Developing Leadership Capacities for a Post-Christendom Context: Implementing and Evaluating a Missional Change Process with Mennonite Pastors

Abstract

Many Canadian churches are experiencing a decline in participation and marginalization in society. This provides an opportunity to reconsider the purpose of the church. This action research project used and tested The Missional Network's Missional Change Model that is rooted in the missional church paradigm, in order to assist a pilot group of six Mennonite pastors to develop leadership competencies for a post-Christendom context. This group met for eleven four-hour sessions over a twelve month period. A pre and post 360 degree survey provided quantitative data regarding the participants' missional development. Qualitative data was collected from the 360 surveys as well as correspondence, field notes and transcripts of the sessions. The data indicated a positive development of the missional leadership capacities of the participants. Outcomes suggested elements that contributed to this development, including an experimental approach, a cohort model of learning and balanced leadership. Several learnings will assist future iterations of the process that may help to diffuse a missional church culture among MCEC congregations.