Congregational Mission Study 2024 – Session 3

• Individuals – There are 3 Parts in this Session.  Read the “Focus” for each part and any additional notes before filling in your responses to the question(s) that follow.  Observe a brief Pause and write your response to the Additional Reflection Question. Before moving on to the next Part, write any additional thoughts you may have under “Group Share/Notes.”  At the end there is an Additional (Optional) Question regarding the entire Mission Study – please respond if and as you wish.

• Couples/Families – Each person should fill in their own form with responses for all 3 Parts. Read the “Focus” for each part and any additional notes before filling in your responses to the question(s) that follow.  Observe a brief Pause and write your response to the Additional Reflection Question. Consider sharing your responses with each other before moving on to the next part. Write any additional thoughts you may have under “Group Share/Notes.”  At the end there is an Additional (Optional) Question regarding the entire Mission Study – each person – please respond if and as you wish.

Getting Started

• Read the Opening Prayer (below) quietly or aloud.
• Read the Mission Study Primary Purpose and Session 3 purpose (below). If you have any questions or comments – please write those on your form. If you’d like a personal response from the pastors, please include your name.

3 Questions for individual response using this fillable form – up to 30 minutes.

• Write. Type your response to the primary question(s) in Part 1 following prompts on the page (Set a timer for the indicated amount of time).
• Pause. After you have finished writing, take a brief pause.
• Additional Reflection – Individual – If you are doing this on your own, take 1-2 minutes to write your response to the Additional Reflection question.
• Additional Reflection – Couple or Family – If you are doing this with one or more people, take time for each person to write their own responses to the Additional Reflection question.  Consider taking some extra time to share your responses with one another.  Jot down any additional thoughts you may have under “Group Share/Notes.”

Repeat this process for the next 2 Parts.

ADDITIONAL (OPTIONAL) QUESTION

After you have completed all 3 Parts – consider this additional optional Question:

As you think about all three sessions of this Mission Study – is there any question you wish had been asked?  (Feel free to include what your responses would be.)

Closing – 5 minutes

• Be sure you have written all responses needed on your form.
• Read the Closing Prayer (at end) quietly or aloud.
• Submit your form. Thank you!

Mission Study Primary Purpose

To provide a process that will accurately reflect who we are as congregation – including who we have been, what is at the core of how we feel called to follow God in this time and place, and what we collectively envision for our next pastoral leadership.

Mission Study Conversation Session 3 of 3

Purpose: To reflect on what we envision for our next phase of ministry and pastoral leadership, including any challenges we will need to face together.

Opening Prayer

God of Love,
You are with us in every transition and change.
As we enter into this new era with excitement and even some anxiety,
we recall your deep compassion, presence, and abounding love.
We thank you for the gifts, talents and skills with which you have blessed us.
We thank you for the experiences that have brought us to this moment.
We thank you for the work of others that gives breadth and depth to our own work.
Be with us as we move forward, rejoicing with you and supporting one another.
We ask this in your Holy Name. Amen.
–    Author Unknown

Your Name (optional)

Questions or comments about the Mission Study purpose and/or Session #3 purpose?

(If you would like a response from the pastors, please include your name above.)

Part 1: Reflecting on previous pastoral leadership

Question 1: Reflect on a time when pastoral leadership felt like a good match with the congregation. (E.g., gifts and skills, sense of calling, character, core ministries, etc.)

Response Prompts (5 minutes to write):

When was this?

What pastor or pastors were part of this good match and what was their pastoral role(s)? (Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor for Christian Education, Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care, Associate Pastor for Youth Ministries, etc.)

What kinds of things were happening or what did you experience that made this time feel like the congregation and pastoral leadership were a good match?

– Brief Pause –

Additional Reflection: As you consider what you’ve just written, what specific gifts or passions of the congregation were strengthened or supported during this time? (1-2 minutes to write.)

Group Share/Notes:

PART 2 – Imagining your new/next pastoral leadership

Note: This Church is preparing to search for pastoral leadership that will follow 2 current interim pastor positions. As you imagine what’s next, please consider all the possibilities for who may be coming as your next installed pastor(s). (E.g. Senior Pastor and Associate Pastor; Co-Pastors/Clergy Couple)

Question 2a: When you pray about the future of the church what do you hope your next pastoral leaders will support and strengthen in the life and ministry of this congregation? (For example: worship, discipleship, congregational life, mission, community outreach, pastoral care, spirituality, etc.)

3-4 minutes to write

Question 2b: What new initiatives or possibilities can you envision the new pastoral leadership bringing to the life and ministry of this congregation?

3-4 minutes to write

– Brief Pause –

Additional Reflection: As you consider what you’ve just written, what gives you the most excitement and hope? (1-2 minutes to write):

Group Share/Notes:

PART 3 – Anticipating a new Partnership in Ministry

Reading: “The Perfect Pastor” – newspaper article circa 1950’s

Question 3: As you think about all the expectations that can often be placed on pastors, how do you envision this congregation working as a strong partner in ministry alongside your next pastors?

3-5 minutes to write.

Name specific gifts, skills, strengths that you could bring to this new partnership in ministry:

Name specific gifts, skills, strengths that the congregation-as-a-whole could bring to this new partnership in ministry:

– Brief Pause –

Additional Reflection: As you consider what you’ve just written, what are some of the challenges you might anticipate as this new partnership in ministry begins?

2-3 minutes to write

Group Share/Notes:

Additional (Optional) Question: As you think about all three sessions of this Mission Study – is there any question you wish had been asked? (Feel free to include what your responses would be.)

Submit

Closing Prayer

Lead us on our journey from who we are to who you want us to be; so that patience is built into us, kindness is assumed in us, gentleness is part of us, compassion flows from us, truth is second nature to us, and the commitment of love is part of us. Let us go gladly on the journey towards your vision. Let us journey in the peace and power of the Spirit. In Christ we pray, amen.From: ‘Lead us on our journey’ by Ruth Harvey