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Mobilizing Leaders for Mission and Ministry
(First Draft for Discussion and Feedback, Burt Braunius, July 2007)

An information pack describing the Commissioned Leader program ? an approach for intentionalizing the development of highly competent leaders within the context of Fifth Reformed Church.

Introduction to the Plan

Fifth Reformed Church is a leadership congregation, particularly so in the areas of mission, ministry, and leadership development. Evidence of mission leadership is seen in her record of missionary support as well as in the recent emphasis of having a missional presence in the immediate neighborhood, including the commitment of Consistory to renovate our facilities so that they are more outreach oriented and also of the commitment to plant a new congregation.

Fifth Church, through endowment funds and personnel policies, has also demonstrated its support for those who are called to full-time ministry. During this past year two staff members have completed seminary, become ordained Ministers of the Word and Sacraments and accepted calls to pastor congregations. Other staff members have preceded them and the current Director of High School Ministry is being supported in completing a Bible college education.

The plan that follows provides a process for the development of leaders in mission and ministry within the context of the ministry of Fifth Church. The plan, while appreciating education that is available through area colleges and seminaries, anticipates the need to equip leaders while they are in-ministry. This plan, stated in educational terms, is a non-traditional, personalized, competency-based, portfolio-evidenced, Internet-resourced, and individually-coached approach.

The Mobilizing Leaders for Mission and Ministry program that is described here was developed by Tom De Vries when he served as Regional Executive for the Far West Region of the Reformed Church in America. Mobilizing Leaders is an established and proven approach to leadership development in the Far West Region. It is currently in the early stages of being implemented in Synod of the Great Lakes churches. Coaches Guides, study guides, application forms, and other materials are available to provide resources for this process. Mobilizing Leaders as Commissioned Leaders is the first level of leadership development. Two additional levels of leadership development have been designed for those who are called to commitments that build upon being a Commissioned Leader. These are Commissioned Pastors and Missionary Pastors. Most of this report focuses on Commissioned Leaders, however; the concepts of Commissioned Pastors and Missionary Pastors are also introduced.

Becoming a Commissioned Leader could be of particular value to members of the congregation whom God may be calling to new levels of leadership, including the offices of Elder and Deacon, to prospective staff members who lack formal ministry training, and to those who want a disciplined and personalized approach for deepening their knowledge of Scripture, commitments to faith development, and service to the mission and ministry of the Church. Much of what follows is copied directly from The Coaches Guide for Mobilizing Leaders, Far West Region/RCA (2006?) and is used with permission. Modifications have been made where they seemed appropriate for Fifth Reformed Church. The most noticeable additions are in regard to ?Online Resources? and ?Competencies.?

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Things were fairly routine in our lives until, a few months ago, Western Michigan University determined to eliminate Marlene's position. The termination was part of a larger number of issues on the main campus related to enrollment declines, department reorganization, and financial difficulties. She finished her work with WMU by the middle of June and by the end of July had two job offers in hand on the same day.

She decided to take the position as professor in the area of literacy in the Education Department of Ferris State University. The transition is going beautifully. The university will be using her according to her strengthes and are providing incredible expressions of support.

Meanwhile, Fifth Church is making progress in the search for a Senior Pastor. There appears to be a candidate in sight for Senior Pastor and progress is being made in filling other vacancies. I am finding joy in the education and administrative areas of church leadership. My most recent project has be to develop a plan for Commissioned Leaders. It is described in the next blog

I'm testing this

My Faith Journey: Burt D. Braunius
December 2006

There has not been a time in my life when I do not remember being a believer in Jesus Christ; however, this faith in Christ has grown and been applied in many ways. I will share some of these as they relate to home, church, spouse, family, education, and ministry.

Home
My faith journey begins with being raised in a Christian home, worshiping at Prospect Park Christian Reformed Church (Paterson, NJ), and going through the Eastern Christian School system.

I remember making a personal commitment to Christ as a child while watching a Billy Graham Crusade with my family on our black and white TV. At the age of 15, I made profession of faith at Prospect Park church after years of catechism under Rev. Oren Holtrop and Rev. Garret Stoutmeyer.

Church
During these teenage years, my parents, as members of the sponsoring church, gave support to an outreach ministry, the Back to God Chapel. They taught Sunday School, helped with transportation, and cared for people from ?the projects.? The Back to God Chapel leaders were initially Jesse Systsma, followed by Evangelist Willard Willink, both graduates of Reformed Bible Institute.

Willard Willink was called to Back to God Chapel during the summer of 1962. This was the year that I graduated from Eastern Christian High School and the Willink?s daughter, Marlene, graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High. The convergence of our paths, through my parents, her parents, and the church has been the most significant event in my spiritual life.

Spouse
We began dating during that summer. Our relationship developed long distance through her first three years at Calvin College and my active duty service in the United States Navy. It was after being discharged from that Navy that I felt a call to ministry and enrolled in Reformed Bible Institute. Marlene and I were engaged in 1965, my freshman year at RBI and her senior year at Calvin College: we married in 1966. While Marlene taught at Godwin Christian School, I completed my education at RBI.

Family
Another major influence in my faith journey was realized with the birth of our second son, Peter, in 1973. Shortly thereafter we discovered that he had cystic fibrosis. Peter lived to be almost 23. Through him I learned the faith lessons of

living one day at a time;

viewing life as a expression of worship and service to God for the accomplishment of His timetable rather than my own;

being an assertive, caring and responsible parent, husband, and leader through times of suffering, pain, and loss;

valuing the importance of family, particularly the strong relationship that Marlene and I have shared and continue to enjoy;

appreciating God?s amazing grace even during times of grief.

Five months after receiving a double lung transplant, Peter passed away (1996). He left the legacy of a young man strong in faith and spirit, quick in mind, and with a rich sense of humor. I am blessed to have a faith journey that includes being Peter?s father, as well as a father to our son Stephen, his wife Lisa, and a granddad to Petra Hope and James Peter.

Education
Education has been a major part of my journey. Reformed Bible Institute gave me a foundational knowledge of Bible, Reformed theology, and ministry. Barrington College provided an expression of Christian liberal arts higher education (BA). Trinity Evangelical Divinity School allowed me to study Reformed approaches to church education within a broadly evangelical context (MA). Michigan State University helped me to learn and witness in a secular setting but under a boldly Christian advisor, Dr. Ted Ward (MA, PhD), who became a mentor and friend. Studies at MSU provided understandings, tools, and credentials that opened doors to new levels of leadership, which have been appropriated in the ministry organizations that I have served.

Ministry
My call to ministry, specifically to specialized ministry within churches or church-related organizations, has been clear over the years. When I first saw a position description for Director of Christian Education in 1970, it was as if it had my name on it. That position began me on a journey of service that has always included education, administration, and leadership.

After serving three churches as Director of Christian Education, I accepted an appointment to the faculty of Reformed Bible College, where I taught Christian Education courses and provided administrative leadership for twenty one years. During the time at RBC, I became Academic Vice President, developed a degree completion program, directed the Midwest Sunday School Association, and coordinated relationships with other organizations. I also served as an Elder at Cottonwood Heights Christian Reformed Church.

Sharing in a need to contribute to the kingdom in a broader way, my wife and I took a step of faith in accepting a new position: it was a cooperative appointment between Reformed Theological Seminary and Spanish River Church (Boca Raton, FL) to develop a non-traditional, church-based, MDiv degree extension program for training church planters and others interested in deepening their understanding of Scripture and ministry. The RTS/Spanish River Church project confirmed my strengths in building and managing leaders in church ministry. It has led to my current full-time position of directing education and administration in a local church, as well as part-time service to the Reformed Church in America (church planter assessment, Council on Commissioned Pastors, Church Planting and Development Committee) and Global Church Advancement (Vice President for Training).

The Next Step in the Journey
Having reflected on the journey thus far, I now sense a leading from God to continue the journey by building on the experiences of the past in order to serve a ministry organization in administration or education (or a combination of the two) as a executive leader. I am energized by opportunities to guide Christian leaders and make a difference in ministry organizations. It is my privilege to be doing so right now, while I look forward to the ways in which God will focus these experiences for the future.

Prayer

Faithful Father, you have been true to your promise in sending your Son, Jesus Christ as our Savior. We celebrate his birth at this time and remember the promises for hope, joy, love, and peace that are only fully known through Him.

During this time of celebration and in the days to come,
? May we have hope for abundant and eternal life that is not based on our own strength but on your promises and grace.
? May we experience joy that is not limited to a temporary happiness but delights in your presence and finds pleasure in community and outreach.
? May we know love that is more than emotion but is seen is sacrificial actions as demonstrated by Jesus who loved us and gave himself for us.
? May we be instruments of peace because of the assurance that our sins are forgiven and we are members of a revolutionary kingdom that seeks justice, loves mercy, and wants to walk humbly before you.

Bless us we pray to find this hope, joy, love, and peace in the songs of the angels, gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men.
Because of Jesus and in his name we pray, Amen.

Christmas Prayer

Faithful Father, you have been true to your promise in sending your Son, Jesus Christ as our Savior. We celebrate his birth at this time and remember the promises for hope, joy, love, and peace that are only fully known through Him.

During this time of celebration and in the days to come,
? May we have hope for abundant and eternal life that is not based on our own strength but on your promises and grace.
? May we experience joy that is not limited to a temporary happiness but delights in your presence and finds pleasure in community and outreach.
? May we know love that is more than emotion but is seen is sacrificial actions as demonstrated by Jesus who loved us and gave himself for us.
? May we be instruments of peace because of the assurance that our sins are forgiven and we are members of a revolutionary kingdom that seeks justice, loves mercy, and wants to walk humbly before you.

Bless us we pray to find this hope, joy, love, and peace in the songs of the angels, gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men.
Because of Jesus and in his name we pray, Amen.

In many traditions congregations remain standing out of respect for the word of God. You are invited to do so if you are able. Luke 1:26-37

May the Lord bless us in hearing and obeying His Word.

Thanksgiving Prayer

Our heavenly Father, all of Creation owes you thanksgiving and praise. Your grace, love and mercy abound. We bring special thanks to you on this day for all that you have provided:

We thank you Father for the saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the knowledge that all who believe in him have abundant and eternal life.

We thank you Father for the church and for this church. It is the mother of believers and the hope of the world.

We thank you for our loved ones and friends.
Some struggle with issues of health and wholeness. We pray for healing and strengthening mercies.
Some have gone before us and left a legacy. While memories of their passing stir our deepest feelings, those memories also remind us of their love and yours, a love that abides with us forever.

We thank your for family relationships and ask that these might be nurtured by the Holy Spirit and by our knowledge of Christ?s love for the church. May we too give of ourselves sacrificially for one another.

We thank you for the gift of children, may we value their simple faith and we thank you for those who are mature? may we treasure their wisdom. These are among your most precious gifts to us and to the world.

We thank you Father for places of peace? bless those who defend it during times of terror and the ways of war. We thank you for those who are messengers of the peace of Christ? guide and protect their hearts and minds. Through them we see the hands and feet and heart of our Savior.

For jobs and friends and food and traveling mercies and all that we have....we thank you Father....May we show our gratitude to you in ways that live out the great commandment to love one another, the great commission to make disciples, and that seek every opportunity to grow in Christ and in community.

We pray this in Jesus name with thanksgiving, Amen