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Unit 3. Developing a Mission Statement  

 

Earlier, we looked at the nature of the church and sought to understand its biblical origins. The mission of the church is the living out of its nature. It is not something the church does in addition to being the church. It is the actual “being” of the church.

Further, we noted that the church as known by individuals is known in the present, local form of assembled believers in Christ. In whatever culture, language, or political setting, the church is the people of God, the body of Christ, the community of the Holy Spirit. It is doing what Christ would do if He were here in the flesh. The church is forgiven and forgiving. It is serving as priests under God on behalf of others. It is hearing, proclaiming, and living by the Word of God. It is binding up the wounds of the hurting. And, all of this is done in praise to God,

Sometimes the local expression of the church strays from its God-ordained reason for being. It may have strayed from its roots or it may have stopped producing fruits. The church–in its human, local expression–may easily slip into a pattern of doing good things, but may neglect the bedrock essentials that characterize the true church of Jesus Christ. If so, it is necessary to take stock, to review purpose and reason for being. The church exists for the sake of its mission. Mission is always the starting point and the ending point – and in between is the process of carrying out the mission.

When the church’s mission statement focuses on what it is in business to do, and when members have reached consensus on what God wants them to do, then can everyone begin to say, “This is my church and this is my contribution to its ministries.”

According to Peter Drucker, “Every three to five years you should look at the mission; again to decide if it needs to be refocused.”* Rick Warren stated in his book, “It is thrilling to see apathetic members become enthusiastic as they rediscover how God desires to use them and their church.”* Just because you and the leader may be enthusiastic about the church’s mission, don’t assume everyone is. People give their loyal support and commitment to concepts and ideas they are led to discover for themselves.

Leading Your Church to Define Its Mission: Six Practical Steps

Now, let’s consider six steps in leading the church to develop, redefine, or renew its mission statement:

(1) Search the Scriptures – Begin with the Book. In small and large group settings, involve church members in a study of key biblical passages on the church. As you study these passages, keep asking the questions, “What did Jesus do while He was here? What are the New Testament images of the church? What did the first churches do? What did Jesus tell the church to be and to do?”

  • Jesus Christ, the Origin (Matt. 16:13-19)
  • The Word of God – The Emergence of the Gospel (Mark 1:14; Acts 2:23-28; 1 Cor. 15:3-8; Romans 1:16)
  • A New Community – Called Into Being (Acts 1:12-15; Rom. 1:7; Acts 6:1-4; Acts 8:4; Acts 9:31; Acts 15:41)
  • Letters to Specific “Churches” (Especially helpful are letters Paul wrote to the Ephesians and the Colossians)
  • The Unity of the Church – Eph. 4:1-6.
    One Calling (Eph. 4:1)
    One Spirit (Eph. 4:4)
    One Hope (Eph. 4:4)
    One Lord (Eph. 4:5)
    One Faith (Eph. 4-5)
    One Baptism (Eph. 4:5)
    One God and Father of All (Eph. 4:6)
  • The Church as the People of God – 1 Cor. 1-12; Gal.1:13; 6:16; 1 Pet. 2:9; Heb. 8:10; Eph. 2:19.
  • The Church as the Body of Christ- Mark 14:22; 1 Cor. 6:15, 19; 11:24; 12:27; Eph. 1:23; 2:16-19; 4:4, 72, 16; 5:23-30; Col. 1:18, 22, 24; 2:19; 3:15.
  • The Church as the Priesthood of All Believers – Ex. 19:6; Isa. 61:6; Heb.6:20; Heb.7:26; 1 Pet .2:9; Rev. 1:6.
  • The Church’s Basic Purposes
    Worship – Isa. 6:1-8; Matt. 4:10; Ps. 34:3; Eph. 1:12-14; 3:21.
    Fellowship – Eph. 2:19; 3:18; John 13:35.
    Disciple (Educate) – Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47-49; John 20:21; Acts 1:8;Eph. 4:1-16.
    Minister – Matt. 9:35-37; Eph. 4:12; Mark 10:45 ; 2 Cor. 5:18-20.
    Evangelize (Missionize) – Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Acts 5:32; Eph. 3:8

(2) Answer Key Mission Questions – After a thorough review of Scripture, lead the congregation to identify answers to some key questions. These questions will also help you cast your vision. (As a helpful exercise, respond to these questions with your own church in mind.)

  • Why does the church exist? What is the church’s reason for being?
  • What should our local church be? How has God made us unique?
  • What should our local church do? Why has God placed us in this community?
  • How will we do it? How has God gifted our members?
  • What significant memories do we want our church to leave? What do we value?
  • What specific results is the church seeking? Where do we sense God is at work in our church?
  • Where do we sense God is at work in our community?
  • What is our church’s major strengths? What has it done well?
  • What is our church’s weakness/limitations? In what areas does it lack the competence or resources to be effective?
  • How would I write or rewrite a mission statement for our church? (See pages 23-24 for several examples.)

(3) Collect and Tabulate Responses -This phase of developing a mission statement should not be rushed. Every idea is valuable, and it is important to receive broad input. This phase is comparable to a “brainstorming” or “winnowing” experience; the leader allows broad input and avoids the temptation to editorialize. Even though the leader may already know what the Bible says about the church’s mission, it is extremely important to educate the whole congregation. Taking time with this step makes it possible to elicit vital support for all that the church plans to do.

(4) Write a Single – Sentence Mission Statement-At this stage in the process, it is wise to enlist a small team to summarize congregational findings and draft a proposed mission statement for review and adoption by the congregation. (If the church has a planning committee, assign this task to it. If not, select and elect a representative team to work on this assignment.)

To help you experience what is involved, refer to the mission statement you may have written in the previous step. Write it here:

 

 

Now test it in light of previously stated biblical criteria and key questions. If you did not write a sample mission statement, use the following two examples and test them against the stated criteria.

“Our mission is to lead all people to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ”
– Germantown Baptist Church

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“To bring people to Jesus and membership in his family, develop them to Christlike maturity, and equip them for their ministry in the church and life mission in the world, in order to magnify God’s name.”
– Saddleback Valley Community Church
Orange County, California

To make sure it is a concise yet comprehensive statement, now raise the following questions:

Is it biblical? Does it reaffirm New Testament teachings about the church?
Is it specific? Look at your statement. Is it vague or is it targeted?
Is it memorable? Is it short enough to be remembered?
Is it measurable? Will you be able to prove that it has been accomplished?

(5) Push the Mission Statement into the Future – Before finalizing the statement, try to pre-live the outcomes or results of achieving the mission as stated. As you work on refining it, ask five key critical questions:

  • What would be the major benefits to the church by adopting the new mission? Why do you say that?
  • What problems, if any, would you be likely to encounter with the statement? Among whom? Why is that? How can the statement be reworded to make its intention (purpose) clear?
  • Will this mission encourage participation by every member?
  • Will this mission focus the attention of the church on the biblical functions of the church?
  • Will the mission statement suggest a process for prioritizing the functions of the church? Can these functions be arranged in a way that provides sequence and balance?

(6) Adopt, Communicate, and Celebrate the Church’s Mission Statement – Rick Warren makes the point that every great church has defined its purpose (mission) and then figured out a process for fulfilling this purpose. He cites three examples:

  • Central Church of Seoul was built on a cell group system.
  • First Baptist Church, Dallas, was built on a fully graded Sunday School system.
  • Coral Ridge Presbyterian, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, was built on a personal evangelism system.

He goes on to say that in each instance, church leaders clearly defined their purposes and then developed a process for achieving them. In this study we are looking at the whole process; however, a next important and necessary step is to adopt, communicate, and celebrate the church’s chosen mission statement. It should be officially endorsed by the membership, visible on all major church communication pieces, displayed in the church buildings, and referred to often. Plan a worship service to introduce it. Treat it as a banner. Lift it up in sermon and song. Let it become a watchword and a commitment for the whole church.

Those who have followed this approach and allowed the mission statement to be a beacon light for the church say that it provides direction, vitality, sets boundaries, and becomes the driving force for everything the church does.

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