Comments on: 10 Misconceptions About Missional

By: fliggin

fliggin — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:10:59 +0000

@ChrisMorton82 Small world! Gailyn has walked with me for a while now. You’re right. I missed the “suddenly” piece probably, well, because I am not sure there is a “suddenly” when it comes to true missional renewal. It has taken us two and half years here where I serve, and we are still turning corners. It is a long, transformative process but one that can and should be embraced. Despite the challenges it has been a beautiful ride witnessing God transform hearts and replant culture. I am in awe of what he is doing. I only wished these stories were told more often, but sadly it seems as though stories of missional renewal are not a part of the conversation. This was the impetus to my response.

Yes, Branson’s work along with Moschella (http://www.amazon.com/Ethnography-As-Pastoral-Practice-Introduction/dp/0829817743) were my guiding texts when I came to serve here and help work toward missional renewal. Excellent helps!

If you will be at Missio Alliance I hope to meet you there. And again, good post bro. And thank you for your response.

By: ChrisMorton82

ChrisMorton82 — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 23:57:29 +0000

@jrrozko Thanks, JR. Also, thanks for spreading the love. See you in April!

By: ChrisMorton82

ChrisMorton82 — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 23:57:03 +0000

@fliggin Thanks for your response. I know Gailyn & Becky well, and love what you guys are doing! Keep in mind I said that “If your church SUDDENLY became missional, you’d probably kill it.” What you are describing is incremental change, which, in time, by the power of the Holy Spirit, can change anything (even me.)That being said, in another way, missional change will kill some aspects of your church. The self-gratifying aspects that make you more of a social club than a body on mission become irrelevant and bothersome. That will probably be painful. The end result will be a new body with the best DNA of the original.

Have you read Mark Lau Branson’s work on Appreciative Inquiry (http://amzn.to/Yoaiap)? It covers a lot of what you’re describing..

By: fliggin

fliggin — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 23:26:52 +0000

Great work, bro. One point of interest: statement 4 isn’t necessarily true. I serve with Mission Alive who plants missional churches and help existing churches make the slow move toward missional renewal. I have the honor of working closely and intimately (huddles, etc) with other church leaders/disciples in existing churches toward missional renewal. Personally I have witnessed God take the 48 year old church whom I serve with as a minister (for 2 1/2 years) from a programmatic, inward focused, institutional church toward missional renewal. When you say that “dismantling” you are, in part, very right. It takes a new posture, new orientation, deconstruction, systemic overhaul, and gobs and gobs of grace, love and patience. But it is very possible if a church is willing to build a discipling culture and pursue God’s mission with a new posture and orientation that identifies and embraces the missional impulse beating within.

Again, I am in no way criticizing or disagreeing with your very well done and in my opinion, spot-on essay. I only add this thread because I want other guy/gals who serve in existing churches to know that as long as the Spirit is given room to work, there is hope.

By: jrrozko

jrrozko — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 21:53:47 +0000

Really, really well done Chris, thanks!!