It is a rare opportunity for the visionary minority to encounter an interested audience with whom they may share their creative visions. The written workwill produce insights and documentation that the visionary minority will be eager to share with interested and informed persons and particularly with me as the author. This discussion will be encouraged both through the online community and semi-annual district “Reunion” gatherings of seminar participants. The process of doing the written work will ensure contextualization within the local church. As participants document their application of the principles, the depth of their understanding will be demonstrated in their writing which can be uploaded and shared at the Website. The Office of Congregational Development can assign a consultant when a church demonstrates readiness for rapid advancement. All dialogue will provide data for ongoing assessment.
As counting creates accountability, I also hope and expect to see a measurable rise in all quantitative measurements reported annually to the conference by participating churches, including worship attendance, small group participation, baptisms and new members by profession of faith. This project is designed to enhance all of the eight quality characteristics of Natural Church Development; the Natural Church Development test, repeated annually, should provide an objective means of measuring improvement in participating churches.[1]
QUOTE [1]
NOTE
DISCERNMENT QUESTIONS
RESOURCES
[1] The quote is a selection from David O. Kueker’s Fuller Seminary Doctor of Ministry project submitted in September, 2007, entitled Diagnosis, Dialogue, and Decision: A Threefold Process of Revitalization For the Illinois Great Rivers Conference.
It is shared here in recognition of its 12th Anniversary along with comments to update and provide perspective on the material. The original project was a Training Manual/Study Guide of three Seminars supported by three chapters of research and an Introduction. The material is available for download at www.disciplewalk.com/Resources.html. In 2009 it was provided for purchase as a softcover book entitled Designing Discipleship Systems: Christian Disciple Making For Any Size Church, Any Theology through CreateSpace.com.
[2][3] [4][5] [6][7] [8]
All Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Please review the page How and Why We Use Quotes.
[1]Schwarz, Natural Church Development,15-48.