August 23 Meeting Summary

Summary of August 23 Meeting

Tim led in thoughts from Paul Brubaker on spiritual fatigue referencing Luke 6.

Galen collected Letters of Recommendation from those who had received them

A) Re-discussion of Critical Question: After discussion of definition and process, we agreed to the following: How do pastors develop and perpetuate Christian missional ministry and lead missional movements?

B) Sharing of personal reasons for interest in this question:

Galen: Has spent most of his life in traditional churches with concern for survival, church business, maintaining the status quo, and not risking ourselves. Trying to break out of myopia which is strangling ourselves and develop missionary strategies. Catch the vision and lead

Jay: Theology informs our actions through the Great Commission. Our identity as Christians forces us to be missional.

Tim: Sick and tired of doing church just to do it. Life is found in mission, it is the purpose why I live.

Dave W.: Desire to get past sermon as the only thing that get’s done as bi-vocational pastor

Rob: Has seen church buried under itself and scared of being missional, Need for purpose and re-learning

David U: Return to the original vision of ministry when God called me

C) Discussion of Objectives: Lead to the following:

1) Define what missional is

2) List obstacles and barriers to development of true missional leadership

3) Identify and characterize two or three Christian missional leaders and communities

4) Each of us should write an original plan (paradigm, description, process) for our own ministry context

5) Develop a community that supports and nurtures each other in developing missional ministries

D) Discussion of Immersion Retreat: Expressed hopes to vist two churches in Hawaii, Mosaic in LA, and one in Grand Rapids. This information to be given to Rob for logistics and feasibility ($$).Dave W. to put together letter and make some contacts. Subsequent conversations confirmed early May 2006 as best time.

E) Discussion of Learning Activities

1) Visit churches in Immersion Retreat and McClaren’s church in Washington, DC, making time to interview leadership

2) Become well-versed in publication of churches visited and books on reading list

3) De-brief with one another after visits and reading

4) Participate in Bible Study of Acts with appropriate aids

5) Field test what we’re learning in each of our congregations simultaneously, and in our own lives

Titles of books and learning resources should be submitted to group

We need to work on Evaluation part.

Next meeting is 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 13 at Cornerstone