Report to the Christian Church to Phase I Transformation Process: Where Are We Today?
Congregational life has vastly changed in the years since most churches began their ministry. The same is true of the regional church. These changes affect how we experience faith and how we respond to God's call to serve today's world. The surrounding culture is less supportive of faith communities; local and global economies impact us; many churches have aging memberships; more demands are placed on local pastors, leaving them less time for regional and national obligations; most homes are filled with frantic efforts to keep up with the world's demands, resulting in constant activity, whether it be fruitful or in vain.
It is in this context that the Transformation Team of the Christian Church in Tennessee was called into service. Over the past seven months we have made our ears attentive to the voices in the region through listening conferences, online surveys and one-on-one interviews. This is the first step in our transformation process as we listen as God's voice calls us into the future.
After thoughtful prayer, we offer these insights into our region's ministry:
As a region, we are hungry for a new vision for regional life and ministry.
Consistently, we understand the work of the region to include ritual leadership (ordinations and installations), search and call (the process of helping congregations call a minister), camp and conferences, and service to the world. Beyond these shared understandings, we are missing theological foundations to imagine who we are as a region and what our ministry together should look like.
Without a vision, our shared expectations are low and we have become apathetic. As a region we have settled for the status quo and taken the road of least resistance. While there are strong ministries in the region in many areas we have forgotten to strive for excellence in ministry, leadership and mission.
Questions for Discernment
What theological understandings call us into ministry together?
How can God work through us as we seek to be God's people?
What is your prayer for the region as we seek new vision? What is your prayer for the region's leadership?
We are burdened by our own structure.
As Disciples, we are strongly connected to our local congregations, where we are nurtured and challenged to discern and act on God's calling. Disciples have consistently resisted hierarchy. Few are aware of the structure of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), regionally or nationally. As a result, it is difficult to recruit strong leadership for regional positions, to enjoy financial security and to communicate the role of the region in the life of the church.
In addition, the national church puts demands onregions that are unknown to most in the region. It is a challenge, maybe impossible, for a regional staff of one professional regional minister to meet all these demands.
Questions for discernment
How can we develop nimble operating practices that more clearly support the work the region is called to do? This may include a more lean commission design, as well as better use of technology and networking systems.
Are we called to consider partnerships (from strategic alliances to merger) that will allow our regional minister to focus on the essential aspects of regional life?
What is your prayer for the region as we re-imagine our operation and practices?
We are a diverse region and our connection is fragile
Our region's rolling hills cross the musical spectrum from rock and blues, to country and, finally, Appalachian bluegrass. We are diverse in race, ethnicity, culture, language, sexual identity, gender, age and geography. Our churches are diverse in size, economic resources, environment (rural and urban, growing and declining populations), as well as theology and biblical interpretation.
The fastest growing segment of Disciples in Tennessee (both in number of new churches established as well as new members) is people of color. By and large, these congregations do not feel part of regional life and our current model for regional ministry is not bridging the divide.
In the midst of all our differences, we are united in one God made known to us through Jesus Christ. For all that separates us, we have a yearning to be God's beloved community, brothers and sisters. Our core Disciple theology of Christian unity calls us to stick together.
Questions for Discernment
How are we called into ministry together?
What opportunities do we have to witness the fulfillment of God's reign through our communities?
What is your prayer for the region as we grow toward God's beloved community?
The region is unknown in the pews.
A consistent theme in the listening conferences was that congregations don't know what the region does, why it is important to the local church and why giving financially to the region is a faithful response to God's call. The financial condition of the region reflects this indifference.
At the same time, we recognize God calls us to ministries that we can't do alone as an isolated congregation. Our shared ministries include--Camp and Conference (Bethany Hills), new church starts, Commission on Ministry (ordination), Search & Call (pastoral search), disaster response and global missions. These ministries are part of the Christian Church in Tennessee made possible by our financial gifts to the region.
Pastors recognized their isolation from fellow Disciples clergy. The desire for more fellowship time, leadership development and study were articulated. At the same time, opportunities for fellowship are often not made a priority.
Questions for Discernment
What theological understandings call us into ministry together?
What is your prayer for the region as we engage in shared ministries and for the ministers serving our congregations?
The "Transformation Logo" was designed by KK Wiseman.
Transformation Logo Symbolism
- The leaf is from a Tulip poplar -- the state tree of Tennessee; represents whole region
- Using a symbol from nature -- rather than a more secular or political symbol -- is deliberate; a sign of our desire to seek Unity beyond our differences
- The leaf & chalice overlap creating three parts -- each unique and each necessary to complete the whole; representing West, Middle & East Tennessee (our unofficial sub-regions)
- The leaf reminds us of growth, connection, generations & seasons;
- The individual leaf & the one Cup remind us that each of us and each of our congregations and our region are an individual, unique, parts of the whole;
- Complete symbols in themselves that point to greater truth this particular leaf, and its placement over the cup, also suggests 'fire' -- pointing us to the Holy Spirit and Pentecost the leaf stem also suggests a 'river' -- movement; living water; boundaries; definition; divisions.