In this series on a Third Way approach to preaching and the teaching ministry of the local church, I have suggested that we need to de-focus from the sermon being the be-all and end-all of education, and I have also argued that we need to develop an outcome based model. That is, all teaching in a church can be subsumed under some overall general "outcomes," and outcomes are measurable behaviors, attitudes and habits.
One of the issues that arises in an outcome based model is constructing the outcomes, and a huge, huge issue is that they must be organic and owned. Top-down approaches rarely work; guidance and mentoring are the desired approach. So, here's some suggestions on how to construct outcomes in a local church.
Second, the elders (or deacons or leaders) of a local church need to do the above: first individually and then together discovering and discussing what they find. Always the question is: "What do we want our church, together and individually, to be able to do as a result of the educational ministries of the church?"
The pastoral staff observes -- doesn't contribute -- the following three discussions.
Third, I would recommend that all Sunday School teachers do the same -- perhaps with a Saturday morning breakfast and discussion.
Fourth, I would recommend all parents do the same -- and again bring them together on a Saturday morning to discern and discuss.
Fifth, do the same with 20somethings -- I need not rehearse my attraction to this group, nor need I discuss how important they are ... and you might be surprised what they have to say.
At this point a local church can decide if the congregation has participated. Once the whole congregation has participated, a dialogue can begin between the various groups. The goal is to discern and discuss and then own the outcomes.
The pastoral staff, since it has already been through this process and since it has observed, needs to be the mentor in the final process of determining together the outcomes for the church. A Saturday morning, or maybe more than one, could get all groups together to discuss the top outcomes.
The next question to ask is this: How can we get there? What do we need to do? Etc.
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RJS asks how pastors think that this would work.
This gets to the nub of the issue: How equipped and prepared are pastors and other leaders to solicit, listen to, discern and then engage what the congregation, let alone the Holy Spirit, express as the needs and goals of the church? IMHO accomplishing these goals will take a dramatic paradigm shift in how we think about leadership and what kind of leaders we educate, promote and employ in our churches.
A second issue, at least in the context where I attend church and think about leadership, is: Given our specific geographic and demographic location, ought this be merely a discussion in the congregation, or should it include neighors and community stakeholders as well?
Finally, regarding RJS's first point -- I would specifically say that middle school and high school students need to be given an opportunity to claim ownership in any such process.
Wow! I'm reading this and thinking the same thing, "How do we get there?" I really like the ideas of CE teachers getting together. That's one area we're missing in my church. I couldn't even get them to show up for a teachers training class. I guess each church has to assess it's culture and determine the best way to get there. We're in the midst of a pastoral search, so that could be the opportune time to launch into something new like this.
Pat,
I believe you are right. This is the opportune time. God's blessings in the search and the "getting there."
Peace,
Randy Gabrielse
I would sat we must stop 'educating, promoting and employing' as a necessary first step.
I like the plan as it is laid out here--but won't you end up with 200 differant needs and goal? How do you get people of any age to look at what the church's mission is rather than their own needs?
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