Bishop Gordon P. Scruton is an avid reader, but never before has a book he’s read captured the imagination of so many clergy in the Diocese and had the potential to significantly shape the vision and future of the Diocese.
Some months ago, the bishop read and was moved by “We Are Here Now: A New Missional Era,” by Patrick Keifert, a systematic theology professor at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., and the president and director of research for Church Innovations Institute.
His book reflects on the changes occurring in our culture and in Christian churches in our country from the perspective of Scripture and Christian Tradition. Based on the research experience of consulting with congregations over the past 18 years, Patrick also recommends in his book a process, called Partnership for Missional Church, for helping congregations learn to discern God’s preferred and promised future.
Patrick’s experience has shown that congregations learn best how to listen for and follow God’s guidance when they are in relationship with other congregations who are also seeking to listen for and follow God’s guidance.
Bishop Scruton was especially moved by Patrick’s book, so much so that he asked each of the seven clergy deans to read it, hoping they would “catch” his excitement and perhaps be interested in exploring the idea of the Partnership for Missional Church. The bishop saw in the Partnership process the potential for growth in mission and service in the Diocese.
Yes, the deans read the book, but no, they caught no sense of its excitement. At first.
Then, Patrick was invited to speak at this year’s Clergy Conference, held in May. The expectation was that Patrick would speak in general terms about mission theology and strategy but would not expound on the Partnership concept.
When clergy heard him speak, though, they were drawn into the theological and historical vision for a church in mission and the possibilities of utilizing new ways of listening for and discerning God’s unique call to mission in each congregation. In fact, the clergy were so moved by the vision Patrick was expressing that they gave up some of their free time during the conference so that they could hear Patrick speak more about the Partnership concept.
“The Holy Spirit was moving at clergy conference, touching the hearts and minds of the clericus,” said Archdeacon William Coyne. “We are looking at effective new ways to live the Gospel.”
Now, clergy and congregations from across the Diocese are excited about the potential for commitment to the Partnership for Missional Church process through the Church Innovations Institute. Bill says that 15 congregations have expressed interest in the program and others are interested in facets of the program.
“There’s a wave here of the Spirit moving and people saying, ‘Tell us more,’” he said.
He says through the program, which is a development model for congregations, Diocesan parishes will learn to listen more deeply to where they are, where God may be calling them to be and what they need to grow and move forward into God’s preferred and promised future for their ministry in their situation.
“We think there’s something here for everybody,” says Bill, who recommends that Diocesan clergy read the book and discuss its topics with colleagues and with leaders in their congregations.
Bishop Scruton says, “God’s Spirit is doing something new among us.”
For more information, visit www.churchinnovations.org.
Next Steps
On Nov. 15, an introduction to the Partnership for Missional Church will be held in the Diocese.
Clergy and groups of four or five lay leaders from a congregation who sense a call to explore this new opportunity for discovering God’s call to mission in their congregation are encouraged to attend. Lutheran colleagues in the area will also be invited to join in this gathering.
The cluster of congregations who commit to this process of mission discernment will begin to work together in March 2009.
Says Bishop Gordon P. Scruton, “It’s a two-ball throw. It’s the energy of the throw that comes back at you. We can work together if the ball comes back and is returned with vigor.”