Affirming in the Present What We Hope to Be Tomorrow

For nearly a year, N and I have been serving on a Vision Committee at LOCC. We've spent a lot of time thinking, praying, processing, assessing, evaluating, synthesizing, and dreaming. Instead of quickly popping out a list of "brick and mortar"-ish items to be checked off over the next several years, we wanted to create a spiritual vision of who we long to be, bringing together the best of who we are as a congregation with God's intentions for the church and the world in Scripture. To help achieve that goal, we used a process called appreciative inquiry. (Branson's book Memories, Hopes, and Conversations: Appreciative Inquiry and Congregational Change was an invaluable resource to us on our journey.)

Yesterday, the VT presented our vision to the congregation. We have yet to discover the congregational response, what steps our various ministry leaders will take to help us become the kind of church we envision, or how our members will covenant will God and one another to embody this vision in our life together before the world. But, we hope and pray that it will be an exciting journey of discernment and taking Spirit-guided, faithful risks for the sake of the kingdom of God.

Here are the "embodied callings" and "dreams" that we presented yesterday. (As with all statements like this, it was not created in a vacuum. We have dipped deeply into the vernacular of our own congregation, as well as the language of Scripture and missional church theology, and some helpful ideas from insights from other churches and thinkers.):

Embodied Calling Statements:

Affirming Today What We Hope to Be Tomorrow

As the body of Christ in north Oakland County we willingly submit to living under the reign of God for the sake of the world. We choose to live intentionally, committing to work with God in and through the church, to open our lives to the transforming work of God through the Spirit, and to walk the way of Jesus in our community.

Missional Outreach:

We believe that God’s kingdom is a present reality that continues to break into the world. As a people who have submitted to the lordship of Christ through baptism, we proclaim the gospel, the good news of the reign of God, through missional outreach. Through our participation in the mission of God we both strengthen the unity of the body and individually grow in discipleship by imitating Christ’s life of compassionate and sacrificial service to our local community. We serve expecting nothing in return, willingly taking risks for the sake of the kingdom of God.

Biblical Formation & Education:

We believe that the Bible is the narrative of the God who creates and interacts with humanity. The biblical story is our story. In order to better understand our place in God’s continuing action in the world and to grow as disciples, we pursue a greater understanding of faith and discipleship by engaging in the study of Scripture, listening to the proclaimed Word, and participating in classes and discussions with others. As we dwell in the Word of God both individually and communally, the Spirit continually shapes us to embody the mind of Christ in the world.

Loving Family:

We believe that the journey of faith is a shared journey. The church is the family of those who live in relationship with God and one another, a fellowship in and through Jesus Christ. We are a sincere, committed, loving family of Christians who work together to help those who are in need, whether or not they are a part of the Lake Orion Church family. We acknowledge, embrace, and accept diversity as a vital aspect of our life together, and we choose to extend grace in the freedom of Christ instead of judgment, breaking down the dividing walls that separate people, so that we might have a deep and real sense of connection and belonging with one another in the fellowship of the Spirit.

Worship:

We believe that worship is vital to the life of faith and the future of God’s people and all of creation. When we gather in worship, we commune with God and with each other and we re-enthrone God over our own lives and over the church. In worship we praise God for the mighty works God has done in our own lives and on behalf of a world that does not yet know how to praise.

· Singing & Praise:

We believe that God is enthroned on the praises of God’s people. The singing at the Lake Orion Church enhances the congregation’s corporate worship and individual spirituality. In our praise, we retrain ourselves for life in the world, recommitting ourselves to the way of Jesus and God’s mission. Song services are intentional, though open to spontaneity, and dip into the deep well of resources in the Christian tradition, including a blend of older and newer songs. The sincerity, energy, and passion of our worship leaders are a source of the vibrancy of the worship in song.

· Communal Prayer:

We believe that God hears and responds to our prayer. Communal prayer is a vital part of our corporate worship at Lake Orion. We regularly surround individuals and families to hold them up in prayer and bring their physical, spiritual, emotional, and relational needs to God. We also join together in times of celebration, giving thanks for God’s faithfulness. As we come together through prayer, we are strengthened and knit together as a church; we lay aside our differences and unite as one people in the presence of God.

· Preaching:

We believe that God continues to speak to the church through the proclaimed Word. The preaching at the Lake Orion Church of Christ anchors both the worship service and the overall health of the congregation in the Word of God. By intention, the sermon is united with the other elements of worship. In his sermons, the preacher connects with the members as individuals and as a body. His sermons are clear, practical, thoughtful, and edifying. His humility and genuineness are revealed through his openness to share both the strengths and weaknesses of his spiritual journey with the congregation.

Small Groups:

We believe that small groups are vital to the formation of people on the journey of faith. Small groups provide a unique avenue to experiencing a deeper connection with other individuals and with the greater church family. By consistently gathering together with a small group of other disciples, we create and cultivate an intimate, non-judgmental atmosphere that fosters growth in the Spirit through relationships of trust and accountability. Together we share our dreams and our fears, we celebrate our successes and strengths, we confess our failures and weaknesses, and we learn to address and resolve conflict, while seeking the counsel and support of others through conversation, prayer, and the exploration of the Scriptures.

Youth Faith Formation:

We believe that children are an integral part of the life and future of the church. As a congregation we recognize the importance of maintaining an active and welcoming youth program to nurture the growing faith of our children and teens and to empower them to follow Jesus. Through Bible study and discussion groups, we foster an environment that encourages enduring friendships and develops leadership within the group. We invite our youth to join us on the transformative journey of discipleship through shared experiences in missional outreach, fellowship, and worship.

As members of the family of God at the Lake Orion Church of Christ, we covenant with one another and with God to embrace and live into this vision in our life together with God for the sake of the world.

“Our Dream”

We dream of a church…

…where the gospel is not just something taught, but is a reality in and through which people live out God’s intentions for the world; where God’s new creation is breaking into the world; where evangelism and mission are the way of life for all believers.

…where the Spirit of God is present and active in calling us to be the people of God, transforming us and strengthening us as individuals and a community; where people take risks for the sake of the kingdom of God; where people are empowered to live through the Spirit.

…where God’s word becomes a source of hope and life; where Scripture is studied with expectation, taught with relevance, heard with anticipation, and obeyed with passion; where the gospel story lives in us and we live out the story of Jesus in the world.

…where biblical hospitality is a way of life; where God’s beauty is made real in the lives of broken people; where humanity is restored to those who have been dehumanized; where the oppressed and disenfranchised are welcomed and embraced as Christ; where salvation comes and changes us all; where all people and all of God’s creation are blessed through us.

…where people find real help, experience real change, and encounter real answers; where people discover healing, wholeness, and hope; where people find liberation from sin and its enslaving power of destructive choices, habits, and addictions; where grace is both accepted and extended; where forgiveness is offered, divisions are repaired, and reconciliation is experienced in every aspect of our common life.

…where both unity and diversity are expected, received, and honored as gifts of God; where our love for one another springs from our love for God; where diversity empowers deeper discipleship; where comfort, complacency, and seclusion give way to inclusion, welcome, and embrace.

…where God is vibrantly and joyfully worshiped; where worship transforms individuals and the church community to be the people of God in the world; where individuals discover freedom to express their love for and commitment to God, while also honoring and respecting others in the family of faith; where the rich resources of our tradition are celebrated and embraced and form the foundation for the future.

…where prayer forms the rich soil that nourishes everything we do; where prayer leads us both to the heart of God and to the heart of human struggle; where individuals come together to form a visionary community of discernment.

…where growth in radical discipleship is anticipated and expected; where people are free to stretch their wings in faith; where men, women, and children work together to become imitators of God; where transformation into the image of Christ is empowered and the Fruit of the Spirit is cultivated in all people.

…where families are strengthened and marriages flourish; where husbands and wives learn to love one another as Christ loves the church; where children discover the creative and life-giving presence of God; where all people, young and old, are invited to explore life in Christian community.

…where every member is trained, empowered, and entrusted to be a minister; where people embrace their baptismal calling and live the baptized life, life in the self-emptying, self-denying pattern of Jesus.

…where people come together regularly to fellowship in the Spirit and the Word; where small groups and prayer groups form a vital part of our growth in discipleship.

…where people continue to search for God and re-imagine how the gospel speaks into our time and culture; where we serve our neighbors, expecting nothing in return; where we are a necessary resource for our community, both physically and spiritually; where those who are not-yet-Christian find a safe place to ask difficult questions and to explore God, faith, and spirituality; where new church-communities are being planted as people come to embrace the way of Jesus and the life of discipleship.