Mission & Ministry Mission Springs 09

The Mission and Ministry of the

Evangelical Covenant Church Instructors: Garth Bolinder, Superintendent - Midsouth Conference Margie Swenson, Co-director of Missionary Personnel - World Mission Greg Yee, Associate Superintendent - Pacific Southwest Conference Covenant Orientation Connection (registration, follow-up) Christine Olfelt (Chicago) 1

Schedule: Monday 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.



General overview Getting connected..

with each other personally

with local churches represented

2:00 - 2:45 p.m. Engaging Scripture I BREAK

3:15 - 4:45 p.m. Engaging Scripture II DINNER BREAK

7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Fireside Chat 4

Schedule: Tuesday 9:00-9:30 - Devotional 9:30 - 10:15 a.m. – Inside the Mission and Ministry of the ECC

10:30 – 12:00 p.m. – Intercultural Missions LUNCH

1:00 – 5:00 p.m. - New Hope Covenant, Oakland 5:00 - Bay Area dinner outing 5

Schedule: Wednesday 9:00 - 11:45 – Multiethnic

LUNCH

1:00 – 5 pm. - Church Planting Travel to Great Exchange, Santa Clara (Dave Chae, Sean Curtis, Min Tak)

DINNER

7:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Fireside Chat

Schedule: Thursday 9:00 a.m. - Devotional 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Church Revitalization Alan Forsman with Dan Johnson (Hilmar Covenant) and Kevin Budd (New Hope, San Jose) LUNCH

1:30-3:15 p.m. - Congregational Polity, Denominational Structures, Role of Conference/Superintendents 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. - Vision 2020 4:30 - 5:00 p.m - Closing, Review of Assignments, Evaluations

Purpose This course is designed to answer the question:

How does the Covenant minister today to, with, and on behalf of its congregations?

2

Format Guest presenters DVD Leader input Individual activities Small group discussion Field trips

8

Guidelines Full attendance and participation at all sessions SOT (start on time, stop on time) Short breaks along the way Have fun! Use this time to cultivate new connections.

8



Connecting Our Churches



Draw a picture (using words, images, etc.) of your local church’s ministry using newsprint provided. Take up to 5-6 minutes to draw the picture and then post for all to view. If your church is represented by more than one person here, do the picture together. Be prepared to give a 90 second description during our “gallery walk.” Include: Name of Church and Location (urban, suburban, rural, etc.) Age of church Missional emphasis (Acts 1:8b description – Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth) 14

Identity and Biblical Mission We are united by Christ in a holy covenant of churches empowered by the Holy Spirit to obey the Great Commandments and the Great Commission:

to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind, to love our neighbor as ourselves, to go into all the world and make disciples

23

Mission and Ministry of the ECC Guiding Commitments

22

Identity and Biblical Mission We are united by Christ in a holy covenant of churches empowered by the Holy Spirit to obey the Great Commandments and the Great Commission:

to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind, to love our neighbor as ourselves, to go into all the world and make disciples

28

Historical Lineage Biblical Christianity Historic Creeds (Apostles’, Nicene) Protestant Reformation Scandinavian renewal movement American renewal influences

24

Essentials of Character Biblical: committed to the Word of God Devotional: committed to intimacy with God Missional: committed to the work of God Connectional: committed to the family of God 25

Summary We love God. We love God’s Word. We love God’s world. And so we go, together, to obey the Great Commandment and the Great Commission

27

Inside the Mission and Ministry of the ECC 28

The Covenant “at Home”

The ECC has 790 churches in 42 states and 5 provinces in North America.

29

Mission Fields The Covenant has 66 longterm, 19 project, and 40 shortterm missionaries in 38 countries*. More than 300,000 lives are impacted. *as of Jan 1, 2007 40

Mission Fields These 38 fields are administered in five groups, each with on-site leadership. Asia Latin America Europe Chinese Ministries Africa 41

Attendance and Membership (as of 11/08) The cumulative attendance of the Covenant is approximately 179,000. Cumulative membership is approximately 124,000. 179,001.0

143,200.8

107,400.6

71,600.4

35,800.2

0

Attendance

Membership

31

Impacting More Lives

179000 168878 179000 165856 160916 Total ECC Worship Attendance 156237 148296 140617 135343 128542 134250 123912 117314 113763 108090 103041 9804899832 89500

44750

0

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 32

ECC Decadal Growth

One of the fastest growing denominations.

53%

in the past decade

1998-2008

90%

in the past 17 years

1991-2008

33

26

Factor #1: Strength of the Existing Church Base 110,000

88,000

66,000

44,000

22,000

0 1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

34

Congregational Vitality Healthy Missional Churches

Types of Churches





Healthy Missional Stable Critical Moment At Risk

Resourcing • Congregational Vitality Coaches • Ministry Advantage Coaching • Resource the coaches’ network through coaching and periodic gatherings

Factor #2 – Ethnic Dynamic (increase in # of churches, 1997-2007)

186

81

1996

2008 35

Decadal Growth Rate Ethnic Churches vs. Entire ECC 160%

159%

140% 120% 100% 80% 60% 40%

53%

20% 0% ECC

All Ethnic

The 80-20 Phenomenon Multiethnic/ Ethnic 23.6% Text

White 76.4%

36

Factor #3 – New Church Impact 80000

60000

40000

20000

0

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 37

Distribution By Age Of Church 50,000

37,500

25,000

12,500

0 1850s-1860s

1880s

1900s

1920s

1940s

1960s

1980s

2000s

12

Established

Churches and Church Plants Attendance growth: 2007 – 2008

Net growth of all Covenant churches

Growth in churches begun prior to 1993

Growth in churches begun 1993 - 1998

Growth in churches begun 1998 and after

5,045

5,029

10,073 11,000

8,250

5,500

2,749

-1

-1

Factor #4 Large Churches Worship Attendance as of 11/06 greater than 600

42

18

1996

2007

39

Pastoral Leadership There are 2,135 clergy credentialed by the Covenant.

42

Higher Education over 3200 all programs

288 all programs

430 all programs satellites in the San Francisco Bay Area, Claremont, CA, San Diego, Chicago, Tijuana, Oaxaca and Guadalajara, Mexico as well as La Coruna, Spain

43

Ministries of Benevolence 2 Hospitals 14 Retirement Communities 4 Enabling Residences 1 Domestic Violence Service 1 Children’s Home 1 Social Service Campus

44

Fiscal Resources Pension Insurance Construction Loan Source

45

Conclusion

The Covenant remains in a strong season of increasing impact as a servant of Christ’s mission in the world, driven by a variety of factors. 46

Concluding Thoughts The Covenant works because it is a Covenant. We are “Mission Friends”, encouraging and supporting one another to advance the mission and ministry of Christ.

48

Basic Ministry Groupings ECC Churches

CF OM

CGE WM

Comm CMJ

Institutions, Corporations, Services

Executive Board

Departments

NPU

WM PC

Admin 69

CMB CT

NCP BENEFITS

Affiliated Institutions and Corporations North Park University

Paul Carlson Partnership

Covenant Trust

Covenant Ministries of Benevolence National Covenant Properties

Bethany Benefits 70

Mission and Ministry Areas of the ECC Church Growth World Mission & Evangelism

Compassion, Mercy, Justice

Women Ministries

Ordered Ministry

Communications Christian Formation 71

Affiliated Institutions and Corporations • • • • • • •

Covenant Ministries of Benevolence North Park University North Park Theological Seminary CHET National Covenant Properties Covenant Trust Corporation Paul Carlson Partnership 72

Covenant Ministries of Benevolence In a sentence… The sick, the elderly, the handicapped, the at-risk, the poor.

73

North Park University In a sentence…

Christian higher education.

74

North Park Theological Seminary In a sentence… Graduate level theological education and ministry preparation.

75

CHET In a sentence... Preparation of Latinos and Latinas for ministry.

76

National Covenant Properties In a sentence...

The official loan source of the ECC.

77

Covenant Trust Corporation In a sentence... Stewardship of financial assets for now… and ‘later’.

78

Paul Carlson Partnership In a sentence... Medical, educational, and economic initiatives in the Congo and beyond.

79

World Mission In a sentence…

International efforts to bring the whole gospel to the world beyond the United States and Canada. 82

Compassion, Mercy, Justice In a sentence… Helping the hurting and addressing the causes of the hurt.

83

Church Growth and Evangelism In a sentence…

The mission field of the United States and Canada.

84

Christian Formation In a sentence…

DEEPening the spiritual life of Christians

85

Ordered Ministry In a sentence… Vocational and personal development of those credentialed for ministry.

86

Women Ministries In a sentence…

Ministries to, from and for women

87

Communications In a sentence… The print and electronic link between the denomination and local church.

Covenant Resource Center 1-800-338-IDEA (A partnership of departments) In a sentence… The one-stop center to GET HELP with resources, Covenant activities, etc. etc.

Covenanters Serving in Mission (members of Covenant churches)

Mission Agency (i.e. IT, SIL, SEND, etc.)

Local Church

ECC

(Covenanter in Mission)

(Covenant Missionary)

(Covenanter in Mission)

No administrative No formal or fiscal responsibility; responsibility; possible support loose affiliation; services; potential possible partnership partnership

“nuclear” family

Formal responsibility

“extended” family

ECC-sent (Covenant) Missionaries 120+ missionaries serving presently STM

PM

LTM

(short term missionary)

(project missionary) (long term missionary)

1-2 years

3-5 years

5-30 years

5 geographic regions (with Regional Coordinators): Africa, Asia, Chinese Ministries, Europe, Latin America 120+ in the discernment process

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes o you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. n

Acts 1:8

Mexico  Colombia  Ecuador  Taiwan  Japan  Thailand  Congo 

                

Spain France Belgium Czech Republic Russia Sweden Cameroon Burkina Faso Central African Republic South Africa Haiti Guatemala Honduras Brazil Argentina China Southeast Asia

    

Evangelism Church Planting Leadership Development Medicine Education

                      

Community Development Holistic Healthcare Business as Mission Agricultural Development Alpha Courses Drug Rehabilitation Homes for Children Sports Ministries Micro-Industries Radio, Printed Materials, Tapes, Film Bible Studies Conferences and Workshops Manuscript Studies Ministry with Gypsies Ministry with Prostitutes Justice Ministries Surfing for Jesus! Music Fish Farms Slum Ministries Marriage and Family Counseling Center Ministry with Down’s Syndrome families Ministry through the Arts (Visual, Dance, etc.)

7:00am – Chiang Mai, Thailand Fish Hatchery

9:25am – Pingliang, China Oasis Training Center

7:45pm – Paris, France La Fonderie

Overview of World Mission The Evangelical Covenant Church

79

This Covenant is not a church organization in the ordinary sense, but a mission society having churches as its members. These churches have consolidated because of the missionary spirit which led them to missionary enterprises too large for any single church to undertake. Covenant Statement 1893.

Alaska - 1887 China - 1890

81

Alaska

1896-1905

medical mission; missionaries distracted by gold rush

China

training of Chinese staff to work with missionaries in education

1906-1915 Alaska

education, medical work, reindeer farms, evangelism and discipleship

China

seminary - 1909 revival - 1910-1911 medical ministry

1916-1925 Alaska

community development work in Unalakleet

China

nurses’ training college -1920 59 Covenant missionaries in China during the decade.

1926-1935 Alaska

holistic approach to mission

China

Communist uprising causes interruption of work

Denominationally

first Foreign Mission Secretary elected in 1927

1936-1945 Alaska

church established in 1941

China

Sino-Japanese War of 1937-1945 affected work

Congo

ECC began work at Karawa in 1937

Covenant Mountain Mission

began in 1942 in Jonesville, VA

86

1946-1955 Alaska China Congo Ecuador Japan Taiwan

Formosa

Unalakleet high school opened in 1954 3 ECC missionaries murdered in January 1948; by December 1948 all ECC missionaries were evacuated Bible Institute of the Ubangi - 1949; Wasolo - 1950 work began in 1947 in partnership with HCJB radio work began in 1949 work began in 1952 Covenant Mountain Mission and Mexico Mission transferred to Home Mission from Foreign Mission

1956-1965 Alaska Congo Ecuador Japan Korea Taiwan Others

Arctic Broadcasting Association began in 1957 National church organized in 1960; Paul Carlson martyred in 1964 14 missionaries by 1965 16 missionaries by 1965 work began in 1964 leadership development, church planting, evangelism, youth work, and medicine Hong Kong and Indonesia

Alaska Colombia

Congo (Zaire)

1966-1975 work transferred from World Mission to Home Mission work began in Medellin in 1968 first Friends of World Mission project funded a new operating room at Karawa

Ecuador

education and national church support

Japan Mexico Taiwan/ RCC Thailand

evangelism and church planting moved back to World Mission 1971 10 missionaries

work began in 1972 Other: Indonesia ended in 1971

89

In 1981

1976-1985 100

8 countries with 718 69,532 members in

and

missionaries served churches

90

1986-1995 In 1991 long-term

44 short-term missionaries served 9 countries with 1,325 churches and

111,845

members

Covenant Mission Connection started as partnership of 3 departments in 1991

1996-2005 In 2001, mission staff served 17 countries

1728 national churches 167,795 members and 1487 pastoral workers with

No numbers were available for Congo due to political unrest.

2006-Present New Motto

Global Mission, Local Vision

Mission Fields The Covenant has 95 career / project and 30 short-term missionaries in 23 countries*. More than 300,000 lives are impacted. *as of June, 2008

Mission Fields These 23 fields are administered in five groups, each with on-site leadership Asia Latin America Europe Chinese Ministries Africa

16

Areas Served today:

Africa Argentina Asia Belgium Brazil Colombia Congo Czech Republic Ecuador France Fulani

Guam/Micronesia Japan Kenya Laos Mexico Russia Spain Sudan Taiwan Thailand Merge Ministries

Connections in Sweden & Netherlands Partnerships in Chile, Germany, India, Philippines, South Africa

In a word or a phrase describe

C ompassion and J ustice ministry?

He has shown all you people what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act JUSTLY and to LOVE MERCY and to WALK HUMBLY with your God. Micah 6:8

Why is compassion, mercy, and justice important? The church is called to be marked by it Biblical foundations- Old and New Testaments Because there is an urgent need for a powerful presence and a prophetic voice and action in our communities

Compassion asks us to go where it hurts, to enter into places of pain, to share in brokenness, fear, confusion and anguish. Compassion challenges us to cry out with those in misery, to mourn with those who are lonely, weep with those in tears. Henri J.M. Nouwen

SAMPLE DEFINITION OF ADVOCACY

by the Institute for Development Research: Advocacy Sourcebook

Colleagues in India describe advocacy as an organized, systematic, intentional process of influencing matters of public interest and changing power relations to improve the lives of the disenfranchised. Other colleagues in Latin America define it as a process of social transformation aimed at shaping the direction of public participation, policies, and programs to benefit the marginalize, uphold human rights, and safeguard the environment. African colleagues describe their advocacy as being pro-poor, reflecting core values such as equity, justice, and mutual respect, and focusing on empowering the poor and being accountable to them.

The Evangelical Covenant Church Our vision... …every congregation planting ministries of compassion and justice, …every ministry seeking God’s transformation for the poor and at risk, and …every congregation finding renewal as it reaches out with the love of Christ.

BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR COMPASSION & JUSTICE MINISTRIES Old Testament: Deuteronomy 24:19-22 Psalm 146:6-9 Proverbs 31:8-9

Isaiah 10:1-2

Isaiah 58:6, 9-12

Jeremiah 5:27-29 Amos 5:21-24

BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR COMPASSION & JUSTICE MINISTRIES

New Testament exhortations:

Luke 4:18-19

Matthew 25:31-46 Philippians 2:3-5

James 1:27

C ompassion helping hurting people J ustice helping stop the things that hurt people

Brainstorm ministries of

C ompassion we can/should be involved in

Brainstorm ministries of

J ustice we can/should be involved in

Our BELIEFS determine our ACTIONS Our ACTIONS reflect our BELIEFS

Trajectory of the

Gospel

4th Largest in Empire (Rome, Alexandria, Ephesus)

Political Center Commercial Center “Sin City” Reputation

Small Area Crowded Public Space Tenement city Filthy Disease High mortality Tense

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility... and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. Ephesians 2:14-16

Trajectory of the Gospel

The Five-Fold Test

W here did you grow up

and name one thing you liked about growing up there?

W hat cultural/ethnic background do you most identify with?

By creating space to share our stories and beliefs, we knock the feet out from under prejudice. Enter the River, Jody Miller Shearer

Attorney General Eric Holder called America a "nation of cowards" when it comes to discussing race

I've often said that in my view racism is the biggest social problem we face in the world today, and I believe it still is. The Rev. Dr. Billy Graham

We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. Eli Wiesel Holocaust Survivor Nobel Laureate Political Activist for “peace, atonement and human dignity

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it solely on these accounts.

Ministry and the call of the church is at the intersection

TEXT and CONTEXT

Why bother

with multiethnicity?

Why is it

important?

SHIFTING DEMOGRAPHICS

Decadal Growth Rate

Ethnic Churches vs. Entire ECC ECC

All Ethnic

53%

159%

The 80-20 Phenomenon Multiethnic/ Ethnic 23.6%

White 76.4%

36

Focus moving away from North and West to

A NEW GLOBAL REALITY

South and East

Non-western

evangelical growth

The southern

church of 2025

HISPANIC STATS 

45M people of Hispanic heritage equal 15% of the U.S. population – the largest minority group.



Increasing numbers of Hispanics are moving into smaller communities previously untouched by new immigration.

The “Browning” of Asian (North) America 4,000,000

4,000,000

3,565,000

3,000,000 2,500,000

2,000,000 1,520,000

1,599,000

1,204,000

1,000,000

0

Chinese

Filipino

Indian

Korean VietnameseJapanese

Nearly 60% of Canadaʼs new immigrants are from Asia (including the Middle East).

The number of visible minorities in Canada is expected to double by 2017. A survey released in 2007 reveals that virtually 1 in 5 Canadians (19.8%) are foreign born. Canada has the highest per capita immigration rate

in the world, driven by economic policy and family reunification

Canada 10% First Nations 13% Other Minorities 19.8% Foreign Born

Total

Today 37.7M

2050* 60.0M

Hispanic Asian Black White

35.5% 12.4% 6.1% 43.0%

52% 13% 5% 26%

* CA Department of Finance

Trends toward 2050 Asian American population will increase 213% to 33.2M people Hispanic-American population will increase 188% to 103M people, 25% of the population

38%+

1.25-3M Arab-American growth

82%

are U.S. citizens

42% Catholic 12% Protestant 23% Orthodox 23% Muslim

First Covenant Church (1888) Fresno, CA

Why bother

with multiethnicity?

Why is it

important?

EVERYDAY REALITIES

Hate Groups

1997 2007

474 groups 888 groups

U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)found

“sta

” s e i t i r a p s i d l a i c a r rk

in the U.S. and issued failing grades especially in the areas of criminal justice, housing, health care, and education

Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Racialized Society = A society wherein race

matters profoundly for differences in life experiences, life opportunities, and social relationships.

What are the everyday realities that you see around YOU?

Why bother

with multiethnicity?

Why is it

important?

OUR BIBLICAL CHALLENGE

I saw the Holy City…the city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful… Revelation 21

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And

the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse.

… I saw a vast crowd, too great to count,

from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a mighty shout, "Salvation comes from our God on the throne and from the Lamb!"   







Revelation 7:9-10

This, then, is how you should pray:    Our Father in heaven,     hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,     your will be done      on earth as it is in heaven.    

Eleven o'clock Sunday morning is the most segregated hour and Sunday school is still the most segregated school of the week. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

How are WE doing?

PROJECT

CHUCK YEAGER DATE

OCTOBER 14, 1947

CLIENT

USAF

The Five-Fold Test 1. Population:

Are we reaching increasing numbers of people among increasing numbers of populations?

2.Participation:

Are we finding ways to engage life together through denominational, conference, and local events?

3.Power: Are the positions and structures of influence (boards, committees, and positions at both the conference and denominational level)

influenced by the perspective and gifts of diverse populations?

4. Pace-Setting: With additional perspectives, burdens, and gifts in our midst, what new ministry opportunities are we now better positioned to strengthen and initiate?

5. Purposeful Narrative:

How do the stories of new backgrounds become incorporated into our overarching history? How do all of these streams flow together into one story moving forward?

173

R R I2 Invitation to Racial Righteousness

174

Sankofa Journey

175

j2m

Journey to Mosaic Central, North Pacific & Pacific Southwest

176

Journey to Mosaic Squared

iJ2M

CHURCH PLANTING

“Reaching
the
lost
and
helping
 those
who
hurt”.

A Biblical Foundation: •

Great Commission: Matt 28:18-20 “Go, make disciples of all the nations.”

•

Great Commandment: Matt 22:37, 39 “Love the Lord your God…love your neighbor…”

•

Great Empowerment: Acts 1:8 “When the Holy Spirit comes, you will receive power… you will tell people about me (Jesus) everywhere.”

The Purpose of the Church To proclaim the gospel of Christ and gather believers into local churches where they can be built up in the faith and made effective in service, thereby planting new congregations throughout the world.” 





David Hesselgrave

8

reasons to start new churches

1. New churches are needed

because the large majority of Americans do not attend a local church.

15- 20% of Americans attend a local church on any given Sunday. Many of those attend a church where they do not clearly hear the message of salvation in Jesus. © 2006 by David T. Olson

2. New churches are more effective than established churches at conversion growth. Studies show that new churches have 3 – 4 times the conversion rate per member as established churches.

3. New churches effectively reach the growing ethnic populations of America.

For example, California is now over 50% non-Anglo and that percentage is growing. Every people group needs to hear the Gospel in a way that makes sense to their culture.

© 2006 by David T. Olson

4. New churches have historically been the best method of reaching each emerging new generation. Every new generation needs a new breed of churches that speak the gospel in their cultural dress and communication styles.

© 2006 by David T. Olson

5. New churches are needed to keep up with population growth. While there has been a net gain in the number of Christian churches since 1990, the net gain in churches is about one seventh of what would have been needed to keep up with population growth.

© 2006 by David T. Olson

6. New churches give a group of

connected churches market share and influence in their community.

Starting new healthy churches in the same general vicinity increases the influence of all. Churches are best started where a group has strength, not in distant areas.

© 2006 by David T. Olson

7. New churches grow exponentially faster than established churches. In a typical evangelical denomination, new churches (in the first 10 years) were found to grow exponentially faster than established churches (over 10 years old).

8. New churches are a test lab R&D

Most of the models and visions for healthy churches are developed in new churches.

The Church Planter is the Key

The ideal church planter is a Godly person with strong relational skills who excels in leadership and communication, and is passionate about reaching people for Christ and producing disciples. Preach well Lead well Care well Build well Work smart

Role of Conference 1. Recruitment and Assessment. 2. Face-to-face coaching of the church planter, and additional training as needed.

3. Monthly accountability for progress based on agreed-upon goals. 4. Annual reviews, including financial, for the first 5 years of the church’s life.

5. Pastoral support and care of church planter/family. 6. Peer retreats and gathering events. 7. Participate in the funding.

Observation “Every church contains the seed for other churches. The local church was meant to reproduce itself over and over again. As a healthy plant forms seeds that when planted bring forth other plants, so healthy churches form seeds that produce other churches. There is a price to be paid for the planting of that seed. But there is a far greater price to pay if the seed is not planted” Keith Biely (1981) Missionary Alliance

One Last Word Church people think about how to get people into the church; kingdom people think about how to get the church into the world. Church people worry that the world might change the church; kingdom people work to see the church change the world. Dr. Howard Snyder

Revitalization Materials Here

GOVERNANCE 1. How does your local church govern itself? 2. What do you perceive are the plusses and minuses of your local church’s governance? 3. Why does it govern itself this way?

Congregational Polity Rooted in…

• Biblical/theological understandings • Historical understanding • Commitment to be covenantal, not creedal

How the Covenant chooses to be congregational… •

Denomination reserves right to decide “what is Covenant and what is not”

•

Mutual submission to form partnership for shared mission

•

Delegating authority for some areas of decision making to a selected few, but reserving powers for all

Practically speaking for… • Congregations • Regional Conference • Denomination

Practically speaking for... Congregations Regional Conference Denomination

Your Church

ECC

Conference

47

THE REGIONAL CONFERENCE

Conferences and Region The churches in North America are grouped in 11 geographic regions. Each of the 10 conferences is a separately incorporated mission region with its own Executive Board and and elected Superintendent. ECCAK is a mission region with a Field Director under the supervision of CG&E with a team.

30

Canada Conference (The Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada) Jeffrey Anderson, Superintendent (President) Conference office: Winnepeg, MB www.canadacovenantchurch.org Organized: 1904 Number of churches: 27 Bible camps: Covenant Bay Bible Camp, Westerose, Alberta Covenant Heights Bible Camp, Onanole, Manitoba Kootenay Covenant Bible Camp, Harrop, British Columbia

Central Conference Superintendent: Jerome Nelson Conference office: Chicago, IL www.centralconf.org Organized: Central--1886; Great Lakes--1886; merged--1961 Number of churches: 111 Bible camps: Covenant Harbor Bible Camp and Retreat Center, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Covenant Point Bible Camp, Iron River, Michigan

East Coast Conference Superintendent: Howard K. Burgoyne Conference office: Cromwell, CT www.eastcoastonf.org Organized: 1890 Number of churches: 68 Institutions: New England Seafarers Mission, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island Pilgrim Pines Conference Center

Great Lakes  Superintendent: Richard B. Lucco Conference office: Plymouth, MI www.greatlakes.cc

Organized: Michigan--1889; Middle East--1885; merged--1981 Number of churches: 61 Institutions: Covenant Manor, Jamestown, New York Clinic Covenant Community Care Detroit, Michigan Bible camps: Portage Lake Covenant Bible Camp, Onekama, Michigan Mission Meadows, Dewittville, New York Covenant Bible Camp, Jonesville, Virginia

Midsouth Superintendent: Dr. Garth Bolinder Conference office: Tulsa, OK www.midsouthcov.org Organized as region: 1987 Organized as conference: 2001 Number of churches: 21

Midwest Superintendent: Kenneth P. Carlson Conference office: Omaha, NE. http://www.midwestcovenant.org/ Organized: Midwest--1886; Southwest--1885; Iowa--1885; merged into Midwest--1957 and 1969, respectively Number of churches: 78 Institutions: Midwest Covenant Home, Stromsburg, Nebraska Bible camps: Covenant Cedars Bible Camp, Hordville, Nebraska Covenant Heights Conference Center, Estes Park, Colorado Twin Lakes Christian Center, Manson, Iowa

North Pacific Superintendent: Mark A. Novak Conference office: Mercer Island, WA http://covchurch-npc.org Organized: 1890 Number of churches: 73 Bible camp: Cascades Camp and Conference Center, Yelm, WA

 

Northwest Superintendent: Jim Fretheim Conference office: Minneapolis, MN www.nwc-cov.org Organized: 1884 Number of churches: 131 Institution: Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis, MN Bible camps: Bluewater Covenant Bible Camp, Grand Rapids, MN Covenant Park Bible Camp, Mahtowa, MN Covenant Pines Bible Camp, McGregor, MN Lake Beauty Covenant Bible Camp, Long Prairie, MN

Pacific Southwest Superintendent: Evelyn M.R. Johnson Conference office: Concord, CA www.pswc.org Organized: 1902 Number of churches: 151 Bible camps: Alpine Covenant Conference Center, Blue Jay, CA Mission Springs Christian Camp and Conference Center, Scotts Valley, CA

Southeast Superintendent: Robert Owens Conference office: College Park, GA www.se-conf.org Organized: 1963 Number of churches: 44

Alaska Administrative Region Evangelical Covenant Church of Alaska Field Director: Rodney J. Sawyer Office: Eagle River, AK http://eccak.org/ Organized: 1973 Number of churches: 19 Institutions: Radio Station KICY (Nome) Alaska Christian College Bible camp: Covenant Bible Camp, Unalakleet, Alaska

Developing Distinct Ministries in Cooperation

The Conference shall have ministries to be responsible for specific missions and purposes of the Conference. These shall be in cooperation with each other, the congregations, the ECC, and affiliated corporations and institutions. 14

Role of the Conference Mission mobilizer Congregational coach Provider of care and support for credentialed pastors Link between local church and denomination

15

Role of the Conference Superintendent

19

General guiding processes to discern vision for mission, mission priorities, and strategic directions and communicating such team leader for staff and partner with Executive Board and related Commissions and Committees oversee financial and risk management linkage with denomination

20

With churches and pastors… facilitate connections – churches with churches, pastors with pastors assisting churches during pastoral transitions and search processes facilitating crisis intervention with pastors and congregations overseeing care and support of pastors and assisting Executive Minister of the Ordered Ministry in processing care and discipline cases 21

Linkage with the Denomination

16

Partnerships Church Planting Technical Services (land acquisition,

construction loans, leases, etc. – co-guarantees)

Admission and dismissal of member churches Referrals, care, and discipline of pastors Group health insurance

17

General Linkage Interpreter of Covenant identity, practices, and policies Advocate for denominational strategic directions (i.e. mission expansion (local and global), multiethnic ministries, reaching emerging generations, compassion and justice ministries, church revitalization, Christian formation) 18

Emerging Leaders Panel

Looking Ahead

The ECC in 2020

101

PROJECT

DATE

DID YOU KNOW 2.0

2008

CLIENT

YOU

The ECC in 2020 The growth trajectory of the ECC means that the ECC could grow to 285,000 people in 1100 congregations.

102

Projected ECC Attendance Growth 284,868

300,000

209,801

225,000

156,824 150,000

108,090 75,000

0

1996

2004

2012

2020

103

Projected Number of Churches 1097 1100

906 763

825

644 550

275

0 1996

2004

2012

2020

104

Projected Attendance by Conference 80,000

1996

2004

2012

2020

60,000

40,000

20,000

0 CAN

CEN

EC

ECCAK

GL

MS

MW

NP

NW

PSWC

SE

105

Projected Number of Churches by Conference 1996

2004

2012

2020

300

225

150

75

0 CAN

CEN

EC

ECCAK

GL

MS

MW

NP

NW

PSWC

SE

106

Ethnic Churches 2004

1992

Ethnic 10%

Ethnic 20%

Anglo 90%

Anglo 80%

2020

2012 Ethnic 27%

Ethnic 36%

Anglo 64%

Anglo 73% 107

Years Per 100,000 Growth 110 110.0

82.5

55.0

17

0-100,000

1885-1995

100-200,000

1995-2012

27.5

12 0 200-300,000

2012-2024 108

Possible Crossroads Structural capacity ECC identity and cohesion Clergy supply and credentialing Financial resources Next generation issues

109

In It Together

Vision • Pursuing Christ and • Pursuing Christ’s priorities in the world…

The Prow of the Ship

The Prow of the Ship •

World Mission

•

Church Planting

•

Strengthen Existing Churches

•

Compassion, Mercy, & Justice

•

Multi-Ethnic Ministry

•

Assignment: December 28, 2009 2 papers 4-5 pages each Choose 1 in EACH section Section I: Briefly describe your church’s polity and articulate its strengths and weaknesses. What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of the ECC’s practice of congregational polity at the conference and denominational level. Section 2: Evaluate the missional momentum of your church locally, regionally, denominationally, and globally. Include reference to conference and denominational resources and partnership possibilities to enhance that momentum Do a demographic study of your community and use the 5-Fold Test to identify how your church can move ahead in being more missional in your community. 116