Mutual Study of Ministry in the Diocese of Maine
A Call from the Canon
Philosophy | Process | Suggested Time Line | Objectives | Sample Questions
Philosophy
"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one spirit." I Corinthians 12:12-13
"The church is …the Body of which Jesus Christ is the Head and of which all baptized persons are members." An Outline of Faith, Book of Common Prayer, p. 854
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." Albert Einstein
For years, the Diocese of Maine has encouraged all congregations to conduct an annual Mutual Ministry Review. This has, more often than not, been regarded by both the Rector and the Vestry as an onerous task that, if done at all, should be done with haste and dispatch using some convenient check list. Even though the words "mutual" and "ministry" came first, the word that stuck out was "REVIEW". Rather than being seen as a time for positive dialogue between lay and clergy leaders about their mutual ministry in their congregation and community, Mutual Ministry Review was often regarded as the time to tell the priest all the things that have gone wrong in the last year from sermon to Sunday School. For these reasons we are suggesting the process that will be presented in these pages be called Mutual Study of Ministry. Mutual Study of Ministry (MSM) is an opportunity for reflection and examination of the ministry of the whole community. This new name fits the spirit of the process that we are using and so we are introducing a new title for this very important activity.
There are two central and interrelated building blocks that undergird the MSM process. The first, and primary, of those building blocks is the vision of the church as a baptismal community as outlined above in the quotes from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians and in the Catechism from the Book of Common Prayer. The MSM process understands the church as a community inspired by the Holy Spirit and gathered around the font and the altar. Through baptism every Christian enters into the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and is empowered to continue Christ's work of reconciliation in the world. Mutual Study of Ministry is, first of all, an inquiry into how we as individuals and as a community ,can best live into the Baptismal Covenant.
The second building block that is basic to MSM is the Appreciative Inquiry process. David Cooperrider, a pioneer in Appreciative Inquiry, states that it is based, "on a reverence for life….It is an inquiry process that tries to apprehend the factors that give life to a system and seeks to articulate those possibilities that can lead to a better future." Appreciative Inquiry understands the church as an organic community (the Body of Christ) in which the whole is greater than its parts, and, indeed, the parts are defined by the whole. It avoids the approach that regards the church and its leadership as problems to be solved by looking at what is wrong or broken, but instead, seeks out and affirms what is working and asks how we can strengthen what is being done well. Appreciative Inquiry looks at what gives life to the congregation and asks how that can be affirmed and carried into the future. It asks the question, "In light of the Baptismal Covenant, where is God calling us as a community?"
Mutual Study of Ministry is not a performance review of what the priest did or did not do. It is a time to reflect upon and analyze the ways in which the church, in its broadest sense, has accomplished the goals set out in the narrative parish profile developed during the search process. For churches who are using MSM for the first time, whether the Rector is new or has been in place for years, it is a way to ask questions of the future into which God is calling this congregation. It is an opportunity to assess the gifts and strengths of the "members of the church" and of the congregation as a whole. In these churches MSM can be the first step in creating a long-range plan for ministry.
When Mutual Study of Ministry occurs early in the tenure of a priest it is a time to review the ways in which the Vestry, clergy , and congregation see this new joint ministry and to re-examine their assumptions and goals. For all Rectors, newly called or settled, it is a time to look at expectations they may have had about their role and working relationships, and to join in mutual feedback to make the whole ministry truly mutual and a joint effort. For the Vestry and lay leadership it is a time to consider their role in creating the kind of parish community they want, their expectations and the realities of ministry, and to share in the giving and receiving of feedback. It is a time for the whole community to speak the truth with love so that differences between expectations and realities can be shared and honest dialogue about the future can take place.
Mutual Study of Ministry is not conflict resolution and should not be used in conflicted situations. It may give rise to discussion of differences and to sharing ideas about different views of innovation and change, but if the church and its congregation are facing conflict, there are other processes available to help them. MSM is for churches who want to look at their progress on the path of ministry and to jointly set and agree upon goals for ministry. It is also for the Vestry and leadership of churches to begin being more intentional about ministry by reviewing what the church is currently doing.
The period in the life of a congregation that is set aside for MSM is an opportunity for clergy, Vestry and congregation to listen to one another about how effective and responsive they are in the mutual enterprise of carrying out their baptismal ministry. It is a time to ask:
"What is working well and where are out strengths?"
"Do we need to make changes in our stated goals?"
"Are our goals relevant to where God is calling us to be?"
"Are our expectations fair, realistic, a stretch for us but not impossible?"
MSM models the behavior of open dialogue about ministry by asking the congregation, "What are our strengths and how can we affirm them?" Evaluation occurs on an informal basis whether it has been planned or not. MSM is an intentional process for stimulating open discussion so that appropriate change can be planned. Instead of happening in the parking lot after church, on the phone, or during coffee hours, MSM is a thoughtful, caring and conscientious study and discussion of how the congregation, its leadership, and the clergy are carrying out their ministry together.
Developing excellence in ministry cannot be accomplished by one person – the priest. Excellence occurs when the laity and the clergy leadership are committed to a shared vision of God's calling for the ministry of their congregation. The partnership is essential. Evaluating only the priest's work toward the vision demeans the role of the laity and denies the possibility of growth and development of their ministry – of their relationship to God through God's church.
All of God's people struggle with the question of whether or not we are really being faithful to God's call and to our Baptismal Covenant. But without taking the time to ask "Where are we going? And how can we best get there?" opportunities to live out our faith are lost. If we acknowledge that all share in developing God's ministry – clergy and laity alike – then this time to reflect and make decisions is not only appropriate, but welcome.
Process
The Mutual Study of Ministry (MSM) is a process that involves the Rector or Vicar, the Vestry or Bishop's Committee and the congregation in a mutual discernment process concerning the ministry that they are doing together in God's name. The underlying assumption is that all persons – laity, deacons, priests, and bishops – are members of the Body of Christ who are laboring in different, but complementary vocations, as they live out their Baptismal Covenant.
The process is straightforward and is intended to involve the clergy and lay leadership as well as a significant percentage of the congregation at large. The MSM process begins by having the Vestry and clergy, led by a facilitator, select, three or four questions concerning the ministry of the congregation. This group will then pick a cross-section of 20-30 persons from the congregation to be interviewed. Each Vestry member and clergy person will then interview (face to face) 2 or 3 people from this list using the pre-selected questions. The responses are written down and then collated into a narrative that is shared at a final meeting of the facilitator, clergy, and Vestry at which goals, strategies and next steps for the year are formulated based on the congregational responses. These results should be shared with the congregation as a whole and can be used as a basis or guidelines for the next MSM.
Suggested Time Line
STEP I Facilitator meets with Rector and Vestry (One 2½ hour meeting)
-- philosophy of MSM
-- overview of MSM Process
-- identify areas of growth, challenge and strength
-- identify questions for interviews
STEP II Vestry and Rector arrange and conduct interviews (2-4 weeks depending on time of year)
-- choose cross section of parishioners to be interviewed
-- assign 2-3 interviewees to Rector and each Vestry member
-- conduct interviews – ALL should be face to face
-- record responses during or immediately after interviews
-- ALL interviews completed by set deadline
STEP III Sub-Committee compiles and collates the results (approximately one 2-3 hour session)
-- 2 or 3 persons; all might not be from Vestry
-- results mailed out or given to Rector and Vestry at least 3 days before Step IV
STEP IV Facilitator meets with Rector and Vestry to share results and formulate goals (one 2½ -hour meeting)
-- goals should be:
--limited in number (4 maximum)
-- specific
-- measurable (as much as possible)
– achievable
STEP V Share results with the congregation (within 2 weeks of completion of Step IV)
-- newsletter
-- "Town Meeting"
-- special parish meeting
-- special mailing
Objectives
To celebrate what is going well and to identify what needs attention/change
To give clear and reliable feedback; speak the truth in love
To identify lay and priestly leadership development needs and gifts
To minimize unrealistic expectations
To renew/establish goals and priorities for the next period of time
To deepen rector/vestry relationship and enhance communication for the building up of the Body
Sample Questions
How did we live out/put into action our Mission Statement (the Gospel) this past year?
What was a highlight of our ministry this past year – with one another? In the community?
What was the most positive activity in our congregation during the past year? Who was responsible for making it happen?
Whom do you want to thank?
What now needs the attention of the Rector/Vestry? What would you like to strengthen?
What task/goal is most important for the coming year?
How would you describe the quality of our congregational community life this past year?
Last year, we set ___________________ as a goal. How did we do? or What is our greatest strength?
What attracts newcomers to our congregation?
What do you believe God is calling us to do in the next _____ years?
What did you learn this year? How did you grow?
What do you value most about _______________ Church?
Describe 2 or 3 ways to strengthen the ministry and health of ______________ Church
Describe a moment or incident or encounter in the last year at _____________ Church that was
especially meaningful for you.
Describe the one most important factor that, for you, gives "life" to __________ Church
If you had one wish for _______________ Church for the next 3-5 years, what would it be?
Copyright - Linton H. Studdiford
