In just over six months the Synod of the CRCA will meet.   The committees have been asked to write their reports.   Since Synod of 1996 the CRCA has been focused on a new missional initiative referred to as the Fourfold Task.   By God's grace and with the Spirit's aid and assistance we have made much progress in turning the tide of decline.   In every state we are witnessing the momentum of planting new churches.    The overall CRCA numbers of members are growing at a pace not seen since 1962 -- almost five decades.   As we move forward, what are the key elements for denominational effectiveness?

Now there are some who will immediately reply by saying that the CRCA must continue to uphold doctrinal purity, solid Biblical preaching, and intentional discipling/discipline of its members.   These are unmistakeably foundational -- and not only do we confess these to be essential (Belgic Confession Art. 29) -- wherever I go throughout the CRCA denomination in Australia I discover churches holding fast to these principles.   In many ways these define who we are as Reformed Christians.  Given these foundational elements of the CRCA, allow me to expand this discussion to consider how we do ministry in the 21st century.    The Leadership Network (www.leadnet.org) has been wrestling with these issues for many years.   As they seek ways to help churches become more effective in reaching the world for Christ, they suggest "Ten Keys for Denominational Effectiveness in the 21st Century."    I like to reflect on these ten keys and explore what this might mean for the CRCA denomination over the next triennium.

1.  Make the shift from regulation to resource
At times there is a tendency in Session/Council and Classis meetings to focus most of our attention on regulation.   We want to make sure that members are living righteous lives, that churches are doing everything correct by the book (church order and/or Bible).   There is a certain code of behaviour that is being regulated.   But what if we as church leaders shift from regulation to resourcing -- seek ways in which we can resource our members to use their gifts in ministry (Eph 4) and be effective in being fishers of men (Matt 4:19), making disciples of all people groups (Matt 28)?   What if we as churches think about ways we can resource each other to reach more people for Christ?   What if at Classis meetings we ask each church:  "What can we do as a Classis to help you to raise the bar in congregational effectiveness?"

2.  Have a clearly articulated mission, vision and values
Every church should already be well versed in the mission, vision, and values of the CRCA.   For a good number of years our vision to be a church reforming to reach the lost for Christ has been communicated widely.   Our mission to multiply churches throughout Australia and beyond is equally well articulated.   So are our core values.   These can be reviewed on the Ministry Formation website (www.ministryformation.com.au).   But do we as church leaders keep these guiding principles before our churches?   Do our people understand what they are?

3.  Create a climate for growth and mission
The Fourfold Task was adopted to intentionally create this climate for growth and mission.  The focus on prayer, multiplication, training, and alignment are elements identified by the CRCA as essential for growth and mission.  With thanks to God we are witnessing the climate changing among our member churches.   People are warming up to the idea that we as churches exist to reach lost people for Christ and be difference makers in our world.   The growing number of church plants give evidence to the changing climate.   What do we need to do to prevent a climate change that reverts to decline and lack of mission?

4.  Have some form of church segmentation system in place
Segmentation is a marketing term and refers to grouping people together with similar needs and responses.    A few years ago the CRC in North America formed what is called The Network.    This web-based network seeks to put people with similar needs together in a way that they will be better resourced for ministry.   You can check out this network at www.network.crcna.org.  This is an example of a church segmentation system.   What might this system look like here in Australia?   How can we leverage the work of our children's worker, Ray Rus,  or our youth worker, Jonathan Vandenberg, in building networks so that our leaders are better resourced?   How can we link into church planting networks such as The Geneva Push or Vision 100 to meet the growing needs of churches, church plants, and church planters?

5.  Focus on leadership development
Recently Phillip Scheepers from the Reformed Theological College (RTC) shared at the meeting of Classis Queensland about the progress RTC is making with Task 3 and the BILD program.   Scores of leaders all across Australia are receiving BILD training.   Fan the Flame continues to attract young people considering theological education and/or church leadership training.   Sola College at RTC provides an option for young people in their gap year to explore some facet of Biblical studies.   Recently I spoke with a young pastor who is committed to meeting with a minimum of two people each year to train them up in the essentials of leadership.   Leo Douma of the Sydney congregation meets with leaders from a number of sister CRCA churches in NSW to provide leadership training.  These are all positive developments.   If we desire to see continued grow in the CRCA we need to keep our focus on leadership development.   An increasing number of churches need to come on board with Task 3 training.   In our homes, in our churches, all across the denomination, from youth onwards we need to create a culture in which we are developing leaders that meets the needs of today and into the future.

6.  Customize resources to meet local needs
There is not a "one size fits all" solution for congregational effectiveness.   A few months back I was up in Mackay(Qld) and we were discussing with about 40 adults what a new CRCA church might look like in that rapidly growing part of Australia.  Some were asking what the CRCA churches were like in other parts of Australia.  They surmised that a church plant simply meant duplicating now in Mackay whatever is done elsewhere.   But what works in Canberra might not work in Kingston;  what is ineffective in Mackay is exactly what is needed in Melbourne.  What is the local church like?  What is the local community like?  Not every church is alike; not every community is the same.  So as we resource churches we must take into account local needs.   

7.  Structure for effectiveness and align budget to reflect mission and form
One of the difficulties in the CRCA is that we have an ineffective structure.   Other than the Synodical Interim Committee (SIC) there is not one person or one body which gives ongoing leadership and accountability in the CRCA between the triennial Synods.   "Where does the buck stop" in the CRCA?   Most people will say, "Synod!"   But that body only meets every three years.   To add further complication, denominational staff are located in four different states, and only very rarely do they communicate with each other.  Every local congregation seems to function independently from the rest of the denomination.  What "glue" holds the various parts of the denomination into a harmonious whole?     And who ensures that everything we do as a denomination is aligned with the Fourfold Task?   Our churches, our ministries, our staff?   Sure Classis meets quarterly, but then only for a few hours.   Are Classis meetings structured for effectiveness?   There is still much work to be done to structure the CRCA for effectiveness.   Alignment is an essential part of the Fourfold Task.   Recently the Ministry Formation Workgroup (MFW) contacted every church to review how budgets are formed and distributed within the CRCA.   Does our denominational budget reflect our vision and mission? What about our budgets at the congregational level?  This review is ongoing.  
  
8.  Create new units
New brooms sweep clean!   There is something about "new things".  A new toy.  A new child.  A new convert.   A new name.   New life!   Don't you just love the promise given to us by Jeremiah:  "God's compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."  (Lam 3:22-23)   New every morning!   No matter how tough yesterday was or difficult your past, every morning we are greeted with a new dose of God's compassion, love, and faithfulness.   Just this past weekend I met a new church attender.  This was his third week at Cafe Church, a small yet growing church community at Bray Park Community Church(Qld).   One of the leaders at Cafe Church shared the joy she felt in having this new person at church -- a seeker hungry for more of the gospel.   Start a new initiative in a church and notice the difference that makes.  New churches are springing up all over Australia.   Many CRCA churches are keen to be part of a church plant.   The Fourfold Task was new six years ago, and it breathed newness into the CRCA.   If we as a denomination want to be effective into the 21st century we need to keep planting new churches, starting new initiatives, thinking of our missional task in new ways.   And may the good news ever remain new;  may it never grow old.

9.  Encourage and engage laypersons
There are those who insist that the unfinished business of the Reformation (16th century) is the realisation of the priesthood of all believers(cf. 1 Pet 2:9-12).   We talk the talk, but do we walk the walk?   For centuries there has been the great divide between the professional clergy and the common laity.   Even the term "laypersons" creates a distinction between those "ordained" and the rest of the church.   Perhaps we should come up with a new term, such as, "claity", to refer to everybody.   In any case, to be effective as a denomination we need to encourage and engage people other than simply those we call the Ministers of the Word and Sacrament.    This is what Task 3 of the Fourfold Task suggests:  "to multiply the number of well-trained persons (ordained, non-ordained, full time, part time, voluntary) lovingly dedicated to the creation and development of such fellowships and congregations by proclaiming the gospel."   Notice the words:  ordained, non-ordained, full time, part time, voluntary ... and should we add:  male, female, young, and old (see Joel 2:28; cf. Acts 2:17).  In other words:  everybody!  Encourage and engage -- everybody.

10.  Measure your success one church at a time
How do you measure success?  You might have heard the account of the person who approached Mother Theresa and pointed out that her task in the slums of Calcutta were simply too massive.   With so much brokeness, how could that society ever be repaired?   Why not give up?  To which Mother Theresa replied:  "I don't know about everybody," and as she pointed to one orphan, "but I know about this one.  We can make a difference in her life."   And she did, one by one, until countless other orphans experienced the hope of a new life.   So it is within the CRCA.   Not every church will engage tools like the NCD process and move toward better health.  Not every church will catch the missional vision to reach the lost for Christ.   Not every church will embrace new structures and new initiatives.   But some will.   And one by one churches will move to increased health, increased effectiveness, increased growth, and more and more lost will be found, and the found discipled, and those discipled reaching out to the lost, and God being glorified -- even more(1 Pet 2:12). 
There you have it:  ten keys for denominational effectiveness in the 21st century suggested by the Leadership Network.   As I reflect on these "ten keys", from my vantage within the CRCA and my experience in the CRCNA -- these seem to make sense to me.   I know the importance of mission and vision, the critical nature of leadership development, the need for effective structures, and I could go on.   And in practice, I measure the success of my role in the Fourfold Task "one church at a time."   Make sense to you?   I welcome your input.  Let's keep the discussion going.   Synod is just around the corner.