LCMS World Mission: Mission Revitalization Process

Congregational Consultations Many LCMS districts are currently involved in the Transforming Congregations Network (Mission Revitalization Process.) District staff and selected pastors are receiving training as congregational consultants with a strategy derived from Paul Borden, author of Hit the Bulls Eye and Direct Hit. As these individuals complete their training, they will be certified to conduct consultations in local congregations. The consultation takes place over a weekend, and involves considerable preparation on the part of the congregation in advance. In the consultation, specific recommendations are made which are designed to focus the congregation on growth through outreach. The shift in the congregation's focus from inward to outward is an ongoing process, which will be assisted by a district team walking with the congregation for a year or more, and support for the pastor through the structure of a learning community. Pilot consultations have been taking place in three regions during 2007, and the hope is that many more will take place in 2008 all across the synod as more and more certified consultants are trained.

The weekend consultation consists of interviews with all staff and key leaders, and with focus groups. Most of the second day is spent with the positional leaders of the congregation. These sessions lay out the case for revitalization through outreach, as well as help the consulting team to further assess the needs of the congregation. Sunday morning worship is focused on revitalization, and afterward a “town hall” forum is conducted in which the consulting team lays out the assessments and gives specific prescriptions. The prescriptions are few, generally five, but are challenging. These aim at the areas of greatest impact leading to a transformation of the congregation, and come with a definite timeline for completion. After the consultation, the congregation is given a period of time to decide whether or not to accept the prescriptions, which they must vote up or down as a whole. If the congregation decides to accept the prescriptions, they will enter into a covenant with the district team which will hold them accountable to accomplishing their goals in a timely fashion.

Consultants will be trained and certified by the national revitalization team in cooperation with the Center for US Missions. Potential consultants must demonstrate in their own ministry that they have been active in transforming a congregation. Typically it is desirable that the consultant be a pastor who has led his congregation past the 200 mark in average weekly attendance. The certification includes participation on consulting team for at least four consultations, one of which would take place as part of the Consultant Training Event (See above). In a final requirement the trainee leads a consultation under the mentorship of a previously certified consultant.