Missional Mindset - Reggie McNeal
I don't know how many of you read Buildingchurchleaders.com, but they just came out with a nice article (http://buildingchurchleaders.com/articles/2009/missionalmindset.html) about Reggie McNeal. It deals with his new book 'Missional Renaissance,' which, according to Reggie, "...is the biggest reshaping of the church since the Reformation."
In the article it says he, "...warned pastors and staff members that shifting to this mode means more than completing an annual community service project. Instead, he said it calls for an incarnational mindset where pastors and other church leaders live transparently, discipling others through close relationships and accountability."
There's a nice part about the missional church requiring a "new vision and scorecard to measure how it is doing." He pointed out how one church, instead of worrying about how many attended Sunday School or worship services, they want to ensure that all students in their county will be able to read English by third grade. He believes things like this not only help the community, but they "grease the skids for God" - meaning it creates opportunities for evangelistic conversations to happen.
McNeal says there are three shifts needed for a program-driven church to become missional:
1. Changing from internal ministry to an external focus.
2. Asking, "Are our people better off because of what we've done?
3. Moving from church-based leadership to apostolic leadership.
Regarding the last shift McNeals says, "Instead of a minister saying, 'I'm pastor of First Baptist,' he or she would proclaim, 'I'm pastor of the community and my support team is First Baptist.'
It's not a very long article, and I recommend reading the whole thing. I really like Reggie. He's an older cat who knows his stuff. And to show that I am not TOTALLY down on my denom/region... I am quite happy that he will be the featured speaker at the Midwest Region Conference Convention this summer. I am definitely looking forward to it.
posted by dan at 8:31 AM
4 Comments:
Good stuff, Dan.
I'm a big fan of Reggie's stuff.
Thanks.
I too am a fan. What MUST happen in Midwest Region is to leave behind the "Take or leave it" attitude following McNeal's presentation. Groups must be formed of both pastors and leaders asking.
1. Do we understand what McNeal was saying?
2. What does it mean in the context of our local ministry?
3. How do we introduce this ministry shift in our local ministry?
i could say a lot on this, both good and bad. i'll stick to one thing that stuck out at me: one that third point, the article says
For years, pastors screamed at people and were happy if a couple responded to their invitation, but in a missional church relationships reign supreme, McNeal said. What that means is that a pastor has to be led by the Spirit so he or she can detect when another person is receptive to the truth.
that first bolded bit seems to be the antithesis of what you guys are striving for: that truth should reign supreme, and that relationships should be built on that.
i don't disagree that relationships are vital. the greatest commandments are about relationship: love between you and God and between you and your neighbor. that's relational.
but until you know truth, you can't love. it's rejoicing and trusting and being satisfied in the great truth about Christ that we have that is how we love and glorify God most, and the best way to love your neighbor, both Christian and unbelieving, is to constantly point them to it.
am i completely off base here? or is that idea of being relationship first the exact thing you're fighting?
quick side note: pastors don't shepherd the external community, according to Scripture. they shepherd the sheep, which are the believers. they work for the betterment of the community, certainly. but they are the pastors of the church.
Walt,
You raise some good points. In my opinion I think Reggie is probably talking in a more specifically evangelical sense here though. I think what is being discussed in conversations dealing with shepherds, prophets, apostles, etc. is dealing more with a church leadership model or function.
I would agree that the truth of Christ should reign supreme. But it's not going to reign supreme with someone who doesn't buy it. I think it's a matter of context.
Post a Comment
<< Home