The Mission
When a Congregation is in Crisis, It's Missio Dei is impaired.
As Christ’s body, the church exists by virtue of its participation in God’s mission,
the missio Dei.
When dysfunction in the church distracts the body of Christ from this participation, the church is inhibited in its mission. This dysfunction stems from many different sources. Some responsibility lies with the clergy of our church who, for various reasons, fail to make choices that are emotionally or spiritually healthy. These faulty choices create environments of distrust and, in extreme cases, of contention and contempt.
Some responsibility lies in the generational patterns of the congregation. Patterns of immature behavior, power struggle, or fear of the unknown are repeated over time and become institutionalized as the status quo. These ingrained patterns of behavior make it virtually impossible for new leadership to be effective in developing vision and empowering mission.
The damage caused by clergy or congregational dysfunction uses up time, talent, and treasure, as well as diminishes the morale and hope of congregations. Such dysfunction also directly affects evangelism by giving the un-churched a reason to stay away. It undermines our focus on the gospel message of reconciliation and leaves congregations in cycles of dysfunction and pain that can last for generations.
This does not have to be the case...