So What Is A Mission Statement?

             Every Presbyterian Church is “supposed” to have one.  It is how things are done ‘decently and in order’.  It is hot blooded ‘run for the Lord’ theological insights like 'decently and in order' which have earned us Presbyterians the moniker of God’s “Frozen Chosen”.

            But what is a Mission Statement?  For our purposes, we shall blend the vocab in the theological mixer so we can create a metaphorical margarita of Mission, Values, and Vision Statements.  Over ice (God's frozen chosen).  With a rim of salt.  What is the alcohol content?  Depends on your Eucharistic theology, “wine or grape juice”.  So, Mission Statement...more Mission Margarita.

            So, a Mission Statement is something every Presbyterian Church is supposed to have and it is a Mission Margarita.

            But what is a Mission Statement?  It is the product of a deliberate season of review and renewal in the life of the church.  Most often, this happens during the interim period between called pastors.  A specially trained "interim" pastor comes in to work with the church in that “between” time.  Ideally, the interim works to place the running of the church-in a healthy and forward-looking manner-into the hands of the congregation.   

            That means a few things.  It means that the "cong" takes the wheel the pastor used to steer by.  But thankfully, the church is like the car I learned to drive in.  There are two steering wheels and the Lord NEVER takes His hands off the one.

            Yes, Jesus has the wheel but the congregation is still driving.  Mystery of the Lord.  Above my blessing level.  

            It falls to the congregation to make provision to take up the pieces that the pastor did.  The interim works alongside to keep things like preaching and pastoral care and moderating session going, but there is a renewal of congregational involvement, evaluation, aid, and leadership in all roles of the church.  The congregation takes over the ‘doing’ of church.  “What does Pastor think?” is a question that is moved back into the faith and purview of the congregation.

            There is also a pastoral care component of the interim period.  The emotions of the end of the called relationship are placed in context of life, whether grief or celebration, some combination of those, or something else entirely.  Emotions are disconnected from memory so that the memories remain, but the way is opened to continue living life in the present, with an eye to the future; rather than in a past that never was truly like we remember it.

            There are also tasks in the process.  There is a review of what the church does.  Are there programs or positions or things done that need to be retired?  Promoted?  Celebrated?  What is the actual body of membership as opposed to what is listed in the membership roll?  Or the directory?  How has the community around the church changed in the time since the last ‘look see’?  What connections and priorities are identified?  Who is the church and what do they stand for in Christ Jesus? 

            In the end, the congregation is empowered to say “this is who we are in Jesus and we are looking for a pastor to walk with us in this self-identity."  That self-identity is codified in the Mission Margarita.  Most often, this work takes place in an interim time, but not always.  Pastors will feel the Spirit leading them to take congregations through this kind of work during their tenure from time to time.

            So what is a Mission Statement?  It is something every church is ‘supposed’ to have.  It is a “Mission Margarita” of terminology.  It is the conclusion of a deliberate time of reflection and renewal, most often associated with an interim period in the ministerial leadership of the church, included in a declaration or a statement.

            What should it say?  In part, to quote Thomas Jefferson from the movie "1776", "To place before (everyone) the common sense of the subject, in terms so plain and firm as to command their assent."

            Yes, he was talking about the Declaration of Independence, so the bar is set rather high.

            Lovely, isn't all of this?  However, this blog is supposed to address the Scripture for Sunday, what is going on?  

            Almost there.  We are looking at the story of Thomas the Doubter as our Scripture passage for Sunday.  One might call it Doubting Resolved Sunday (but that is rather long), as Thomas' doubt from the week before is the subject of a blessed run-in with the Savior a week after His resurrection.  So Easter in the middle, Palm Sunday one week before, Tom Sunday one week after…  

            Irrespective, that doubt is embedded in something far more reaching.  Jesus is passing the torch of leadership to the disciples.  And he tells them, in John 20:21: “Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 

            There is my connection.  What is a Mission Statement?  It is something every church should have.  It is something (however it is named) that draws in the elements of Mission, Vision, and Values.  It is something to be done in times of reflection and renewal in the life of the church.  And Jesus commands it.  It is first and foremost the response that each church gives to our Lord when He says, “As my Father has sent me, so I send you.”  Our mission statement responds, “And this is how WE, in this congregation, shall be sent.”

Peace

Pastor Pete