Weese 15 years
11/30 Rachel Anderson 12 years
11/30 E.G. Clark 50 years
May God continue to bless your ministry!
If we have missed your ordination anniversary or have incorrect information, please email
rjustus@transypby.org
so we can update your information.
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