Reflections on the 2011 Church Innovations Staff and Board Retreat

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Editor's Note: on May 13, 2011 Church Innovations staff and the Board of Directors gathered at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church for an all-day retreat. Following are comments from some of the participants reflecting their reflections on the event.

“When we gather, it is a blessing to see CI's continuing faithfulness to its founding vision. It is even more important, though, to see the on-going commitment to strategically relate CI's work to God's mission in our time. It is encouraging on many levels - personal discipleship and on-going leadership in the church being the most significant.”

-The Right Reverend Mark MacDonald - Chairman of the CI Board of Directors

“I was glad to hear that Board members want to make a concerted effort to meet face-to-face once a year, and I was appreciative of those who traveled this year to make it possible”

-Ms. Linda Bergquist - member of the CI Board of Directors

“When I tell people that CI is engaged in research they give me a puzzled look. People associate research with test tubes and laboratories. The staff presentations at the retreat explained the research on which CI programs are based, giving me the ability to pass that explanation on to others”

-The Reverend Bruce Modahl - member of the CI Board of Directors

“I enjoyed spending the time together and getting re-acquainted. I was heartened to observe firsthand the investment and commitment of the staff to the vision of CI!

“l was convicted all over again about a few things. First of all, how important this work is. Most churches (mine included) utterly lack imagination or clarity about what mission means in their context. Secondly, how easy it is for church leaders to say “this is really important” and then do nothing about it. Change is exceedingly slow. Inertia is a powerful thing. The systems we are a part of only seem to allow a “fix it now!” mentality. Thirdly, I saw more than ever before that by listening another into free speech we also open ourselves to the Holy Spirit.

“I’m encouraged that more people are seeing the need for missional renewal. I believe more people will soon be taking the next step to do something about it as the systemic obstacles are slowly but surely worn away. Patience is an important and necessary virtue here.

“One thing I was surprised about was how I had misunderstood dwelling in the Word!”

-The Reverend John Strommen - member of the CI Board of Directors

“A primary challenge for the leaders of any organization is to look beyond the myriad of current activity to establish a vision for a future. CI has itself been visionary in its discernment of the future for the church. Grounded in a Christ centered vision for the future, CI has formulated approaches so that congregations and church judicatory bodies can look to the future—to discern God’s preferred and promised future for them. These approaches provide insights and resources so that leaders may discern how they might lead in these unprecedented times. The CI staff has an amazing commitment to help congregations and judicatories to look to a future grounded in God’s promise and hope even when the present might be filled with seemingly overwhelming challenges”

-Dr. Alan Walter - member of the CI Board of Directors

“It was great to spend time with board and staff members, especially dwelling in the word and talking about how we have seen and continue to see God at work in Church Innovations. I am thankful for these partners who have a heart for the church and are committed to God’s mission”

-Ms. Caroline Hvidsten - Office Manager and Project Manager for Partnership for Missional Church