What are the characteristics of thriving congregations?

 I continue my work on a grant for the School of Theology and Vocation at LeTourneau University. In part two, the granting body asks, What are the characteristics of thriving congregations? Here is my draft in response:

At our core, we share the conviction of the Lilly Endowment, that “local congregations have been and will continue to be the primary form of Christian community”. Even though LETU is an institution of higher education, we aim all of our curriculum towards the end of “equipping the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Eph. 4.12). But it is important to underscore that by this we do not mean that we only train people for professional ministry. Rather, we encourage and prepare students from a variety of majors (STEM, humanities, and professional degrees) to embrace the way in which their faith shapes and animates every aspect of their lives, and how all of their gifts, talents, competencies, and privileges can and should be leveraged for the life of the church and the world. We believe that all of this starts with a clear understanding and embrace of three foundational aspects of the Christian faith: (1) understanding the overarching narrative of Scripture, (2) the unique identity of God as Father, Son, and Spirit, and (3) clarity regarding our vocation or calling in light of who God is and what He is doing in and for the world. It has been our experience in engaging with both our students and church leaders within our network of influence that these three windows into understanding the Christian faith have been given little or no attention. We have also seen that when congregants and church leaders are oriented to the Christian life in this way, it opens up fresh ways of imagining their place and purpose in the church and the world. In other words, when congregants come to understand their vocation in light of God’s unique identity as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (along with all the implications this has for understanding the what, how, and why of the Christian life), and in line with the narrative or mission of God in and for the world, it is generative; it produces creativity, meaningful fellowship, and intentional engagement in and for the world, including the workplace, the family, in schools, and in communities.

Along with these three foundational elements, we believe that thriving congregations exhibit seven patterns or practices that are integrally linked to the mission of God and the vocation of the people who belong to God. These seven patterns are not necessarily intuitive or common sense (in fact some seem counterintuitive) but are instead derived both from the three foundational elements we outlined agove (the narrative of Scripture, the unique identity of God, and vocation) and also from a careful reading of the Scriptures, especially the New Testament, which narrate the pattern and practices of community flourishing: [1]

1.       Hospitality. God’s act of atonement in Jesus Christ is ultimately an act of hospitality in which God invites us to be in His presence and share in His resources. Thus, hospitality is not only the central act of God in the narrative of Scripture but also is arguably the most foundational sign that a community is thriving, that it has in fact been united to God’s life of love. The theme of hospitality is central to the New Testament, and in particular Paul’s letters. According to the Apostle Paul, the most fundamental implication of all that God has revealed to us in Scripture and in and through Jesus Christ (Romans 1-12) can be summarize with the exhortation “welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you” (Romans 15.7). Thus, the foundational posture of a congregation is that of hospitality. Hospitality is a way of describing what Christian discipleship is. In our world of increasing polarization, isolation, and loneliness, aided and abetted by technology, and as more people than ever feel detached from family, friends, and resources that sustain life, hospitality in its various forms is a balm that brings healing to communities and animates further acts of welcome. The New Testament, through a variety of narrative descriptions and exhortations, upholds a vision of thriving congregations that do not seek to insolate themselves from others but rather seek to share their resources with others in radical ways that cross ethnic and socio-economic lines which often keep us apart.

2.      Networking. Consistent with the witness of the New Testament, congregations that thrive are networked with other churches, sharing information, perspectives, lessons learned, and resources. These congregations network not just along denominational lines, but instead cross socio-economic, and racial boundaries, in keeping with the hospitality we have experienced in the welcome we received in Christ.

3.      Public witness. Churches bear witness to God’s love for the world publicly. That is, they do not simply exist in and for themselves; they are engaged in the life and welfare of the places to which they have been called. Since the Christian faith makes claims about what is real, true, and good, and since God’s mission is ultimately about restoring and reconciling this world, this entails that Christians are engaged in seeking the peace (or shalom) of the places in which they live.  

4.      Looking out for the marginalized. As an extension of God’s hospitality, thriving congregations seek to provide for the weak, vulnerable, and marginalized. In this regard, “thriving” does not mean that we only associate with others who seem to have it all together. Rather, to thrive is to fully participate in God’s mission of emptying Himself  for the sake of others, which includes His concern for the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable. Thriving congregations seek ways to use their resources (personnel, know-how, and capital) in order to meet the needs of those in their midst who have been alienated and forsaken for a variety of reasons.

5.      Reconciliation. Congregations that have received divine welcome through Jesus Christ embrace participate in God’s on-going ministry of reconciliation. This means that thriving congregations willingly engage in the process of disagreement and conflict resolution as an integral aspect of their vocation. Conflict is inevitable; the presence of conflict within a congregation is not a sign that churches are not thriving. Instead, the manner in which churches deal with conflict reveals whether or not they are healthy, thriving congregations.

6.      Articulation of belief. Thriving congregations are made of people who have the ability to explain what it is that enables them to thrive. As is often the case, we cannot see or do what we cannot say. Articulation not only enables congregants to “give a reason for the hope that is among them” (1 Peter 3.15), but also helps congregants clarify and animate their vocation, their engagement with the world. They are able to say why they exist, why they do what they do, and why it matters. And thriving congregations are able to transmit their identity and mission not only to those outside of their midst, but also, and perhaps most importantly, to those emerging generations within their congregations.

7.       Suffering. Suffering is not often associated with notions of thriving. But the New Testament offers a picture of thriving congregations that includes suffering because of one’s allegiance to the ways of God. Since we still live in a world that rebels against God and His will, faithful allegiance to God will inevitably entail levels of suffering that are signs of thriving. Thus working for the good of others in step with God’s mission for the world may actually be considered offensive and dangerous; congregants who seek to join in God’s reconciling love run the risk of being misunderstood, held in suspicion, or even considered wrong-doers. Suffering, therefore, is not necessarily a sign of God’s displeasure and can often be the outcome of faithful participation in God’s own life of love.

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[1] These seven characteristics have been adapted from Kavin Rowe’s “The Pattern of Life in Thriving Communities”, in which he offers six features of thriving congregations.