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Bishop's Book Review

 

Robust Church Development
By Mike Regele

 

Mike Regele and his colleagues from Percept Group are tireless in their optimism and in their statistics and surveys. This company exists to serve the Mainline Churches and the book Robust Church Development is designed to assist mobilizing regional bodies in support of missional congregations.

The role of the mid level judicatory (synods) has been largely seen by all as regulatory. Rules and procedures, reports and meetings are the sum of this level of the church. If that focus is maintained the congregations will only stagnate. Instead, Regele calls upon synods to be much more supportive of congregations in doing their individual ministries. In fact, Regele would tell us spend staff time, energy and money on supporting healthy congregations and their missional work.

The first priority that the whole church needs to develop is a “Passionate Faith.” Deeply rooted in God’s grace, the church must see the need to “Go therefore and make disciples...” Once we have the same reason for building this church the book gives us its “Ten Best Practices” which denominations can use to develop and grow congregations.

These “Best Practices” include a synod commitment to grow. Let us not take that for granted! Growth will require sacrifice. Are we really ready to grow? Developing a Strategic Plan that is owned by the whole synod is essential. Specific Targets must be articulated. We cannot do everything so what can we really accomplish? Measurable actions means to be able to judge our work after a year, two or five. Did we accomplish our goals? Integrated Planning allows us to see outreach as a part of the entire work of the synod. Every group and organization in our synod would need to feel a part of the strategic plan and would be accountable. Capable leadership calls us to find the right people to work in this area. Experience in church development is a priority. Where are these folks? We must also know our area of service. We probably do not really know all we need to about or communities so demographic analysis is key. Now, if all of that isn’t hard enough we must put our money where our vision is located. Financial Support of this work means that at least 10% of the program budget goes to church developing. If this is important we will pay for it–with, say $50,000 a year (for the Northern Great Lakes Synod) in additional budgeted spending! And once you have the vision and the money, we will need designated staff. How would it be if we called another assistant to the bishop for church development? Or if we took away half of the work of our current assistant so she could do this developmental ministry? The last “Best Practice” as delineated by Mike Regele is “Committee Preparation.” We must train our committee members and others involved in this work once these people are identified. Significant time and energy to motivate, train and monitor volunteers is essential.

The critical question that Mike Regale lifts up remains for us as a church. Are we willing to commit ourselves to grow? That is a very good question! The answer is not yet known.

Thomas A. Skrenes
Bishop

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