This conversation will, we hope, enable you to test your mission statement idea. Go ahead, give it a whirl! Write what you think would be a good mission statement for McDougall United Church, and tell us why. And if you read a good one, make a comment on it! Or if you think you can “tweak” one that’s suggested and make it better, go for it!
What we’re looking for is an “a-ha!” moment – a mission statement suggestion that really connects with the congregation. Let’s see if it happens here!
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“Our mission is to practice friendship with God, and God’s beloved.”
In most of my conversations with McDougall folks, friendship is a huge theme. People come to the church because of the friendships they have found here, but more than that, people have experienced the grace of God in the ways that people have been good friends to them, and people have felt they have lived out the gospel by being friends to others – not only within the church, but outside as well. Jesus calls his disciples “friends” in the Farewell Discourses in John (chapters 14-17), and we know friendship as one of the most profound ways we can love our neighbor as ourselves.
I don’t think this mission statement is quite it – though that’s just my gut feeling. However, it does work well in the sense that our healing and caring ministries are to be ministries of friendship (rather than just passing service or courtesy), it calls us into a more profound and personal “church in society” connection (not simply social relief but friendship that puts faces and personalities to the people we serve), it builds equality (for friends look eye-to-eye) and it calls us to recognize that God’s love goes before us and beyond us (that God’s beloved includes those of other religions, those of other sexual orientations, those of other countries, the earth itself, and so on…).
Anyway, that’s my first suggestion. What do you think?
Dave
By: mcdougallmvp on October 13, 2009
at 11:03 pm
I am copying this post here as well — it comes from Bill Payter and also has a mission statement idea! Hope this is okay, Bill…
McDougalls Misdsion statementy should be short and as consise as possible. A simple test is, can the average member repeat the mission statement or explain its purpose?
I suggest we test the following as a possible revision;
“We the people of McDougall stand for justice and kindness”.
By: mcdougallmvp on October 19, 2009
at 10:36 pm
I think that we believe in God but we need to say it in our mission.
How about:
“We the people of McDougall are called to share the love of Christ through justice, kindness and caring.”
or “We are the hands and feet of Christ. We stand for justice, kindness and love.”
By: Valerie MacLeod on November 3, 2009
at 12:25 pm
I’ve got another thought. What about this:
McDougall United Church’s vision is
whole people
in healthy relationships
loving and following Jesus Christ.
“Whole people” directs us toward development of the health, integrity, and vitality of everyone involved at this church. “In healthy relationships” directs us to nurture not only our relationships with each other — our friendships — but also the health of families and marriages, and our relationships with wider society and the earth itself. “Healthy” incorporates both the depth and compassion of the relationships, but also their justice. Finally, “loving and following Jesus” clearly states our spiritual foundations, and calls us to continually learn from Jesus, and be transformed in his image.
I’m pretty sure this isn’t “there” yet — it seems a bit short on grace — but I thought I’d toss it in anyway…
By: Dave Holmes on November 17, 2009
at 2:55 pm
This may be a bit clumsy: but I worry that, in our wording, we talk about doing God’s will or Jesus will kind of like it is a manual to follow. To pursue justice, be kind – doesn’t require any connection with God. And following a set of rules for behaviour doesn’t require a connection with God either. I think we are more, I think we search for God – inside, outside…. for the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit (ie. not just any spirit, but God’s spirit)…. I’m not sure how to word it to reflect this, but I think it is important.
I know for myself, I am happiest at church when I gain a little insight into God. I think, somehow, our mission statement should reflect this – our own need to connect with God, our seeking of God, our seeking of God’s presence.
We, the people of McDougall, seek the presence of God …
Judy
By: Judy Heynen on December 13, 2009
at 10:57 pm