by Jim Heuving
We want to invite you to participate in a congregation wide survey. It has three separate parts. The first part is a survey that is part of Jim's research. The second part is about Children's Ministry. The third part is about the Missional Team and its activities at Pacific. We didn't want to send out three separate surveys so this puts it all together as one.
But first let Jim explain part one.
Since 2009 I have been studying in the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) program at Luther Seminary. I fully intend to graduate in May of 2013, God willing. The studies have been intensive and thrilling. I’m deeply thankful that Pacific has given me room and space to do this learning and to integrate it fully into my role as Executive pastor. It is because of this blessing that I am committed to producing as good a work from my studies as is possible without ignoring my job, my relationships and my family. The focus of my studies has been on congregational leadership and mission. Professor Craig Van Gelder, who initiated and oversees both the Luther Seminary D.Min and the Ph.D program areas, was a professor of mine when I studied at Calvin Seminary. During that time and since, he has become a leading voice and contributor, through his many books and articles, in the area of congregational research and the broader missional conversation. The studies have provided me a rich and challenging opportunity to reflect on my own leadership, the history and ministry of Pacific, and the shared leadership understandings we accept more broadly in the church.
The research is not simply for my own personal benefit, despite the fact that I am benefiting greatly from this season of study and research. More importantly it is about doing research with others for the sake of God’s mission in the world. This study intersects directly with the greater and more important responsibilities of the Board and the responsibilities I assume in my calling as a Pastor at Pacific.
The purpose of this study is to see if the way we are equipping leaders and teams at Pacific is helping us to become more missional and charismatic. In 2011, the Board and Staff of Pacific agreed that of the seven distinctives crafted by the congregation in 2009 two distinctives stood out requiring intentional and dedicated effort. First of all, PCC states that as a missional community we want to be a “people in mission seeking to effectively testify to the Good News in our neighborhoods and the nations of the world.” Second, PCC states that “we are a people who desire the fullness of the Holy Spirit to empower us for Christ’s mission to the world.” The combination of these two distinctives and PCC’s desire to focus on them has inspired the specific focus of my research. The assumption of my research is that as we are more Spirit-led we will become more collaborative and more participatory and less dependent on directive leaders who control the direction of the church. The result, in my opinion, will be a more equipped, more capable and expansive community of people engaging in the mission of God.
Although the academic study is being conducted by me, it involves many “students” at Pacific. We are all learning what it means to be Spirit-led and missional. At least one survey will involve as many attendees to Pacific as possible. More specifically, I will be working with others in specific ministry efforts in what I am calling missional interventions. The interventions are actions that intend to shape us into being a more collaborative and participatory community. Truly, I have been working at this for years even before I began this course of studies, but with the added structure of school and a focused research project, I am taking the effort to a new level.
I hope you will participate in this research. Primarily, in and through the ongoing dynamic reality of ministry, we will launch a variety of missional interventions like small group studies, a sermon series, new partnerships and other things that we believe might help us to being more Spirit-led. This survey will provide a point-in-time sense of where we are at presently. Beginning in 2012, I will interview a number of leaders and ministry teams, hopefully, so that we can reflect more fully on what we are learning and experiencing through some of the missional interventions. If possible we will do a smaller and more limited survey by which we can assess any measurable difference from the various missional interventions that we will engage. It is a short time frame due to the limitations of the academic requirements. For the sake of Pacific and its ongoing story, the research will provide a helpful starting point for ongoing focus at different times in our future.
I invite you to travel with me in this research. I will maintain a blog on the church website where you can read the research proposal, take a look at previous research we did a year ago and some other interesting material related to the study. I hope you jump in with comments from time to time.
Ultimately a book length research thesis will be produced. It will be the story of Pacific. Perhaps the effort will not only strengthen our capacity as a Spirit-led community but also be informative to other churches pursuing the same goals. The research portion is designed to be completed by December 31, 2012. Final submission of the thesis will be completed by March 15 with a defense planned for April 2013. If all goes well, Monica and I will travel to Minneapolis for a graduation ceremony.
It is an adventure in many ways. This is not a study where we are trying to make something happen. It is a study where we together can explore how the Spirit of God can help us to become more collaborative and participatory as God’s people in mission with God in the world.
Now back to the initial question: Would you be willing to participate in the initial congregational survey? If yes, click on the link below to make your way to the survey.
If you have any questions, comments or ways in which you would like to participate further please contact me.
In the pursuit of God’s mission,
Jim Heuving
Contacts
Researcher: Pastor Jim Heuving
- Email: jim.heuving@pacificcommunity.ca
- Cell: 604-308-6191
- Home Address: 18457-65 Avenue, Surrey BC V3S 8T1 (778-330-2147)
- Work Address: 5337-180th Street, Surrey BC V3S 4K5 (604-574-4001 ext. 102)
Advisor: Professor of Congregational Mission Craig Van Gelder, Ph. D
- Email: cvangeld@luthersem.edu
- Phone: 651-641-3218
- Work Address: Luther Seminary, 2481 Como Ave., Saint Paul, MN 55108