Replying to LO26845 --
Listlings:
When helping congregations work through vision and mission exercises, I
tell them that the vision is a picture of an ideal future which they would
like to bring into being, and that the mission is the task of actualizing
that vision.
Granted, this is not as philosophical or prosaic as AT (whose posts I
dearly love) would be, but it seems to communicate with my target
audience. With absolutely no offense meant to AT or anyone else, I learned
long ago that what fascinates me on the speculative/philosophical level
almost never preaches on Sunday. Unfortunately, I learned this the hard
way. Seems I bored more than one congregation with DPhil candidate
lectures in contemporary, philosophical theology that my Oxford supervisor
would have loved, but which literally put the congregation to sleep... for
extended periods of time. (I was both boring and long-winded in those
days. ...)
One of my favorite illustrations is to compare vision and mission with the
building of an individual's ideal or "dream" house. The vision is whatever
type of house the individual would like to build; be it a humble cottage
or a multi-million dollar, gee-whiz-golly-WOW! electronic wonder like Bill
Gate's home. The architect's plans and drawings are the first step in the
mission process, which continues -- complete with evaluations and
adjustments -- right up until the final walk-through is completed and the
keys turned over to the proud home-owner. After which evaluations and
adjustments continue to be made on an on-going basis. Again, no offense
meant to anyone, but the illustration "preaches" to my target audience
better than speculative debate. Ergo, despite being fully aware of its
limitations, I use the illustration anyway.
On a completely different note, I was off the list for nearly a year. (The
bishop bished. I moved clear across the state of Virginia. And had to
learn two new congregations and a new community. All of which left no time
for this or any other list that I had been on.) Due to having a poor
memory coupled with an excellent forgetter, I can't remember whether or
not I ever posted before. In any case, it is great to be back. Reading
your posts (especially AT's) is a much anticipated high-light of my day.
METANOICly Yours,
LJ Stevens
Metanoic Leadership Institute: http://www.metanoic.org
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--"LJ Stevens" <maverick@pinn.net>
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