 Renewed Evangelizing Congregations Checklist
 Intentionality - Fostering DISCIPLESHIP AND DEEPENING OF FAITH PRACTICES
o for individuals, groups and/or the entire congregation
o focusing on prayer
o regularly providing various spiritual growth opportunities
o assistance in developing intentional faith practices
o providing Bible study in creative, contextually-appropriate forms for all ages/types of people
o encouraging/teaching about sharing one's faith stories
 Awareness – being alert to what is happening at any given time in the MISSION FIELD / COMMUNITY and
BEING PREPARED TO RESPOND IN CHRIST'S NAME
o Learning to see what God is doing and name it as such – to ourselves & especially to others
 Authenticity – Building authentic RELATIONSHIPS WITH GOD, WITHIN THE CONGREGATION, and WITH
OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY:
o Learning to listen for God's direction
o Learning to listen to people "One-on-One"
o Learning to ask powerful questions
o Learning to share our faith stories at the appropriate time and in an appropriate way with the
people whom we meet
o Understanding that faith is personal – but not private! The comfort, hope and blessings each of
us receives from our faith in Christ is meant to be shared with others to help them see how
they too can benefit from embracing such a living faith!
 Discernment - making decisions based on group prayer/ Bible study / discernment (engaging as many folks
as possible) of WHAT GOD IS CALLING THE CONGREGATION TO DO
 Collaboration - regularly planning/carrying out ministry in Christ's name through a NETWORK OF
PARTNERSHIPS with other congregations (Lutheran or ecumenically) and secular partners – No 'Lone Rangers'
 Accountability – having MISSION PLANS with CLEAR OUTCOMES/SMART GOALS (specific, measurable,
attainable, realistic, timeline-bound) and a system for REGULAR EVALUATION and ADJUSTMENTS to the plan.
 Evangelizing – clearly CONNECTING ALL MISSIONAL/SOCIAL MINISTRY PROGRAMS WITH THE GOSPEL
Creative and evangelical outreach in a congregation's service area:
o Targeting a specific population(s): ethnic, socio-economic, age group, sexual orientation, etc.
o while being inclusive of all people
o AND being open/ready to respond to new possibilities where God might lead
 Attentiveness & devotion - being aware of trends in WORSHIP ATTENDANCE. Being proactive in making
contextually appropriate changes so that GOD'S WORD AND SACRAMENT ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL PEOPLE
o Developing worship using the context (the culture of the community and congregation) to determine
types of worship
 Facilitation - Focusing on GROWING PARTICIPATION IN MINISTRY, both inside/outside of the church
o Utilizing demographics/local knowledge/local leaders & institutions to understand:
o who is in the community, what is its culture
o what needs community members may have,
o and what gifts they might possess/can bring to ministries
o Accompanying people as they discern their gifts and seek to use them in some way in ministry
o Getting out of the way and adopting a permission-giving culture which sets people and their gifts free
for ministry
o Following the energy and trusting that it is the Holy Spirit at work
 Engaging Leaders – ENSURING PASSIONATE, VISIONARY LEADERSHIP is in place to encourage/accompany
others as they plan and participate in God's work
o
Invitation and recruiting for ministry, from both inside AND outside the church membership
 Enabling - Developing and Supporting EMPOWERED, SELF-RELIANT LEADERSHIP
o providing regular leadership training/leadership development in and outside of the congregation
o being intentional about including as many people as possible in discernment processes as input for
decision-making
o fostering a culture of multiplication of leaders (current leaders "apprenticing" new ones and eventually
handing off ministry to them)
 Transparency – regularly submitting truthful, accurate PAROCHIAL REPORTS to the synod/ELCA
 Fiscal responsibility - having a realistic, sustainable
o FINANCIAL PLAN,
o TRANSPARENT BOOK-KEEPING SYSTEM,
o ADEQUATE FUND FOR EMERGENCIES
o PLAN FOR MAINTAINING THE CHURCH FACILITY IN GOOD CONDITION
so that God's work can be done
 Interdependency - providing MISSION SUPPORT: 10% + ... or setting a goal to incrementally increase
mission support giving as an integral part of the body of Christ so that ministry can happen across the church
 Ensuring support - maintaining intentional, sound STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES –
o providing year round, holistic stewardship teaching opportunities for all ages (for stewardship in its
broadest sense),
o connecting people to stories of ministries throughout the synod and ELCA;
o encouraging stewardship in all aspects of an individual's/congregational life
o explaining/encouraging tithing at individual level (regular giving) and congregational level (mission
support)
o maintaining the church facility in good condition