Becoming a Reflective Congregation means we need to consider God's Nature and Mission, our Context (societal changes), and the Working Ecclesiology of church (what we believe about the nature of church). Changing any one will influence the others so it is crucial towards understanding each in the present day.
Question #1: What are the primary things we do as a church? Which might be Westminster's priority?
Scripture study of Jonah and Nineveh was explored. Why do you suppose Jonah ran away from what God wanted him to do? In the belly of the whale, Jonah think about God's Nature and Mission? Jonah comes to point in Chapter 4 where he is upset and angry knowing God would save them rather than punish them as Jonah thought should happen. Jonah came to the acceptance that God is a gracious God in the belly of the whale. His view of the Assyrians changed. They need God's help too. Jonah became a called missionary. What observations can be made out of this?
This is the "belly of the whale" time for Westminster!
God's Nature and Mission - Changing peoples' sense of God's nature increases doubts, less conviction about God, answers to the meaning of life that doesn't include God is challenged, and faith no longer has a hold on children as it once did.
Changing Society -Impacts the church: Resistant (keep calm, carry on), Reactive (how do we maintain what has been), Responsive (what do we change so people will come back to our church), and Reformative (what new understanding of church do we need for today).Participants were asked to reflect on Westminster's place among the 4 outlined above.
Loren Mead (1991) - The Once and Future Church, stated this is the greatest transformation of church. We are in a reformative place. It was relayed that Barbara Amerman stated that if one is more intentional about one's spiritual life then it is more likely one would go to church.
The Working Ecclesiology: The Core questions facing the church are -