Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Another vision


I am from what they call a ‘cusper’ generation which is neither here nor there in the definition of the main generational bands, between the ‘boomers’ and ‘generation x’. I fall on the generation x side, born in 1967. Thus I am officially confused! Yes, vision statements, mission statements, and objectives a strong characteristic of the optimistic boomers is somehow part of me, but the ‘whatever’ who cares anyway generation x also throws a spanner in the works. I don’t like labels, one of my pet hates is to be branded as a this or a that. It is fun to be an enigma. I have also got progressively allergic to vision statements as my years increase. Kennon Callahan’s book on Small Congregations has breathed enormous amounts of grace back into my understanding of ministry. The one suggestion is that instead of the popular Vision/Mission statement or Purpose driven statement, why don’t we instead have a Compassion statement? Isn’t that the core ingredient and motivation for faith? That God so loved the world and not as Callahan puts it, that God was so committed to the ‘vision statement’ of the world.

9 comments:

Sleepy Dog said...

Well said, old man

Will update my blog this week

Sleepy Dog said...

Well said, old man

Will update my blog this week

David Barbour said...

From a cusper to a generation X - I look forward to being connexionally unconnected!

Jenny Hillebrand said...

"I don’t like labels, one of my pet hates is to be branded as a this or a that. It is fun to be an enigma."

Me too!

Jenny Hillebrand said...

Hi David

Thanks for the link to www.annerobertson.com. I eventually went to have a listen and enjoyed it! Pity she doesn't seem to update her blogs very regularly.

Jenny

John said...

It's not a bad idea, but can compassion be used to sell books?

David Barbour said...

Mmmm, no, compassion is more in line with the suffering servant than 'best sellers' .. thanks for thought.

Rock in the Grass (Pete Grassow) said...

we have been trapped into the success models of a capitalist consumer society: we need to measure progress, and so need a mission statement to let us know that we have 'got there'. And inevitably 'bigness' and 'production' become the benchmarks of success.
PG

Steve Hayes said...

I hate mission statements. They are second only to educational outcomes for zemblanity (in case you didn't knowm zemblanity is the opposite of serendipity).