Values, Pt. 1

A few months ago, Shari and I sat down over a dinner out and talked about what we really value in a church situation. With God calling us to another church, yet not knowing what church we're going to, these values - which we believe are values God has laid on our hearts for both us and the kids we want to serve - will help guide us in where God's leading us to in the next chapter of our family's life. I thought I'd share them in three parts: Church Culture, Leadership Culture, and Youth Ministry Culture.

Church Culture is the culture of the church as a whole. This is what we believe a healthy church will look like. This is also what we would be looking for whether we were going to serve as full-time pastors in the church, or we just were looking for a church to worship in. These aren't all non-negotiables, but many of them are. Obviously, most of these things are based on our experiences from churches we've attended in the past. It's a good reminder that, though every church has things that we may struggle with, every church has things they're doing right (or at least every church we've attended or visited). These aren't in any particular order, so don't go trying to read into them something about our priorities.

1) People are encouraged to pursue spiritual gifts, and to discover the gifts God’s given them already.
2) Corporate worship
a. Passionate, charismatic
b. Expecting – wanting – to encounter God’s power and felt presence, not just sing songs to Him or about Him.
c. Worship is more than singing
3) Knowing confidently that we’ve been called to the church we’re in.
4) A culture of authenticity between the staff, and within the church
5) A culture of evangelism
a. Not just from the pulpit on a regular basis
b. Go out and be a part of the community, looking for ways to be Jesus and share Jesus – well balanced
c. Respecting and working with the local government to reach hurting and broken people, but not dependent on or so engaged with that we can’t pull back to try something new or different that might not work with the government
6) A culture of prayer beyond just lip service or “opening” and “closing” prayer. We pray expecting God do answer, speak, and generally “show up”.
7) Culturally relevant, while being counter-cultural in our how we live our lives. Similarly, unafraid to try new things, without pushing/throwing away tradition.
8) Culture in the church that expects those in leadership to shepherd them, i.e. speak into their lives and build relationship, not just preach at them.
9) Intergenerational Ministry
10) Mentoring – life-on-life time together, not just a Bible study – is encouraged.
11) Kids are valued beyond words, and there is some sort of ministry that shows that.
12) The pastors, and the work they do, is valued, without being put on a pedestal.
13) Volunteers are expected to be at least attenders, if not members.
14) While the elders are the ones who lead the church, the church body is involved in the running of the church. It’s our church, not just the elders’; volunteers aren’t doing the leaders a favor, yet are honored and appreciated at the same time for the work they do.
15) Regarding money
a. The church is thrifty, but is willing to spend what’s needed to do things well and in a timely manner.
b. The church is willing to spend as needed, but strives to live within its means, including creating a savings account for emergencies or lean times
16) All forms of education (home schooling, private, public) is valued.