Uplifting Missional Communities and Campus

For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.

Matthew 18:20

Uplifting Missional Communities

MISSIONAL COMMUNITIES NEARLY EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW

Question: How many missional communities are there across the diocese? Answer: There are currently 90-95 missional communities (and growing) across the diocese.

Question: How many people are currently connected to EDOT through missional communities who would not be if there were no missional communities? Answer: There are over 1,400 people connected to EDOT as the result of our missional communities.

Question: Do people get baptized in missional communities? Answer: Absolutely, and there were 33 baptisms last year because of missional communities.

Question: How often do they meet? Answer: The majority of our missional communities now meet weekly. Three years ago, most met monthly.

Question: What is the average size of a missional community? Answer: The average size of a missional community is 12 regular participants.

Question: Where do they meet? Answer: The majority of them meet in homes.

Question: Do they focus on spiritual formation? Answer: Yes, most attend to spiritual formation through Bible study (using methods akin to Lectio Divina and Indaba Bible Study) and teaching the offices- typically Evening Office or Compline.

Question: Do they celebrate the Eucharist? Answer: Less than half of our missional communities regularly celebrate the Eucharist, but those that do are using the “Communion for Missional Communities” instruction.

Question: What is the greatest tool for forming meaningful relationships? Answer: Sharing meals brings people together, so the majority of our missional communities are sharing meals weekly.

Question: What percentage of our missional communities have received funding from diocesan foundations? Answer: Only 13% of our missional communities have received funding from diocesan foundations. An overwhelming 87% of them have not received any kind of funding from our diocesan foundations.

Fast Facts about Missional Communites

• 33 baptisms last year.

• 87% of our missional communities have not received any kind of funding from diocesan foundations.

• There are currently between 90-95 missional communities across the Diocese.

• There are over 1,400 people connected to EDOT through missional communities.

• There were 33 last year in missional communities.

• The majority of our missional communities are now meeting weekly. Three years ago, most met monthly.

• Average size of a missional community is 12 regular participants.

• The majority of our missional communities meet in homes.

• Most attend to spiritual formation through Bible study (using methods akin to Lectio Divina and African Bible study) and teaching the offices—typically Evening Office or Compline.

• Less than half of our missional communities regularly celebrate the Eucharist.

• The greatest tool for forming meaningful relationships is shared meals—the majority of our missional communities are sharing meals weekly.

• When asked what makes them “missional,” the majority responded that what makes them missional is that they meet off-campus in the community and that those with whom they are building community would otherwise not be a part of the Episcopal Church. In other words, evangelism in the neighborhood.

• 75%-96% of missional community participants are people outside the church that do not attend a sponsoring congregation.

PRIEST’S PREPARATION TIME TRANSLATES INTO SPIRIT OF MISSIONAL COMMUNITY

For years, the Rev. Victor Thomas of St. James’, Houston, has spent hours in his local Starbucks, sometimes preparing for his Sunday sermons or just enjoying reflective moments. He often brings these experiences with him to church on Sunday, as he weaves them into his messages. While this location has become a frequent “go to” for him where he finds a quiet place to clear his mind and sometimes simply people-watch, he never imagined that it could become the impetus for a possible missional community. Over time, the inner-city Houston priest has established relationships with the employees and management of his local Starbucks location. He knows them. They know him. He could be considered a “fixture” of sorts, in the early mornings and evenings leading up to his Sunday sermons. But one day, a conversation with management turned into an opportunity! He learned that Starbucks embraces working with local churches and organizations to have a broader impact on the community. As a result, and in the spirit of a missional community, the Rev. Thomas asked Starbucks Pearland to team up with the church to help with the church’s Jubilee Ministry–an already-vibrant program designed to feed the homeless on Sunday afternoons. The church is now leveraging its relationship with the largest coffeehouse company in the world! The location has agreed to assist the church with resources in two ways. First, they make weekly contributions of Starbucks food items to the Jubilee ministry. This donation increased the food selections currently offered by the church, but it also infused the ministry with even more widespread interest. Next, they are providing a team to help prepare meals for the program one Sunday every other month. While the church has organized teams to prepare meals on a rotating basis, the addition of the Starbucks Pearland team is very helpful, relieving the burden on currently-dedicated cooking teams. Moreover, it also connects Starbucks employees with members of a community in great need who may never step into a Starbucks coffeehouse, much less be catered to by its employees. Sounds like an official missional community in progress!