
Purpose: To help our congregations view our changing culture as an opportunity and invitation to refocus energy and resources toward becoming communities of Jesus that nurture life-changing relationships with God, one another, and the world.*
Vital Congregations* are places where. . .
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Worship is dynamic and authentic
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Leaders are respectful of boundaries
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Leaders participate in and engage with their local communities
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Members treat each other as fellow members of the body of Christ
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Diversity is honored and respected
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People are willing to engage in holy experiments & open to change & risk
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Faith is nurtured
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Gathering spaces are attractive and inviting
* This is the definition of vitality being used throughout the ELCA.
Congregational Vitality
Surveys:
Every congregation is invited to take a congregation-wide vitality survey which helps them understand how they are connecting people to God, to one another, and to the world.
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Cost to take the survey is $100 (Remaining cost is covered by a synod grant.)
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Survey results are shared with church council and leadership to provide a starting place for congregations to begin setting goals and priorities.
Why Participate
Research from congregations in the Oregon Synod who participated in an intentional congregation vitality process showed these long-term effects. . .
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Theological imagination expanded - able to articulate how God is active and how they join God in that activity
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Clarified sense of purpose within God's mission
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Increased mutual agreement with neighbors
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Deeper congregational member connections with God, each other, and the world
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New lay leaders identified and engaged
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Increased mission support
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Increased worship attendance
Learn more about the Faithful Innovation Learning Community
For questions or further information, please contact. . .
Aimée Appell aappell@css-elca.org
This initiative is being funded in part through a generous gift from Faith Lutheran Church, Prairie Village, which closed in 2017 and dispersed its assets to fund ministry throughout the church and community.