MISSION STATEMENTS From the Open Files of: NW Synod of Wisconsin Resource Center (715) 833-1153 A compilation of mission statements, shared by pastors, and what they are doing with them. St. Timothy Lutheran Church; A family baptized in Jesus Christ joins together to celebrate Word and Sacraments and to help one another grow in proclaiming the Gospel, reaching out in service, and teaching the Word of God to all people. *This statement was put on parchment paper and given to members and new members to be framed and placed by the front door of their homes. Providing frames for everyone would have been helpful. Another use was a part of the rite of welcoming newcomers into the congregation. After repeating the statement, newcomers were asked, "will you join us in this mission and support it with all your time, your talents, your resources, and your prayers? If so answer yes, with the help of God." From: Ben Moravitz We, the Presbyterian congregation in Blue Ash, serve Christ as a tree of faith and life. Our roots reach deep in Worship and personal growth. Our branches spread wide in welcome and service, beginning here and embracing the world. Our flowers are lives blossoming in Christ, and together we bear the fruit of joy as a community of God's love. From: Lex Baer "Immanuel has the heart to care for you." (A church motto) From : Evelyn J.P. Weston, Fosston, Minnesota In Christ we worship and grow in faith and grow in faith to reach From The Session of the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church As a congregation we will provide opportunities to encourage the spiritual development of our members and community with special attention to ministry, to children, youth, families and older adults. We will seek to serve our Lord locally and worldwide. "A joyful people, gathered for worship, scattered for family" "In 1866, Trinity Lutheran church was called into being to help new comers to Carrol County worship God in a language they could understand and to help teach the next generation the good news of Jesus Christ.......Some things never change." "We thought that telling it as a story was useful. Plus, it wrests our history away from the control freaks." "Our mission statement is to introduce people to a new life in Jesus Christ that grows into enthusiastic Christian living." "To preach, to teach, to serve in the city." The following mission statement-------"obviously longer that what some would view as ideal....... we adopted it in its original form in 1995, when our English speaking congregation separated from the German speaking Charge Conference to become its own (and the only non-German speaking) Charge Conference in the South Germany Annual Conference if the United Methodist Church" Peace Church - the English speaking United Methodist congregation in Munich Germany - is an international group of Christians worshiping God together , seeking to discern and to do God's will. We are called by God to -1) follow Jesus' example in proclamation of the gospel, service to the world, and fellowship with one another; -2) provide a home and haven for people of all nations and stations; -3) work in partnership with other Christian communities to reach out to the English speaking population; -4) grow spiritually into the fullness of Christ through prayer, study of the Holy Scripture, and worship in anticipation of Christ's return; -5) pray together and in private -6) channel resources to enable recognition and fulfillment of God's calling for all. We aim to do this in a spirit of openness, joy, love, acceptance and mutual respect. Our mission is to share Christ's love in community with all people through ministries of worship, learning, caring relationships and service. To glorify God and bring people into relationship with Jesus Christ through Word and Sacrament, teaching the Christian faith, mutual encouragement, and service to people in need. To glorify God and bring people into relationship with Jesus Christ and his church. "A Christian Community for the encouragement of the struggle toward mature life as understood in scripture and theology." A Christ-centered community growing in worship, nurture, fellowship, and service. To lead people to faith in Jesus Christ and to equip people to live as servants devoted to Jesus Christ and his church. This church is in a vision casting process. They are having a series of meetings in homes which they call, "Listening to the Future." Out of that dialogue, who and where they are as well as who and what they should be will help to shape a vision statement. To know Christ and to make him known. "Come Share Our Journey With God!" To know Christ and to make Christ known. St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church is a community created by God through Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit and sent to bear witness to God's creative, redeeming and sanctifying activity in the world. Our vision statement: The vision of St. John Evangelical Lutheran church is to have a Christ centered congregation that proclaims God's loving grace, empowers people to worship regularly, give generously and live responsibly. "The avowed mission of this church shall be to worship God, to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to celebrate the Sacraments; to realize Christian fellowship and unity within this church and the church universal; To render loving service toward all people; and to strive for righteousness, justice and peace. A process to building a mission statement: Ask council members and other leaders to read and discuss a paper which describes the principles of congregational mission base. 1 Corinthians 12:4-27 Also review the congregation's responsibility stated in constitution. After discussion, participants apply the principles to the local situation and identify mission priorities for the congregation. Then put these priorities in the form of one sentence statement, short enough to be remembered and repeated. Another method is to distinguish between a slogan (alternatively called vision statement) and a mission statement (although these terms are sometimes interchanged). The slogan is supposed to catch the nub of what the congregation is about, like "GE we bring good things to life". The mission statement is supposed to state specific mission goals. Having an outsider lead the church council in crafting a mission statement is helpful. To be a feeding congregation for the spiritually hungry of the world. The letters of FEED each stand for and emphasis------- >F is for finding the spiritually hungry >E is for embracing them >E is for educating them in faith >D is for deploying them in mission Sharing God's Word Showing God's Love Serving God's World The presbytery of Pueblo believes we are called as the body of Christ to learn to live together, Live to love each other, love to serve God and neighbors. From Gary Weaver and David Cassie St. John's Lutheran Church is a community of believers in Christ, whose purpose is to share God's love and forgiveness through worship, education, support and service. From: Trinity Lutheran, Loyal, WI. As the people of trinity Lutheran Church of Loyal, gathered to share and nurture our common faith in jesus Christ, we seek to reach out to our community, our country and the world with Good News by our thoughts, prayers and deeds. From: Our Saviour's Lutheran, Whitehall, WI. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we seek to serve god and all people, providing a biblical foundation through which ~each person can obtain a saving knowledge of God, ~live in accordance with God's word, and ~In fellowship with one another by: ~Proclaiming the gospel of Jesus christ and the new life he brings through Holy Baptism; ~Welcoming others to be part of the body of Christ; and ~Witnessing to others through word and deeds. From: Grace Lutheran, Eau Claire, WI. Living and Proclaiming The Good News of Jesus Christ. Through living, we shall help each of our members at Grace Lutheran grow in the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and through proclaiming, we shall be by the hands of Christ spreading the Good News throughout our community as we have been asked to do by Jesus Christ himself. From: English Lutheran, Ellsworth, WI. We, the members of English Lutheran Church, have been called together by God's love in Jesus Christ and equipped by the Holy Spirit tp proclaim the Gospel. Through the Word and Sacraments, our mission is to invite and welcome people into a relationship with Jesus Chrisy and his Church. It is our intention to provide a nurturing environment for growth in faith, fellowship, witness and service. From: West Denmark Lutheran, Luck, WI. The mission of West Denmark Congregation is to experience, celebrate and live the Good News of God in Christ. From:St. John's. Eau Claire, WI. We the people of St. John's, called by the Holy Spirit, set apart for ministry, and sent into the world, commit ourselves to the mission of joyfully proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ through: Living Worship, Growing Faith, Serving Fellowship, & Sending Saints. From:Grace Lutheran, Marshfield, WI. We are God's people of Grace Lutheran and we promise to: - Study and spread God's word, - Offer a place of comfort in out community, and - strengthen the presence of God our everyday life. From:Faith Lutheran, Marshfield, WI. Our mission at Faith Lutheran Church is to be a loving community of people who will Spread God's Word by nurturing faith in Jesus Christ and serving those in need. From:Bethel, Superior,WI. Bethel's people are God's people. We are called by God's Grace to worship him and serve our community by reaching out to others with the Good News of Jesus Christ!!!!!!! From: Trinity Lutheran, Hammond, WI. Trinity Lutheran Church is a community of people called together through word and sacrament to trust God's promise to celebrate God's gifts to reflect on the meaning of God's love, and to reach out in love to share God's gifts with everyone. From:Trinity Lutheran, Amery, WI. Trinity Lutheran Church is a family of believers chosen by God to build a foundation of hope, love and peace through fellowship, sharing of talents and gifts and education, in our church, community, and the world. We are aware of God's generous blessings to us and we live with thankful hearts in grateful anticipation of the future, trusting God's promises. From: Good Shepherd, Ashland, WI. It is the mission of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, through Word and Sacrament along with our human touch, to serve Christ by nurturing the faith and well being of our members and reaching out to our Chequamegon Bay community and the world. [ MISSION STATEMENTS ] • [ HOME ] © Copyright 2000 by the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin Resource Center. Please see our usage policy. NW Synod of Wisconsin Resource Center