Church Unique (eBook)

WILL MANCINI, a former pastor, is the founder of Auxano, a national consulting group that works with traditional and emerging churches and ministries of all types around the country. Their mission is to navigate leaders through growth challenges with vision clarity (auxano.com).

About Leadership Network xvii

Foreword xix

Introduction xxi

PART ONE Recasting Vision

1. Unoriginal Sin: Neglecting Uniqueness 5

2. The Fall of Strategic Planning: Obscuring the Essence 17

3. The Iniquity of Church Growth: Caging the Kingdom 27

4. Lost Congregations: How Churches Adapt to the Vision Vacuum 40

PART TWO Clarifying Vision

5. The Good News of Clarity: Why Believe in Vision Today? 51

6. Clarity Pre-Evangelism: Softening Your Heart for Clarity 61

7. The Alpha and Omega of Clarity: The Ultimate Source of Vision 69

8. Hear the Cloud of Witnesses: Learning from Vision Legacies 75

9. Discover Your Kingdom Concept: How to Ascertain Vision 83

10. Take a Closer Look: Navigating Your Discovery Process 99

PART THREE Articulating Vision

11. See with New Eyes: Defining Your Vision Frame 111

12. Carry the Holy Orders: Mission as Missional Mandate 119

13. Feel the Common Heartbeat: Values as Missional Motives 128

14. Show Me the Way: Strategy as Missional Map 136

15. Talk the Walk: Measures as Missional Life Marks 151

16. Frame the Future: Preparing for a Vision Lifestyle 164

17. Speak with New Tongues: Articulating Vision Proper 178

PART FOUR Advancing Vision

18. Wage War Against the Status Quo: From Articulation to Traction 197

19. Meet Long in the Upper Room: The Secret of Attunement 207

20. Transform the Future: Delivering Vision Daily Parting Thoughts 215

21. Resurrect Your Uniqueness: If You Copy Someone Else's Vision, Who Will Accomplish Yours? 234

Appendix A Logos and Strategy Icon Examples 237

Appendix B Vision Path Examples 243

Notes 247

Bibliography 255

Acknowledgments 259

About the Author 261

Index 263

"[Mancini] gives a compelling rationale for the church to move onand accompanies this rationale with instructive support andchurch-wide challenge. All mission boards and vestries wouldbenefit from the materials contained therein."
--The Rev. Jeffrey A. Mackey, The LivingChurch magazine (Sept. 2008)

Mancini (founder, Auxano consulting group) believes that allchurches need not be megachurches like Willowcreek (IL) orSaddleback (CA). Here, he avoids a mere discussion of churchesworthy of emulation and further crosses denominational lines,having himself worked alongside Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans,and others. Mancini eschews the title consultant ,preferring instead vision navigator . In short, he helpsleaders focus on their own unique cultures and congregationalfingerprints. Once churches grasp that they are one of a kind-muchlike galaxies, fossils, DNA, and sandbanks-they can then, Manciniwrites, unleash their full potential. The book, complete with anappendix as well as logos and icons illustrating various churches'visionary thinking, is strengthened by numerous flow charts,diagrams, graphics, and pithy quotes. It has the potential tounseat Rick Warren's The Purpose-Driven Church inpopularity. Yet academic libraries may want to pass on this titlefor its admitted lack of supporting empirical evidence. Publiclibraries, on the other hand, would be wise to purchase a copy.With a foreword by inspirational giant Max Lucado.
--C. Brian Smith, Arlington Heights Memorial Lib., IL(Library Journal, May 1, 2008)
"This is the most courageous book I have ever read on church life.McNeal nails the problem on the head. Be prepared to be turnedupside down and shaken loose of all your old notions of what churchis and should be in today's world."
-- George Cladis, senior pastor, Westminster PresbyterianChurch, Oklahoma City and author, Leading the Team-BasedChurch

"With humor and rare honesty Reggie McNeal challenges churchleaders to take authentic Christianity back into the real world.He's asking the right questions to help us get back ontrack."
-- Tommy Coomes, contemporary Christian music pioneer andrecord producer, artist with Franklin Graham Ministries

"Reggie McNeal throws a lifeline to church leaders who arestruggling with consumer-oriented congregations wanting church forthemselves. The Present Future will recharge youpassion."
-- Rev. Robert R. Cushman, senior pastor, Princeton AllianceChurch, Plainsboro, New Jersey

"Christian leaders will find great questions being answered inthis compelling and motivating work that unwraps what he calls 'therealities of the present future' in the church today."
-- Kelvin Gardiner, district superintendent, Christian andMissionary Alliance.

"The momentum of God that allows visionary ministries toexperience exponential growth stalls for the lack of greatmanagement (having the right systems and people in place to move tothe next level). This is a must read for the young entrepreneur atthe beginning of ministry or the seasoned pioneer!"
-- Mike Slaughter, senior pastor, Ginghamsburg UnitedMethodist Church, Tipp City Ohio

"I would highly recommend this book to any person interested inthe current state of the Church in North America and the future ofthat Church. It is time that we pay attention to the realities ofour ministry context and like David's 'Men of Issachar' discern theright path into the future."
-- Rick E. Morrow, pastoral care coordinator, U.S. ArmySpecial Operations Command, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina

"This book is a rare find in which McNeal lovingly challengesthe church with a spirit of adventure and rediscovery."
-- The Rt. Rev. Charles Jenkins, Bishop, The EpiscopalDiocese of Louisiana