Building an Accountable Ministry Team

Developing a common vision

8:30 Devotional and Prayer (we are dependent on hearing from God) Joshua 3 & 4

9:00 Ebenezers9:45 Break10:00 State of the Church Discussion11:00 Break11:10 Projecting into the Future, God

willing

Developing a Common Vision

Celebrating the “Ebenezers”

• What are memories of significant “Happenings” that have occurred at you church? What are some of the things that God has done in your midst?

List these on the flip chart paper on the walls by time frame (decades, years, etc.)

10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the LORD thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. 11 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Car.

 12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the LORD helped us." 13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again.       Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines. 14 The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to her, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the power of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

(I Samuel 7:10-14)

Ebenezer: a stone of help

State of the Church Discussion, Diagnosing the

Current SituationThe 4 Question

Diagnostic

Work through this by yourself, then discuss with the

group.

Rank Order the Issues

• List the issues; Do not comment on them, just list them.

• Rank order them in order of importance as you see them

• We’ll then address them in order using…

The SPECIFICS process

State of the Church Discussion,

Diagnosing the Current Situation• S…ituation

• P…roblem• E…vidence – is it measureable?

What is the cost $$, image, reputation.??

• C…onsequences over time • I…mplications• F…uture Fix• I…mplications• C…onstraints

What are the Issues?

Ephesians 2: 1-10

What are the Cool Things that God has

Prepared for You to do Today?

(GW paraphrase)

What’s next?

• Right Now– What are the current issues that need to

be addressed?

Church Leadership Vision

5 Minute Free Writing Exercise;

Describe in vivid detail, what you think the

church should look like in 5 years. Write a

paragraph with this description.

Church Leadership Vision

Circle those key word or phrases that suggest

that significant change needs to take place for

this to occur

• Using a flip chart, list all of the ideas that surfaced during the 5 minute writing exercise.

• Rework / combine them into simple (not compound) goal statements

• Rank order them in order of priority

Church Leadership Vision

What’s next?

• Right Now– What are the current issues that need to

be addressed?• For the Long Term

– What are the long term vision driven goals that need to be planned and achieved?

• What is the Vision Casting Strategy that needs to be developed?

What’s More Important?

• Getting going on it?• Getting it right?What is the balance that needs to be

attended to here?

Caution

• Balance the need for planning w/ the need for adaptability.

• What does that mean?

What is the Vision Casting Strategy that needs to be

developed?• 70% of the congregation will be slow to

adopt the vision• 15% will adopt right away• 15% will highly resist any change• You have been living with the

development of the vision for sometime, the congregation has not, what sensitivities need to be accounted for?

Church Leadership Vision

• Purpose: why we exist as a church body• Vision: where we are going• Core Values: those things that distinguish us• Mission / Objective statements: directional• Strategies & Tactics: getting into the details• Ministry Plans: getting defined,

measureable, time sensitive• Individual Staff (paid and unpaid) Ministry

Plans for the current ministry year