Metrics

So, if part of becoming a missional congregation is a shift in focus from institutional to missional (internal to external), what kind of metrics do we use to measure that shift? It seems to me that most of the metrics we currently use in the episcopal church (Average Sunday Attendance, average pledge, budget, etc.), are all internally focused. I would love to be able to measure how people in the congregation understand their work as ministry, or how many in a week talk to someone outside the congregation about their faith and what it means to them. Anyone think of a way to measure things like that?

1st attempt at posting

I've just received from Dan H. an invitation to try being a contributor to the blog. This is my attempt at seeing if I can get a post on the blog after doing all the gmail signup and working my way thru the blog site. Chris Kurth of Grace Episcopal-Kirkwood

Easter Caroling

Someone at Advent has decided to try Easter Caroling. Which is just like Christmas Caroling, without the snow. We will print up post cards with our Holy Week and Easter services, and then a group will go out singing Easter Hymns and secular songs in the neighborhood and hand out the cards. Then they'll come back to the church for a pot luck supper. Who knows, it's crazy enough it may work. We had a St. Patrick's day dinner on Wednesday, and made a point of inviting several of the neighbors, and having them invite others. We had the fire chief and his wife, who live just behind the church, and a bunch of folks from the neighborhood. We're starting to get out there.

Christ Church, Cape Girardeau regretfully missed the most recent Missional Congregations' meeting. Here are a few of the things we would have said if we weren't busy at our Vestry Meeting, plotting missions....

Re Leadership: At CEC we opened the “Vestry Retreat” (renamed Leadership Retreat) and let people self select – got five more leaders, who now have a stake in what we dreamed up that day.

At tonight’s Vestry meeting a major agenda item is: “Emerging need: to expand leadership roles outside of Vestry”.

RE: How do we grow (and remain uniquely us):

We are going to hold 3 or 4 Evensong with Choir doing our very Anglican stuff AND help raise awareness and money for our mission priorities AND express our radical hospitality by serving a nice, English tea and crumpets (with wine for THOSE who need help to write a check). The first event will be April 18^th and will benefit the newly forming Shelter of Hope (homeless shelter) in which CEC is deeply implicated.

Re: What “sacred cow” must be sacrificed in order that we become more missional?

The answer was: “Every Sunday a.m. service must be Holy Eucharist.” (Still having Mass at 8 am and 6:15 pm, so chill out!)

This year we are have Morning Prayer, followed by a special talk or dialogue or interview, and a very nice coffee hour reception.

The topics are drawn from Dan Kimball’s list (They Like Jesus But Not The Church) of the culture’s objections to Christianity.

These provide ripe opportunities to invite the public and to invite our friends. We had to create “invite-able” events.

Here’s our outline (in process).

Series: Unmasking the myths of popular religion

Presented with songs and prayers once a month.

Sunday, 10:15 a.m. in the Red Door, Christ Episcopal Church

Fountain Street at Themis in old downtown Cape.

www.reddoorchurchcape.org

573 335-2997

Feb. 21 Myth: Religion and Science Must Conflict

A dialogue of priest (Fr. Bob Towner) and scientist ( Dr. Allen Gathman)

March 21 Myth: The Church Keeps Women in “Their Place”

Ann Hogan, Commission on Ministry, Diocese of Missouri:

“Changing Places, The role of women in the Church”

April 11 Myth: The church promotes “Name it and claim it, wealth and prosperity.”

Fr. Bob Towner interviews Biblical scholar, Dr. Kerry Wynn:

Looking at the theology of Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen through Biblical eyes.

May 11 Myth: The Church is full of fundamentalists and Biblical literalists.

June 22 Myth: The church arrogantly says all other religions are wrong and bad.

July 20 Myth: The institutional church doesn’t cultivate authentic spiritual journeys.

“From the False Self to the True Self through contemplative prayer.

A dialogue between Steve Essner and __________.

August 8 Myth: The church is judgmental and negative.

“Forgiven, Loved and Free” A recovery Sunday event, with testimony from ____”

September 12 Myth: The church is homophobic.

Moving beyond “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

October Myth: the church’s teaching is hostile to the ecosystem.

Going green with God.

A dialogue between Dr Bob Polack and Gloria’s friend in Illinois

November Myth:

Test

This is a first test of this blog. Once it's up and running, I'll invite all members of the missional congregations list as authors.