Mission Planning in Wagga Wagga

Throughout 2024, I've had the privilege of working with the congregations in Wagga Wagga - Wagga Pilgrim Uniting Church and Wesley Uniting Church on mission consultations. These consultations are central to helping congregations discern and shape their future as communities of faith.

A mission consultation is the work of the congregation, and it is very important for the congregation to own its mission plan. Because discernment is key to the task, a mission consultation develops over three phases.  

The first phase is that of Appreciative Inquiry, where I invite the congregation to remember, respond, reshape, and release in the first two hours. Remembering involves remembering where God has been at work in the past in the congregation. Responding is a time of hope in answer to the question: if Jesus was standing before you what are your three prayers for your congregation? From there, I guide them to imagine what their congregation could look like at its best in five years. This is the reshaping exercise, where dreaming and visioning often lead to a deeper understanding of God’s vision for the future. This can lead to a discussion of what might need to be released in order to undertake something new. Following these sessions, I provide written recommendations based on their collective work.

The next phase of the process focuses on the Vision, Mission and Values exercise. This phase helps the congregation articulate their identity and purpose, not just internally but in a way that their wider community can understand. Their vision statement describes who they are. The mission statements or directions describe the work that they do. The values statements describe key values they hold as a congregation. This is the work of Church Council and other strategic thinkers in the life of the congregation. This is then put to the congregation to describe where they see these statements in action. This is a living document that can be revisited time and time again to in order to help the congregation evaluate how they are going.

The third phase of the consultation is often described as "where the rubber meets the road". The first part is devoted to Congregational life cycle. Where in the life cycle of a congregation does the congregation find itself today? With this knowledge the congregation can consider if revitalisation, redevelopment, or even redemptive death is the way to answer God’s call on their life. It helps make clear the depth of work needed to be done in order to continue or rediscover their missional aspirations. The congregation then moves into practical mission areas identified earlier in the consultation. They gather in open-space table groups to develop SMART Goals—Strategic, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-sensitive actions to move their mission forward.

From their initial dreaming and visioning both congregations have moved into responding to God’s call on their lives with a mission plan that is clear in the next steps they are to undertake. Wagga Pilgrim Uniting Church have already worked through the first set of SMART goals and are now undertaking Growing Young initiative and moving to reconnect with the Glenfield Park Community. Wesley Uniting Church have discerned and articulated next steps for the Intercultural Ministry that they would like to undertake as well as first steps back into family ministry.

As the Rural Mission Catalyst in the Uniting Mission and Education (UME) Mission Growth and Innovation Team, I feel truly blessed to work alongside congregations across rural and regional New South Wales and the ACT Synod. Through Mission Consultations, I help communities discern God’s call and develop plans to live it out. It is a joy to witness their faith, creativity, and courage as they move forward.