A brochure, "Take a new road together: Missional opportunities for you and your congregation," has been sent to congregations in the September issue of Equipping Canada. The brochure invites individuals to learn about missional formation and congregational partnerships in mission. (Information is also available at www.mennonitechurch.ca.)
The initiative provides five ways to explore missional church perspectives, each designed for different groups. It also lists ways that congregations can partner in mission.
The hoped for outcome, says Jack Suderman, executive secretary of MC Canada Witness, is to help congregations establish clarity of purpose, and address how their programs, budgets, and character align with their vision, and ultimately to partner with others to continue God's mission.
The journey will take participants from inspiration through conviction to transformation, says Suderman. "But the biggest challenge is transformation, and no one should underestimate that. I liken it to the Kyoto accord -- citizens truly desire to do what is good and right for the environment, but are they willing to take the car to work for only two days a week?"
MC Canada has a half-time staff person in each area conference (except Alberta, where an appointment is yet to be made) charged with responding to churches' requests for missional formation and partnerships.
"We were invited to help a congregation go through a visioning process last year," said Suderman. "This congregation had reams of activity, everybody was busy, but energy was lagging and people felt a lack of purpose to their busyness...."
The congregation shared its vision, mission and purpose statements with Suderman, who "noticed right away that all three of the statements lacked any reference to God."
Leaders determined that a new emphasis on God's mission could provide the sense of connection to a greater purpose. They set a priority statement, which focuses each activity in its alignment with God's purpose. "Significant energy has already come from this," said Suderman. -- From MC Canada release by Daniel Rempel
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