Mission Alignment Coordinating Council

1. Information and Assessment Webinar Mission Alignment Coordinating Council

2. Before we start… • Thank you for coming today! • For sound: • Turn on your computer speakers • Slides and a recording of this session will be available at www.disciples.org • Ask your questions any time using the question tool; we will answer as many as we can today • Context for the information seminary and the survey

3. Opening • Introduction of Presenters • Opening Prayer • Purpose of the Information Session • Provide an update regarding Proposals 1-8 • Provide information related to the research and work for Proposal 9 • Test via online survey the work of the Proposal 9 working group. • The feedback via the survey will be used by MACC and the Proposal 9 working group.

4. History of MACC • 2008 General Board adopted “Principles for Mission Alignment” and the “Desired Outcomes of Mission Alignment” • Authorized GMP and Moderator to appoint MACC • MACC met with general, regional, racial / ethnic and congregational representatives • MACC worked with Gil Rendle, consultant • MACC members are: • Lay and clergy; male and female; ages 35 and up; general and regional ministry staff, youth workers, Elders, black, white, Hispanic and Asian. • The 2009 General Board approved the 9 MACC proposals

5. Principles for Mission Alignment • Priority Focused • Design Guided • Future leaning • Promote true community by embracing diversity • Practice good stewardship • Empower and enhance the networks of the church • Encourage partnerships

6. Desired Outcomes • Clarity about the General Board’s responsibility for the mission of the church • Congregations resourced for mission • A focus on the mission priorities • Networking and Partnership • Streamlined General Church Administration • Attention to ongoing ministries • One church embracing our diversity

7. Proposals 1 and 2 Proposal 1 Creation of a Covenantal Dialogue process for General Ministries Proposal 2 The General Minister and President’s Pastoral Table

8. Proposals 3 and 4 Proposal 3 The missional alignment of North American Pacific Asian Disciples in like manner to the Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries Proposal 4 The permanent allocation the General Ministries escrow fund

9. Proposals 5 and 6 Proposal 7 A conversation regarding the role, future, placement and representation of Disciples Women in the life of the church Proposal 6 Networking the justice and advocacy associations of the church

10. Proposal 7 and 8 Proposal 7 Enhanced conversations between the Council on Christian Unity and the Office of the General Minister and President Proposal 8 Convening a table to enhance the partnership between regions, racial / ethnic ministries and new church ministries of Church Extension

11. Proposal 9 • Goal is to fulfill our imperative to resource congregations for mission • Purpose is to convene leaders of General, Regional, Racial / Ethnic and Congregational ministries to discover how the church can best accomplish its imperative (to resource congregations for mission); and to enhance the collaborative opportunities for shared partnership within the church

12. Proposal 9 Outcomes • Identified a new apostolic era, marked by four landscapes for ministry in the 21st Century • Eight Habits of transformed/transforming congregations • Eight ways forward

13. Desired Outcomes • Education and information to and from congregational members • Identify understandings and misunderstandings regarding the nature and purpose of regional and general ministries • Provide insight to regional and general ministries as to the contextual needs of congregations and how we might form partnership for mission • Test the work of MACC Proposal Nine group related to how congregations are resourced for mission

14. Participation and Representation • HELM, DHM, DOM, CE • Racial / Ethnic Ministries: National Convocation, National Christian Missionary Convention, National Hispanic and Bi-Lingual Fellowship, and North American Pacific Asian Disciples • Specialized Ministries: ODW • Regional Ministries • Congregational Representatives • Members of MACC

15. Landscapes for Ministry • New Apostolic Era defined by four landscapes: • Mission and the Margins • Evangelism and Witness • The Gift of Diversity • Technological Revolution

16. New Apostolic Era • An Apostolic era is defined as the church: • Making a witness in a culture that does not know it • Offering a witness across cultural, racial, or ethnic lines • In an era of new technology • 1st century Christianity spread along Roman roads • 16th century Christianity spread through the advent of the printing press • 21st century social technology and digital media are new technologies available to the Christian community

17. New Apostolic Era Continued • We are in a new “apostolic era” of growing secularism and growing racial / cultural / ethnic diversity; coupled with the possibilities for communication (technological) • We are living in an era where the church is de-centered from community

18. Mission and the Margins • Congregations founded in the “center square” of the community have a unique opportunity to revision ministry • The church founded as the “Center of Community” (mainline) does not have the voice it once had • The theology of marginalized communities often provides avenues for claiming voice and place in the midst of dominant community • We have an opportunity to partner with people who are globally and domestically on the margins • Technology is an avenue to connect with our global partners

19. Setting for Evangelism and Witness • The church has a rich opportunity to name our faith in a culture that is multi-cultural, spiritual but not religious, and inter-faith • In order to be effective for evangelism and witness: • Congregations need resources to talk about what it means to be the church and Christians given the current context • The church needs to reclaim an evangelical witness • The church must gain clarity about how to articulate that witness in both word and deed • The church has to reclaim and re-teach foundational theological language and concepts

20. Gift of Diversity • Diversity is inclusive of theology, social location, race, culture, language, and experience. • Christian unity is strengthened by diversity • Our deepest strength emerges in conversation and dialogue with one another • Wholeness (unity) requires respectful engagement within our diversity • Living into our diversity is an opportunity for evangelism and witness given the changing face of the US and Canada.

21. Technological Revolution • Technology • Has the potential to unite and divide the church • Makes us aware that the world is already on our doorstep • The church has a new missional opportunity to be church via social networking / digital media • Key Observations: • A challenge is to integrate the place of “The Table” and the concept of relationship ministry within the technological revolution • Technologically based ministry redefines relational ministry • Congregations, Regions and General Ministries have an opportunity to connect in new and innovative ways

22. Eight Habits of Faithful and Fruit-bearing Congregations • Live as a joyful, spiritual community • Engage in God’s transforming mission • Develop gifts, vision and competence in leaders • Create intentional processes which invite people in congregations to identify and use their gifts and passions • Articulate and share the good news with evangelical fervor • Recognize and learn from the diversity of the Body of Christ • Try new things and regularly evaluate our ministries • Deepen relationships with the wider and global church

23. Habits and Best Practices of General and Regional Ministries (8 Ways Forward) • Hosting inclusive decision-making and strategy tables • Collaboration in leadership development/training • Transparency in communication • Utilize Common Evaluation Norms for services, resources, and ministries • Find ways to streamline communication • Build relationships • Strengthen resources and seminary education for racial/ethnic Disciples to match the context of ministry • Practice humility and openness to new organizational models with an eye toward providing geographical proximity of support to congregations

24. Question and Answer Time • Please use the question feature to pose questions to the presenter. • Please watch your e-mail for a survey link. Thank you for participating in the MACC Proposal 9 Webinar.