If we take the priesthood of all believers seriously, then evaluation of ministry should include the whole congregation. While the clergy and staff are critical components of the ministry of a congregation, they are only one part of the body. It is the whole congregation that is the Body of Christ, and it is within the whole congregation that the Word is fleshed out or incarnated. Because we believe that God has “blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessings . . . and chose us in Christ before the foundations of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.” (Eph 1:3-4), we have the exegetical task of understanding God’s word as expressed in our particular congregation. I realize that is a heady challenge but what I want to emphasize here is that it is a challenge for the whole congregation and each of its component parts.
A first step is for the session and pastoral staff to sit together and look at their whole ministry. See if you can pare it down to eight strengths and eight areas that might at first be considered as weaknesses. The eight strengths should be considered God given gifts that can be affirmed and recognized as part of the framework for this congregation’s call to ministry. If God has provided us the gifts necessary for our ministry, then what do the gifts we recognize say to us about the shape of our ministry.
The so called weaknesses can also be clues for our call as a congregation. If, for example, we are not a large church, then we might reverse that and consider what are the benefits we can derive from our smallness? If we have lost members due to our changing neighborhood, then how can God call us to respond to our new neighborhood? If we have been weakened by squabbles and conflict, then can God, whose good news was proclaimed in the midst of conflict that led to the cross, also guide us in our response that can deepen our faith and strengthen our witness.
We will continue to explore this over the next several days but the first step is boldly to evaluate our situation and seek to listen to God’s call for the particular congregation of which we are a part.
