Church Development and Evangelism

Congregational Identity – Coming to terms with the past, present and future

Some congregations are stuck in the past. Coming to terms with the past and present means allowing time for corporate grief. Until members of the congregation can openly affirm that the past is gone forever, movement toward the future is unlikely. The history of your congregation is important. It contains both the reason for your past failures and the seeds of your future successes.

Tools to assist in this process:

Timeline – Post a long sheet of paper on the wall marking important events in the life of the church.

Tell stories about people and their experiences in the church.

Determine what Bible story your congregation is currently living. Discuss with your Session or leaders what the ramifications of that story are for your congregation.