Vital Congregations: The Big Picture

 

I was asked about the Vital Congregations program, specifically in what ways the current Bible study connects with the overall program. I understand the uncertainty because I experienced it, too, at the training event in Denver last May. Let me try giving an overview of the whole program.

 

Vital Congregations is a two-year process. During the first year the church assesses its current ministries in seven different areas. This assessment uses a process called "appreciative inquiry." When you look at an organization it is often in terms of needs; "What do we need to improve?" This process is different in focusing upon what the church does well and building on current strengths.

 

The current Bible study is a way of assessing how Parkway engages in the seven marks of vital congregations. In the Bible study, the questions for discussion work at two levels; personal and corporate. For example, in the lesson on Intentional Authentic Evangelism these questions were suggested for discussion: "Recall the first time Christ became Good News in your life? (A personal question.) Another question was about the church, "How does your church community equip and empower you to practice authentic evangelism?" (A corporate question.) In the fall, everyone will participate in a congregational survey based upon the Seven Marks Bible Study. This survey, along with the Bible study, will help us assess our current ministry in terms of the seven-marks of Vital Congregations.

 

In the fall, members will be asked to recall significant times, people, and efforts of the church in the past. This will help create a historical timeline of Parkway's ministry. Perhaps there was a program, emphasis, or effort in the past that we need to bring back into practice.

 

At the same time, we will also do a neighborhood assessment. Using a variety of tools, we will determine some of the needs of the immediate neighborhood around the church and see how those needs align with the seven marks of Vital Congregations.

 

The next phase, in year two, is to create or adjust our ministry to use our assets to meet the neighborhood needs. Perhaps we will find that there are activities of the church that no longer serve others and can be stopped. We expect to find that we need to create or align an existing ministry better to touch the lives of our neighbors.