Welcome to the sixth article in a series designed to enhance the use of the Small Membership Church Guideline. Ideally, this Guideline will be shared among your church leaders, read, discussed together, and utilized to strengthen ministry.

Here are some discussion questions intended to help you to get the most out of this resource in your small membership church.

When was the last time a small group in your church simply talked about how the congregation was doing in the area of mission and ministry? (The mission of the church is to make disciples — how your congregation accomplishes this in your location is your unique ministry.) This article gives a process for having this conversation.

Reflect on the Mission and Ministry of the Church

Gather a small group together in a setting that is conducive to conversation. Try a place that you do not usually have meetings (someone's home or even a community gathering place).

Welcome people and have them sit comfortably. While waiting for the session to begin ask people to remember what brought them to the congregation and what keeps them involved. Begin the discussion by thanking people for attending the gathering.

Read from Scripture. Ask someone to read aloud Acts 2:42-47 or another passage that speaks to the purpose of the church. Invite individuals to recall their responses to why they came to the church and why they keep involved.

• What are the similarities and differences from the Bible passage?
• Why and how was your congregation formed?
• Why does your congregation exist today?
• Who would miss the church if it were not there?
• Does your congregation understand the difference between (a) a non-profit organization that seeks to do good with the property and leadership it has; (b) a voluntary association (for example, a club where a person opts in or out to participate); and (c) a congregation in which spiritual formation is formal (taught) and informal (modeled)?
• Which organization would the average member think you are?

Do a NOW(rm) exercise. Distribute 4 different colored self-stick notes to individuals and invite them to write four activities/responses that the congregation actively does, each on its own note. When all have finished, post the ministry ideas on a wall under the following categories: Nurture (suggested color: pink), Outreach (suggested color: yellow), Witness (suggested color: blue), Resource Ministry (suggested color: green) (see pages 25-43 for NOW(rm) descriptions).

Look at the list carefully. Place duplicate notes together. Invite people to reflect on what they notice about the activities of the church. Review each category for what is missing.

• Are the activities "inward" or "outward" focused? spiritually alive? Star newer ministries.
• Overall, are the categories balanced? If not, which has the most focus?

Next, do a NOW Ministry exercise. Look at several key ministries with an eye to who participates (and whom you might be missing). Label three pieces of newsprint, each with one of these headings: Nurture, Outreach, and Witness. Under each heading list one or two ministries, and for each ministry identify the participants according to Age (children, youth, young adult, middle adult, older adult, generational); Membership (yes/no); Occupation (including student); Interests/concerns; Newcomers (yes/no).

Look over the two NOW(rm) and NOW Ministry exercises. Compare the responses.

• Are there areas of similarities or difference?
• Do activities reflect contemporary approaches or long-term patterns?
• Do the people participating in the church's ministries reflect the context/community or mainly your membership?
• What does this tell you about whom you are serving and how you do it?
• How well is ministry planned?
• Are there more meetings than actual ministry? Or does the congregation accomplish its mission well through what it does?
• What proof is there from what has been discussed during this meeting?

End the session with a brief evaluation. Ask: From our conversation during this session,

• What can we affirm about mission and ministry in this congregation?
• What do we believe can be improved that we would be willing to work on with each other?
• Is there any follow-up to this meeting (another conversation with each other, sharing information with the congregation and how, etc.)? If so, when will we do it?

Thank you for visiting our website and for giving us the opportunity to serve you.

Julia K. Wallace is former Director of Small Membership Church and Shared Ministries at the General Board of Discipleship.

Diana L. Hynson, editor of this series of articles, is Director of Learning and Teaching Ministries at the General Board of Discipleship.

Copyright © 2004 The General Board of Discipleship. Permission is granted for use in local church training or study groups. No portion of this article may be reprinted or republished in any form for any other reason without written consent.

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