The Three Phases of Congregational Renewal

Congregational Renewal realigns a congregation with God's intents. Renewal describes what happens to the people individually and corporately – they develop a renewed heart for God, self, and other that results in action.

The process of renewal seeks to shift a congregation from personal and congregational self-absorption and aimless meandering to an outward focused community of disciples who have a shared sense of purpose and mission and whose relationships embody the "kin"dom of God. While aware of their past, the renewed congregation is fully aware of the realities of their present, and works to shape their future by aligning their efforts with their best discernment of God's aims.

Congregational Renewal can be broken down into three phases of work.
Phase One: Developing Readiness In phase one, something happens that alerts congregational leaders that what's currently being experienced is not enough. This might be a crisis that jeopardizes the future of the congregation, or an experience of God that provides a taste of the "something more" that's possible.

The first step in instigating renewal is the gathering of a small group of people who talk, study, pray, and wonder together about the "something more" that might be possible for their congregation. This germinating group is formational for those participating, giving them a deeper taste of Christian community than what might currently be experienced in the congregation. This group continues and expands informally until there is sufficient desire to make congregational renewal a formal, sanctioned effort.

At that point, the congregation's governing board (or more typically, a task-force they appoint) explores renewal as a new and intentional path for the congregation, a path different from that which it's currently on. The board assesses the current state of the congregation and its trajectory as well as participating in formational conversations similar to those had within the germinating group.

For renewal to pervade the congregation, congregational leaders must serve as yeast. They need to have a sense of the difference renewal can make personally and corporately. They must want it for themselves and want it for the congregation. When they are convinced that the congregation's current trajectory is no longer acceptable, they make the formal commitment to find a new path and lead the congregation in renewal. If an urgency of crisis originally drove the push for renewal, the urgency must now be shifting within the leaders to an urgency of hope and opportunity.

Phase Two: Surfacing a Guiding VisionIn phase two, the broader congregation is invited into formational work to deepen their awareness of and openness to God. This emphasis pervades all areas of congregational life. This phase is best directed by a sub-group (Vision Team) commissioned by he governing board. This group, comprised of the pastor and key laity, develop strategies for preparing the congregation and leading them through a discernment of God' vision for the congregation. This group is formative for its members and for the governing board to which it reports.

In this phase, the congregation and its leaders study the scriptures to anchor themselves in God's will and ways. They reflect on the congregation and how God has worked in and through it in the past and present. They celebrate what has been and determine what, from their past, needs to be carried into the future and what, though it may have once served, should be left behind. Naming and then letting go of pre-conceived notions of what God wants and what their future should look like, the congregation enters into discernment with the aim of surfacing a picture of the future God would have them live into.

This vision is refined and tested. The congregation and its leaders reflect on the cost of saying "yes" to letting it guide them and name what they may have to let go of personally and corporately. When convinced of the rightness of the vision, the governing board official adopts the vision as what will guide the congregation's living and decision-making. The board, to ensure they stay true to this commitment, develops ways to hold itself accountable for what it and the congregation have said they want

Phase Three: Living into the VisionWith a destination in mind and a sense of urgency about getting there, the congregation develops strategies to align all parts of congregational life in service of its mission and vision. Renewal is likely to fall by the wayside or efforts denigrate into new forms of the same old patterns, unless a group is authorized to shepherd the process.

In phase three, the focus is on six areas: development of new initiatives; realignment of existing ministries and programs; congregational care; staff development; lay leadership development, and ongoing personal and corporate formation. Attention must be given to each of the areas. Ignoring any of them will lead to trouble.Up until now, changes have been talked about, but few have been instituted. Actual changes can be unsettling. Phase three can generate significant conflict and resistance. Care must be taken to communicate often and regularly and to listen deeply and compassionately. Part of the challenge of phase three is using conflict and the energy it produces constructively and creatively.

Renewal can be considered complete when spiritual formation is seen as regular part of every member's life, relationships embody the "kin"dom of God, and the congregation has a deep and pervasive concern for the temporal and spiritual well-being of those beyond its doors that manifests in action.

- Dan Smith and Mary Huycke