PMC From 50,000 Feet
By Barbara Miller

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Whenever we share stories about the Partnership for Missional Church (PMC) we always field questions about the context within the process: Where does it fit?

In a recent phone call, John Nowell while trying to explain a lot of PMC details in a short time, talked in terms of the view from up high – the 50,000 foot view and since this organization is rich in metaphors, I immediately recognized this one as helpful for this article.

In an effort to help our readers place in context the PMC process, we have decided to publish a series of articles, starting with the high level view (from 50,000 feet) and in subsequent issues, we will dive deeper into the Phases and Events. We will try to ground our flight pattern in Patrick’s book, We are Here Now and refer to particular chapters or quotations when appropriate, and explain process, practices, and even some of the research and theology behind this body of work. We will also try to supplement the content with stories shared by either denominational leaders or congregations as they travel with us.

And so we start the journey - The Partnership for Missional Church is a three to five year process that engages denominational systems and congregations in processes and practices that help them discern what God is up to in their place: we refer to it as God’s preferred and promised future! The first two chapters of Patrick’s book grounds the underlying theological framework, as well as providing a helpful explanation of the post modern Christendom within which we are facing change in church bodies and congregations.

We have learned though our research that to effect lasting change we need to involve both with denominational systems and congregations. We work with judicatory staff, pastors play a significant role in the process, and we involve many levels of lay leadership in the congregations to guide and assess processes. The Partners we develop at all levels enter into a journey that will begins with conversation that will ultimately bring together Clusters of 12-16 congregations that will begin to work together as they discover what they as a community of God are called by God to do in His mission at this place and time. The PMC cluster meets three times per year for three years, called Phases. During Phase One - Discovering – Chapter 3, congregations meet together to use tools, learn processes and share what they are learning about themselves and ways they act as a community. The primary tools, developed by Church Innovations include Church Future Finder and the Congregational Discovery process. The congregations are called to discern how they function, how they might look to the surrounding community and how they might want to respond to all they have learned with a new understanding of what God has in mind!

During Phase Two – Experimenting – Chapter 4, the discoveries of the first year’s work translate into Experiments. Missional Engagement Teams take on the task of identifying and addressing the needs, challenges and desires identified in the Discovery Phase to experiment with how they might shape and change how the congregation responds to the preferred and promise future God has in mind for them. The Teams are invited to use imagination, try new things, enjoy both success and failures – these are short term experiments that allow for learning and responsiveness. Sometimes the chosen experiments create a whole new excitement – sometimes they help the congregations discern a way to refine their dreams. It is an exciting time, a time of tension as systems adjust to change, and always a fruitful learning engagement.

Having learned much in the first two years, Phase Three – Visioning for Embodiment – Chapter 5 turns to the development of five documents that will help shape and guide the congregation into its future. The congregation will carefully take up the planning and implementation through developing their own Statement for Missional Vocation, Vision for Embodiment, Strategic Plan, Smart Plans of Action, and Staff Covenant. All through the three year process, Pastors have been involved in developing Spiritual Disciplines and recognize ways to grow leadership in the congregations. Many congregations realize that they were just at the beginning of significant and lasting change. There are many ways for them to move forward, and some elect to continue our services as they entering a phase of Learning and Growing – Chapter 6. At this point the reflective model of learning that has been developed by the congregations is used as a continuing education model as it grows in its missional vocation and sets a clear path toward God’s preferred and promised future. Over the years of working in the cluster, congregations have learned to share and mentor (Chapter 7) what they have done and continue behaviors they have learned to support each other on the missional journey.

We will land this flight from 50,000 feet and invite you to return to our website often as we take off in future issues and look more closely into the specific events and processes we have just viewed from on high.