Keystone Discussion

On June 8, starting at around 5:00 p.m., the Keystone Club of Shiloh Church will gather for a sessions that had been planned originally for February. That session was postponed due to inclement weather. The purpose for the session remains, however. What is Keystone? What does it do? What is its purpose within the life of the Church? Answers to these questions lie at the core of the present and future direction of the organization, and will, hopefully, formulate for us a whole new way of approaching the activities of the Keystone Club.

I conduct self-studies with quite a range of church-related organizations, some local but many regional or around the country. A careful self-study begins with statements of identity and purpose. Some organizations find such statements next to impossible to make. Most find them difficult. What is the purpose of this organization? How does what the group does reflect its stated purpose? What might we stop doing that lies in opposition to the purpose? What else might we do in cooperation with the stated purpose? How might organizations amend procedures and behaviors to better reflect the purpose for which the organization exists in the first place?

It is sometimes dangerous to ask. Since I work primarily, though not exclusively, with church groups, the first questions that I find myself asking have to do with the ministry and mission of Christ Jesus. How does the stated purpose reflect the ministry and mission of Christ Jesus? Does Christ's ministry and mission determine what this organization does, or is it outside of Christ's scope of interest? If the core purpose reflects Christ's ministry and mission, what can we improve upon? What can we create? What do we dare to stop doing?

The June 8 conversation with Shiloh's Keystone Club is a conversation that I sincerely hope that every group within the life of Shiloh Church would dare to conduct. What is the organization's core purpose? How does it reflect the mission and ministry of Christ Jesus? What can groups do to better conduct themselves according to the stated core purposes? What could they do to better reflect the stated purpose and core values? What can groups stop doing in opposition to that purpose and those values? Can groups amend actions and behaviors to better reflect the ministry and mission of Jesus Christ?

There is no perfect church group. Nor is there any one ideal way of doing things. It is my sincere belief that church groups function best when they have a guiding stated purpose, directly reflecting the ministry and mission of Jesus Christ, and when those groups continually work at better reflecting the ministry and mission of Jesus Christ.

Keystone invites everyone into their conversation, if not as Keystone participants, then as participants in other church groups who may benefit from the process. We will gather for a pot luck meal at 5:00 and the discussion at 6:00 p.m. Cost is $4.00 per person for the meal. Join us!