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.