In the living tradition of liberal religion, each new generation must discover its own understanding of its purpose. Since individuals determine their own beliefs, we do not share a creed to tell us why we exist. Rather, the members of each gathered community must determine for themselves the reasons for their ministry and why that matters.

To stay relevant, mission and vision statements need to be revisited at least every five years. With people entering and exiting our congregations, the way to keep these documents alive and vital is to make them feel relevant. This is best created through inviting the people into the process rather than just telling them the results. If this process is to be vital and the work productive, it cannot just be done and put on a shelf; instead, the mission and vision must be living documents used in the everyday life of the congregation.

In this way, vision and mission (along with covenant) are resources for congregational development and health. Congregations without a compelling and shared vision may too easily lose track of what they should be doing and struggle to determine how to allocate their human and financial resources. Without a centralizing agreed-upon focus, battles can rage over competing interests and equally good projects. However, when vision and mission are in place, all discussion circles back to these articulated statements for a double check and grounding. In congregational decision making, the “winning” decision should reflect the vision and mission of the congregation. If it doesn’t, then something needs to change. Sometimes it’s the decision that needs to change, and sometimes it is time to revisit the vision or revise the mission of the congregation.

When a congregation’s leadership uses the mission to create objectives and to make major decisions, the commitment of the members is strengthened. Congregations with vital, living vision and mission that are reinforced in worship grow.

Some times the creation of mission and vision statements reflect a shift in paradigm—a change in the way things are done and in the way in which people interact with one another. Such a shift in people’s understanding of who they are can create tension. Yet this tension can help bring into place creative and deeper relationships among people of the congregation.

Developing and following a good process that involves most of the people in the congregation is hard work and takes time. And the outcome can be well worth it.