While I know vitality when I experience it (in a worship service, in an organization, or in a person) it is difficult to articulate exactly what it means.
Microsoft's Encarta offers a helpful definition. Specifically, vitality is defined as:
1. liveliness: abundant physical and mental energy, usually combined with a wholehearted and joyous approach to situations and activities
2. durability: the ability of something to live and grow
This definition suggests a possible checklist for vitality in your congregation. Specifically:
- Do the members of your congregation exhibit abundant energy, both physically and mentally?
- Is there a whole hearted and joyous approach to worship, fellowship, and outreach?
- Is your congregation durable, i.e. is it living and growing?
An alternative checklist for vitality has been developed by the Consultation on Congregational Revitalization from the Presbyterian Church, USA. This group defines the Six Signs of Faithfulness and Vitality in the Church as a congregation that:
- Demonstrates the centrality of worship in its life, and expresses integrity in worshiping God.
- Cares in a variety of ways for every person participating in its life.
- Cares both for the community to which it is called for mission, and for the whole of God's world.
- Participates in denominational and ecumenical expressions of ministry and mission.
- Provides leadership that enlarges the vision of people, helping them to grow in their understanding and expression of the Christian faith.
- Struggles to discern the meaning of the Christian faith for its total life by testing its life and activities against biblical and theological traditions.
2 comments:
I think that much of what we associate with "vitality" can be linked to where a congregation is in its life-cylce. President Michael Cooper-White of Gettysburg Seminary talks about every congregation having a life-cyle sort of like a bell-curve, and I find this a useful image. Congregations with vitality are usually those one the growth side of their life-cycle.
Of course, the characteristics we associate with vitality are large immeasurable; they belong to that large catagory of "soft data." Things like a shared vision and mission, a passion and excitement among the congregation for ministry, and a willingness to reach out in new and exciting ways.
The flip side of this is dying congregations. It is one of the great failures of the church that we have viewed dying congregations as "failures," and pastors have been unwilling to serve them as they needed. We have robbed those dying congregations of the dignitity they deserve.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. It raises the issue of a congregation's need to begin to revision when they reach the point of stability in their life cycle; death isn't an inevitable outcome but the hard (and exciting and Spirit filled) work of casting and moving toward's God's new vision is mandatory.
In case any leaders are interested in more information about lifecyle, a power point is available that allows leaders to share lifecycle information with their congregation. It can be found and downloaded (free!!!) at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/growth_23212_ENG_HTM.htm
Post a Comment