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PRESBYTERY OF |
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Eight Essential Qualities
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In his 1996 book Natural Church Development (Church smart Resources), German Lutheran Theologian Christian A. Schwarz discusses the findings of his study of 1,000 Protestant congregations in 32 countries. From an analysis of 31,000 survey questionnaires completed, Schwarz identified eight quality characteristics found together in all high-quality, growing congregations: |
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1. Empowering Leadership |
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"Rather than handling the bulk of church responsibilities on their own, they invest the majority of their time in discipleship, delegation and multiplication." |
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2. Gift-Oriented Leadership |
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"When Christians serve in their area of giftedness, they generally function less in their own strength and more in the power of the Holy Spirit." |
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3. Passionate Spirituality |
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"The life of faith as a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ." |
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4. Functional Structures |
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"Churches are liberated from being tradition-bound." |
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5. Inspiring Worship Service |
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6. Holistic Small Groups |
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7. Need-Oriented Evangelism |
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8. Loving Relationships |
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"Congregations are characterized by lots of hospitality and laughter." |
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From the Nov./Dec. 2002 issue of "Congregations", a bi-monthly magazine of the Alban Institute. Copies of "Congregations" are available at the PMC.
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