Where Does the Missional Journey For a Church Begin?: "Introducing the Missional Church," by Roxburgh & Boren

Lately, I have been asking myself how is a missional culture in a church cultivated? Where does the missional journey begin? What I have often done as a leader and believed previously, is thinking the appointed leaders seek God for His leading for the community and then come back to the community with a "vision" or direction they sense the church should move towards. Up until the last few years I had believed this is the best way to "lead" a church. I'm not so certain anymore. 

Instead, I've started asking questions like, "How do you as a leader cultivate a space where the Spirit has the freedom to move in the hearts of the community to collectively clarify how God is calling them to embody the Missio Dei in their community?" Is the leader(s) the only ones who have clarity from God as to the direction of community? Are they the only ones with the correct faculties to hear how God is at work? In many cases I think the body has opted to not even think they too, need to be listening and discerning because they are expecting the leaders to bring it to them.

I've continued to read, "Introducing The Missional Church: What it is, Why it Matters, How to Become One" and it is challenging, confirming and refining my perspective. Below, they answer the question, "Where does the missional journey begin?"

"The missional journey begins where people are, not from some vision for where we would like them to be. Visioning and radical language about what the church should be are of little help; in fact, they create barriers to entering this journey of catching the winds of the Spirit. In order to begin where we are, we have to make the time to attend to and listen to the narratives and stories of our churches and our people. Usually when a leader comes with a vision or a plan, he or she is not in a place for listening to the whispers and narratives of the people" (123.)

There need to be leaders in the church, but I'm beginning to think their role is to create the space where the people of God can listen to the Spirit of God as to how they are to live out their unique calling as a community. Maybe the leaders ask the question, "How is God at work in us, in our community, in our families, and how are we called to move into the community with the message of redemption?" Leadership asks, creates the space, and facilitates the dialogue and learns to listen for God as to how He is at work in the ordinary.

It's in the ordinary day to day life of the people of God that the Spirit is at work. Or, as Roxburgh and Borne state, "The conviction that the Spirit is among the people of God is not positive thinking or wish fulfillment; it is a conviction about how God is present both in the world and in our experience" (123-124.)

Comments

[The Cobbs]

Hey Derek-
I'm glad you and Rob had a chance to catch up last night. We'll be praying for you guys as you make your upcoming transition.

Great post. I really like the idea of leaders creating space and encouraging people to respond to the Spirit in their own lives...better for everyone I think.

I picked up a copy of "Monk Habits for Everyday People" after one of your previous posts...enjoying it so far. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Derek]

Keri,
It was great catching up with Rob. It sounds like you guys are in a good spot and asking some great questions about "church."

Thanks for your prayers! Keep me posted as you read the book and let me know what you think!
Blessings,
DD