Post date: Feb 19, 2013 5:46:16 PM
Mission and maintenance are two primary orientations of congregations. When a group of people congregate it means that they gather in a group with one another. If a congregation’s primary focus is on reaching out to those beyond themselves to serve other people and help others grow closer to God, then its orientation is towards mission. If a congregation is primarily concerned with taking care of one another and the needs of those already part of the group, then its orientation is on maintenance. All congregations need both mission and maintenance to be the church. Some congregations, however focus too exclusively on one at the expense of the other.
Locally, regionally, and nationally, the trend in the church (not only the Lutheran church but all churches) is declining attendance and financial resources. When congregations face these challenges, quite often they begin to put greater and greater emphasis on maintenance, that is to say they focus on their own survival at the expense of their outreach to others. Another way to say this is that a congregation moves into chaplaincy mode, where it seeks to provide support and comfort for those already a part of the faith community. This is an understandable reaction to decline and stress, but perhaps it is not the best response for the life and vitality of the congregation.
Instead of maintaining and being a chaplaincy congregation, the alternative is a greater focus on mission. If a congregation wants to re-energize and revitalize, then it needs to focus its time and energy and resources on reaching out to others, following Christ’s great commission from the end of the gospel of Matthew, “Go, therefore, making disciples of all nations....” How can we do this here at Bethel and as the Lutheran community in Jamestown? The church council and I want to know your answers to this question.
In order to think more critically about our future and the mission we might have, I suggest that we focus on a few questions:
•What is God calling us to be and do here in this place?
•What gifts has God given to the people of our congregation to use for God’s mission?
•How do the needs of our community help us to understand our call to mission?
•What concrete steps can we do together to live out Jesus’ great commission?
Bethel’s leadership wants to hear your answers to these and other questions. As a congregation, we need to discern the future purpose and orientation of our faith community. Please be on the lookout for more opportunities to answer these and other questions about who we are and who God is calling us to be. Do not hesitate to share with myself and the church and the church council your vision of Bethel's future.
I believe we are on a mission from God. Together we need to discern what that mission is and how we can best fulfill it as God's beloved ones. The stewardship committee put it well for us in their recent mailings and emphasis--We Do Mission!
Striving with you to be a better mission community,
Pastor Adam
p.s. Two opportunities to participate in these conversations are during coffee hour following the 10:30 worship service on Sunday, January 20, and at Bethel's annual meeting on Sunday, January 27.