| A "Starter" Instead of a top down imposition of a program, there is a basic need for a starter - someone who cares and has the vision for either a program or the overall movement. |
| A "Lay Ministry" Group There needs to be a small group that will shepherd the long term introduction of the movement and provide support for the lead person. |
| Being Congruent For example, if you are trying to encourage the congregation's prayer life, the coordinating group must be praying. |
A Strategy of "Sleeping" In addition to creating new wine skins such as mission groups, house churches, etc., a practical strategy is to encourage existing boards and committees to incorporate some group building and personalized worship into what are usually task-oriented meetings. This is especially effective when people comfortable with the new model start showing up on traditional committees and can encourage this introduction from the inside. |
| Role of Clergy While "laity must be agents of their own formation" (Diehl), we need to get the early support and cooperation of the clergy or blocks will tend to arise later in the process. |
| Program is Not the Answer Although awareness and change will flow from programs of spiritual renewal, gift identification and discernment, and support for linking faith and the workplace, it is important that we do not allow the program to become a god. It is a means to the end, not the end. There is a need to allow for spontaneity and allowing pressing needs to take precedence over following a set program. |
| Inductive Approach In contrast to the clergy approach of starting with scripture and theology and trying (sometimes successfully) to make the link to daily life, the lay approach is inductive. It starts with our experience and is followed by theological reflection. Fundamentally, we start where people are, and in a relational manner. |
| Spiritual Renewal A prime focus must be on the formation of the Christian spiritual life. It takes much support for a person or group to shift from a "control" approach to a "discernment" and "trusting the Spirit" approach to ministry. |
| Institutional Survival The lay ministry movement is frequently seen as a threat to the survival of the institution. This powerful form of resistance can be reduced when laity are seen as becoming stronger church members after discovering their gifts and being empowered to do ministry. |
| Different Traditions Just because the theological stance of a certain church differs from ours, that should not prevent us from learning from creative strategies they employ. |
from the National Church
