2012 Christian Church in Virginia 2012 Christian Church in Virginia Regional Assembly Regional Assembly

ByByDr. Todd AdamsDr. Todd Adams

Associate General Minister and Vice Associate General Minister and Vice PresidentPresident

With credit shared with: Sharon Watkins, GMP; Mission Alignment With credit shared with: Sharon Watkins, GMP; Mission Alignment Coordinating Council; the General Board; Hope Partnership for Missional Coordinating Council; the General Board; Hope Partnership for Missional

Transformation and othersTransformation and others

““About every five hundred years the About every five hundred years the empowered structures of institutionalized empowered structures of institutionalized Christianity, whatever they may be at Christianity, whatever they may be at that time, become an intolerable that time, become an intolerable carapace that must be shattered in order carapace that must be shattered in order that renewal and new growth may occur.“ that renewal and new growth may occur.“

-Phyllis -Phyllis TickleTickle

Keynote speaker for the 2012 GMP’s Pastors ConferenceKeynote speaker for the 2012 GMP’s Pastors Conference

October 2-4, 2012, St. Louis, MOOctober 2-4, 2012, St. Louis, MO

The Fall of the Roman Empire (476)The Fall of the Roman Empire (476)

Great Schism (Orthodox / Catholic Great Schism (Orthodox / Catholic 1054)1054)

The Great Reformation (1517)The Great Reformation (1517)

2000’s Beyond the Posts (Post-2000’s Beyond the Posts (Post-modern, post-denominational etc.)modern, post-denominational etc.)

A new and more vital form of A new and more vital form of Christianity emergesChristianity emerges

The previously dominant form of The previously dominant form of Christianity "is reconstituted into a Christianity "is reconstituted into a more pure and less ossified (rigid) more pure and less ossified (rigid) expression of its former self“expression of its former self“

Shifting of structuresShifting of structures

Redefining of mission and method of Redefining of mission and method of deliverydelivery

1-3 Centuries – 11-3 Centuries – 1stst Age AgeReplicating the life of ChristReplicating the life of Christ

The people of the wayThe people of the way

Continued the “Jesus Project” Continued the “Jesus Project” Healing the sickHealing the sick

Feeding the poorFeeding the poor

Challenging the political institutionsChallenging the political institutions

44thth-20-20thth Centuries – 2 Centuries – 2ndnd Age Age Aligned with the state (Constantine) Aligned with the state (Constantine)

Christianity is institutionalizedChristianity is institutionalizedMeans to contain the movement Means to contain the movement

Bishops were feeding the poor and the Bishops were feeding the poor and the government took notice government took notice

Right worship, right dogma, correct beliefRight worship, right dogma, correct belief

Focus is on interpreting Jesus rather than Focus is on interpreting Jesus rather than living like Jesus living like Jesus

The Age of the SpiritThe Age of the SpiritPeople are “more spiritual, less People are “more spiritual, less religious” religious”

Little commitment to institutions/creeds Little commitment to institutions/creeds

Aligning their activity in the world with their Aligning their activity in the world with their faith faith

Grassroots, networking, viral mentalityGrassroots, networking, viral mentality

Today’s version of the western frontier Today’s version of the western frontier

The New The New “Western Frontier” “Western Frontier”

For the For the Christian Church Christian Church

(Disciples of Christ)(Disciples of Christ)

Missional Geography / Environment Missional Geography / Environment for Ministryfor Ministry

New and Emerging Technology New and Emerging Technology

Unprecedented Unprecedented DiversityDiversity

Today’s version of the western Today’s version of the western frontierfrontier

Not the first-time God’s people have Not the first-time God’s people have been here:been here:

The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land people and your father's household and go to the land

I will show you.I will show you.

Difference: familiar people / foreign Difference: familiar people / foreign landland

Among people who don’t know the Among people who don’t know the stories of Jesusstories of Jesus

No longer in a land of assumed church / No longer in a land of assumed church / attractional model (tomorrow)attractional model (tomorrow)Spiritual, not religiousSpiritual, not religious

We don’t have one language nor one We don’t have one language nor one single narrative beyond confessing single narrative beyond confessing Jesus Jesus

Linguistic, cultural, generationalLinguistic, cultural, generationalSetting a table big enough to embody the Setting a table big enough to embody the diversity of the family of God diversity of the family of God We also have to transmit the stories in a We also have to transmit the stories in a relevant fashionrelevant fashion

New languageNew languageTransmitting the stories of Jesus and telling Transmitting the stories of Jesus and telling the stories of God’s love in a relevant mannerthe stories of God’s love in a relevant mannerGenerational speakGenerational speak

LOL Story LOL Story

New Modes of “presence” New Modes of “presence” Bethany Christian, TulsaBethany Christian, Tulsa

New social media New social media People are emboldened by social mediaPeople are emboldened by social mediaPeople feel connected to a larger People feel connected to a larger conversationconversationEmotionally descriptEmotionally descriptReading Mark as storyReading Mark as story

John checked in at the Upper Room John checked in at the Upper Room James enjoying time with James enjoying time with Peter Peter and and

Mary. Mary. Jesus likes this comment via OliveTree MobileJesus likes this comment via OliveTree Mobile

Jesus updated his status Big night Jesus updated his status Big night aheadaheadMatthew Matthew and and Thomas Thomas took the took the What What

Kind of Disciple are You Test Kind of Disciple are You Test They scored as gladiators who will fight to the end They scored as gladiators who will fight to the end

Jesus does not like this commentJesus does not like this comment

FacebookTwitterLinkedInPinterestYouTubeTumblrKlout

FourSquareFlickrWordpressDiggRedditVimeoSecondLife

Global DiversityGlobal Diversity

Theological DiversityTheological Diversity

Generational DiversityGenerational Diversity

Racial / Ethnic DiversityRacial / Ethnic Diversity

Fueled by technologyFueled by technologyFood insecurity Food insecurity

Result of climate change, urban Result of climate change, urban development, population growth and oildevelopment, population growth and oilWorld’sWorld’s population est. 7 Billion population est. 7 Billion925 million are food insecure925 million are food insecure

Economic TiesEconomic TiesGreece and the world marketsGreece and the world markets

0.41% 0.41% of the World’s GDPof the World’s GDPUSA is 25% of the World’s GDPUSA is 25% of the World’s GDPNews around Greece News around Greece

Congregations are made up of Congregations are made up of fewer cradle disciples – more fewer cradle disciples – more ecumenical ecumenical

Church growth is no longer the Church growth is no longer the attractional modelattractional model

Congregations need to be Congregations need to be Discipleship OrientedDiscipleship Oriented

Places for Spiritual Exploration Places for Spiritual Exploration

Church growth through the 80’s based Church growth through the 80’s based on attracting people to a particular on attracting people to a particular community through programs community through programs

Today’s framework is Today’s framework is Discipleship and SpiritualityDiscipleship and SpiritualityAuthentic engagement – not committee Authentic engagement – not committee membership membership Coaching, community and nurturing Coaching, community and nurturing Worship wars are irrelevant for under 40; Worship wars are irrelevant for under 40; excellence, spirituality and how I am excellence, spirituality and how I am different on Monday as a result of Sundaydifferent on Monday as a result of Sunday

Greater percentage of the Greater percentage of the population raised outside of the population raised outside of the church church

Counter-cultural Counter-cultural

Spiritual ExplorationSpiritual ExplorationSpiritual center without doctrinal rigiditySpiritual center without doctrinal rigidity

Safe place without fear of rejection Safe place without fear of rejection

Spiritual but not religious Spiritual but not religious

People live longerPeople live longer2010 average life expectancy all races2010 average life expectancy all races

Men 76.2Men 76.2Women 81.1Women 81.1

1980 average life expectancy all races 1980 average life expectancy all races Men 70Men 70Women 78.1Women 78.1

1930 average life expectancy all races1930 average life expectancy all racesMen 58.1Men 58.1Women 61.6Women 61.6

1850’s most people died in their 30’s1850’s most people died in their 30’s

2010 Census – US Population 2010 Census – US Population 308,745,538308,745,538An increase of 9.7%An increase of 9.7%

BreakdownBreakdownWhite – 72.4%White – 72.4%African American – 12.6%African American – 12.6%Native American - 0.9%Native American - 0.9%Asian 4.8%Asian 4.8%Hispanic 16.3%Hispanic 16.3%Pacific Islander / Hawaiian 0.2%Pacific Islander / Hawaiian 0.2%Bi-racial 2.9%Bi-racial 2.9%

Number is greater than 100% because people can check more than Number is greater than 100% because people can check more than one categoryone category

US Average All Other – 5%US Average All Other – 5%

Hispanic – 43%Hispanic – 43%

2042 – no longer a majority race in 2042 – no longer a majority race in the United States. the United States.

COMPONENT SETTINGS FOR MAY 2012

One birth every 8 seconds

One death every 13 seconds

One international migrant (net) every 46 seconds

Net gain of one person every 14 seconds

Sustainable

Difficult to sustain

Growing Declining

1

23

4

FOUR QUADRANTS OF FOUR QUADRANTS OF CONGREGATIONAL LIFE CONGREGATIONAL LIFE

10%

23%

4%

46%

17%

63% declining

Source: The Yearbook

DISCIPLES DISCIPLES

CONGREGATIONS TODAYCONGREGATIONS TODAY

Energy

Intimacy

Program

Administration-Energy

-Intimacy

-Program

-Administration

Financial Viability

Energy

Intimacy

Program

Administration-Energy

-Intimacy

-Program

-Administration

Financial Viability

Energy

Intimacy

Program

Administration-Energy

-Intimacy

-Program

-Administration

Financial Viability

Ask the vitality questionAsk the vitality questionGreat Commandment + Great Great Commandment + Great Commission=Commission=

10 Outreach + 0 new members / baptisms= 10 Outreach + 0 new members / baptisms= 1010

Great Commandment X Great Great Commandment X Great Commission =Commission =

10 Outreach x 0 new members / baptisms= 10 Outreach x 0 new members / baptisms= 00

Re-focus missionRe-focus missionWhat need exists in our community What need exists in our community today that we seek to addresstoday that we seek to address

People don’t know the stories of JesusPeople don’t know the stories of Jesus

Spiritual, but not religious Spiritual, but not religious

Re-focus visionRe-focus visionIn three to five years we will…In three to five years we will…

In three to five years as a result of…In three to five years as a result of…

Characteristics of growing Characteristics of growing congregationscongregations

High spiritual vitalityHigh spiritual vitality

Worship that joyfully connects to the Worship that joyfully connects to the Holy and connects to compelling Holy and connects to compelling opportunities for responseopportunities for response

Distinctive purpose (mission / vision)Distinctive purpose (mission / vision)

Willingness to evolve (5 yrs)Willingness to evolve (5 yrs)

Looking at the next size Looking at the next size congregationcongregation

What do they doWhat do they do

How do they do itHow do they do it

What can we learnWhat can we learn

What do we need to do to “get there”What do we need to do to “get there”

What do our numbers say?What do our numbers say?Age of attendeesAge of attendees

Average worship attendanceAverage worship attendance

Small group participation Small group participation

Financial viability Financial viability

What about our community?What about our community?Who lives around us? Who lives around us?

What are their needs?What are their needs?

If we weren’t doing “x” today would If we weren’t doing “x” today would we begin it, because it is key to who we begin it, because it is key to who we are, what we do and how we we are, what we do and how we understand ourselves as a understand ourselves as a community? community?

Have someone from the outside Have someone from the outside who does not know the church who does not know the church “mystery shop” the congregation. “mystery shop” the congregation.

How were they received? How were they received?

Could they find the sanctuary? Could they find the sanctuary?

What wasn’t in the worship bulletin? What wasn’t in the worship bulletin?

Hope Partnership for Missional Hope Partnership for Missional TransformationTransformation

New Beginnings Assessment Service New Beginnings Assessment Service helps congregations in decline assess helps congregations in decline assess their strengths and weaknesses through their strengths and weaknesses through missional refocusing.missional refocusing.

Joyful Noise Joyful Noise

Do you believe…?Do you believe…?