Restructuring for Effective Mission!

The church body I am a part of (The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) is working toward restructuring. Our denomination has established a "Blue Ribbon Task Force" to look into the issues surrounding restructuring. As a part of a recent panel discussion at our District Pastor's Conference I shared 5 broad themes that are important to me as we consider the various specific recommendations that are emerging. Some of those who were present at the Conference have asked me to share those 5 major themes again. Any structure should promote and protect these 5 major themes. So here they are:

1) Mission
The body of Christ has been given one mission. We are charged by Christ Himself to make disciples, baptizing and teaching them to obey everything the Lord has commanded. Our synod, our churches, every facet of this church body is to be a missional outpost in this world glorifying the name of our God! Any structure must promote and protect this ONE MISSION!

2) Unity
Jesus prays that we may be one in John 17. Any man-made structure must promote and protect this oneness we have been given in Christ Jesus!

3) Alignment
At a recent trip to my chiropractor I was reminded how crucial "alignment" is to the health, stability, and functionality of my body. Everything must work together if the body is to work efficiently. So also with our church body. Any structural change must promote and protect alignment. Our Christ-directed mission demands it!

4) Release
God has given His gifts. The Church has received various gifts, functions, callings. His gifts are given to share, to freely distribute. he has not given His gifts to hoard, to control. Ephesians 4: 11 "He has given some to be........to equip God's people for works of service." has not God given these gifts to His church? Where He has given responsibility, He has also given authority. "All authority has been given to me, Jesus said. Therefore, Go! Any structural change must promote and protect the releasing of gifts throughout the world. Any structural change must give authority to those who have been entrusted with responsibility. Any structural change must release all of God's gifts! (Ephesians 3:11-13)

5) Simple
Simplicity is one step beyond complexity. Should we celebrate complexity or strive for simplicity and clarity? Streamlined, functional, efficient are words that should describe our structure. overlap, redundancy, are things that should be eliminated. Any structural change ought to promote and protect simplicity!