LIFE CYCLE AND STAGES OF CONGREGATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

1
LIFE CYCLE AND STAGES OF CONGREGATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
2
(No Transcript)
3
BIRTH (Vrpm)

• Beginning to two years
• Driven by the expression of a passionate
  God-given Vision.
• Relationships, Program and Management activities
  are happening but are not fully developed at this
  stage.
• Leadership is expressed through vision.

4
INFANCY (VRpm)

• Three to five years following the Birth stage
• Vision and Relationships are dominant
• Healthy patterns of worship, evangelism,
  discipleship, leadership development, and
  ministry and missions are established during this
  stage.
• Congregation has the characteristic of a movement

5
CHILDHOOD (VrPm)

• Five to six years after Birth of congregation and
  lasts 5 6 years.
• Focuses on Vision and Programs
• The energy to from relationships is now focused
  on developing and implementing the Programs
  structure for the congregation.

6
ADOLESCENCE (VRPm)

• Begins around 10-12 years after the public
  launching of the congregation.
• Vision, Relationships, and Programs are
  dominant.
• Relax and enjoy their relationship with God and
  one another
• Time of some chaos as people begin to multiply
  the dreams they have for the future of the
  congregations.
• The longer Adolescence lasts, the more they
  realize they must address the Management systems
  of the congregation

7
ADULT (VRPM)

• Around 18-22 years after the public launching of
  the congregation.
• Reaches Adulthood when all four organizing
  principles (Vision, Relationships, Program,
  Management) are all fully developed.
• Congregation is ready to soar as a fully
  development spiritual community with great
  resources and the proper balance

8
ADULT CONTINUED

• Often, however, congregations do not soar because
  of one of both of the following reasons
• 1. The fantasy of what it would feel and look
  like when they arrived at Adulthood, does not
  match what they see. Waiting for something else
  to happen.
• 2. They may feel that what they have done is
  enough, and they relax and begin to become
  complacent about their spiritual journey.

9
MATURITY (vRPM)

• Around 22 to 27 years old, they slip without much
  notice from Adulthood to Maturity.
• Maturity is when Vision is no longer dominant or
  fully developed. The congregation is no longer
  living out the vision that God has given them.
• Without the driving aspects of Vision, the
  congregation is being motivated by Management
• Often congregations will plateau numerically
  during Maturity.
• This is the first stage when a congregation could
  redevelop or transform and move forward to a new
  partial life cycle.

10
EMPTY NEST (vRpM)

• If a congregation doesnt redevelop during
  Maturity it will move to this stage.
• Vision and Programs are no longer dominant or
  fully developed.
• The congregation is experiencing disintegration
  of the quality and quantity of programs,
  ministries and activities.
• Management is driving the direction of the
  congregation.
• Relationships, while still vital, are turning
  increasingly inward in their focus.

11
EMPTY NEST CONTINUED.

• Empty Nest has three phases
• 1. Nostalgia that carries with it a hope for
  tomorrow will bring the return of yesterday.
• 2. Disappointment that triggers a renewed call
  for commitment by the faithful core.
• 3. Anger that results in a pattern of blaming.
  Often blaming focuses on the leadership of the
  congregation even the pastor.

12
RETIREMENT (vrPM)

• If a congregation does not redevelop during Empty
  Nest it will move on to the Retirement stage.
• Vision and Relationships are no longer dominant
  or fully developed.
• Management is driving the direction of the
  congregation.
• Programs are once again dominant as congregations
  seek to revitalize their programs, ministries and
  activities.

13
OLD AGE (vrpM)

• If a congregation does not redevelop during
  Retirement it will move on to the Old Age stage.
• Old Age is when Vision, Relationships, and
  Programs are no longer dominant or fully
  developed.
• Management is the only factor that is still
  dominant or fully developed. As such the habit or
  pattern, generally at a mediocre level, drives
  the direction of the congregation.