© 2012 ChurchWorXs 1 How good is your Church, anyway? Are you Living, Thrivin g, and Growing ? by Marianne Shabatura Carmack (Are you willing to get better? How does faith direct your actions? Is service really valued? Can you let go? Is your spirit generous? Are you a community? Do you have integrity? Are you ready to try somethin g different?) There are thriving Orthodox Churches. We envy their beautiful interior and exterior spaces — iconography that draws the pious into prayer and worship, outreach and missions that emb race the local community and those in foreign lands, rich liturgical offerings that span the weeks and months and seasons and Holy Days, education for all ages, activities that build community, and accurate and up-to-date bulletins, newsletters and internet sites that welcome and inform. These people —guardians an d stewards of God ’s creation —focus on beco ming “keepers” o f all God has placed in their care. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, they are continually changing and improving everything. They are the Churches — large and small — most l ikely to grow. Why? Their focus is on getting better in all things, not bigger; and, they understand that growth is not just about numbers and how many members are listed in the Parish Directory. Yours can become one of these churches (if it isn’t already). It is after all a matter of choice and making a commitment to change. I don’t mean throwing out tradition or rewriting God’s word or shortening services, but rather how we think about everything: the earth, each other, and what we offer. Our eff orts require insight — outcomes of contemplative prayer — that quicken awareness with revelations that inform our action in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and fulfilling his “Great Commission.” Thus, armed by the Holy Spirit, we can “move mountains.” You know that in a living church — one that is thriving: Christ is the focus Prayer is the foundation of all that we do We discuss, facilitate, and mediate conflict thus, developing insight, ideas, and a true or genuine community Serving others is central to our ministry We value and encourage one another (even in our differences) Our community is a body of Christ united in Eucharistic worship Stewardship and generosity are shared values Find out to what extent your church is thriving and growing in Christ by completing the following assessment. You may be surprised. In some cases the Church may be moving more in the right direction than you realize, and in others, you may need much more work than you thought. If you are thriving, it’s a good check list to help you keep on track. If not, you may learn what you need to see, learn, and do. And, don’t forget, this is really not about how many people are sitting in the pews. The Great Commission (Our Mission Statement) After Jesus Christ's death on the cross, he was buried and resurrected on the third day. Before he ascended into heaven, he appeared to his disciples in Galilee and gave them these instructions: Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
