The document discusses the life cycle of congregations and four organizing principles for congregational development: vision, relationships, programs, and management. It states that vision provides direction and energy, relationships attract new people and help current members grow spiritually, programs embody the vision and meet member needs, and management facilitates decision-making and supports the other principles. The life cycle stages shift from emphasizing vision and relationships to programs and management as congregations mature.

1. Congregational Life Cycle BIRTH DEATH

2. The Congregational Life Cycle GROWTH DECLINE STABILITY BIRTH DEATH

4. First Principle: VISION Vision is the current understanding of God’s direction for a congregation that is cast by leadership and owned by everyone in the parish. Vision reflects the core values of the congregation. Vision is the fuel or energy that will drive the congregation into the future with hope and a sense of potency.

5. Second Principle: RELATIONSHIP How the parish attracts new people into the Christian faith journey, helps current parishioners deepen and mature in their faith journey and nurtures relationships within the church community. Evidence of effective relationship experience is an ever-deepening spirituality, widespread ownership of parish activities and developing new leadership.

6. Third Principle: PROGRAM Programs, ministries and activities embody the vision of the church and reflect the gifts and vocations of parishioners. Effective programs meet real, identified spiritual, social and emotional needs of people in the neighborhood as well as the church community. Evidence of effective programs is that the church is known for the excellence of its programs, ministries and activities.

7. Fourth Principle: Management Management are those systems that facilitate orderly decision-making, the allocation of resources, integrates new developments and establishes boundaries. Effective management is efficient, well defined and supports the vision, relationships and programs of the church. Effective management is accountable to the congregation as well as the larger church.

8. Role of Organizing Principle and Life Cycle BIRTH Vrpm DEATH m Childhood VrPm Adolescence VRPm Adulthood VRPM Maturity vRPM Empty Nest vRpM Retirement vrPM Old Age vrpM Infancy VRpm

9. Shift in Motivating Criteria BIRTH Vrpm DEATH m Childhood VrPm Adolescence VRPm Adulthood VRPM Maturity vRPM Empty Nest vRpM Retirement vrPM Old Age vrpM Infancy VRpm Vision and Relationships Program and Management