One of the difficulties for church leaders is gaining clarity about the uniqueness of their church. We know that according to the Bible, every church is called to glorify God and make disciples. But each church has been called by God to do this in a unique way.
To help leaders find their unique calling, Will Mancini has introduced the church to the concept of the vision frame. It’s laid out in Mancini’s book, Church Unique. You can access a Visual Summary of Church Unique here.
Recently, I thought about the vision frame as I read through the short book of Titus – a book where Paul is exhorting a younger leader to set up his church in an orderly way. I wondered if we could find and show elements of the vision frame from this short epistle, one of the pastoral epistles where Paul is instructing a young leader.
That’s essentially what Auxano’s navigators are doing when we train church leaders with the vision frame. We are encouraging them to put priorities into an order that can guide and focus their efforts.
According to Mancini, the basic elements of a vision frame consist of a mission statement, strategy, values, and measures (or marks/profile of a disciple). Your mission is a “clear and concise statement that defines what the church is ultimately supposed to be doing.” Values are “the shared convictions that guide the actions and reveal the strengths of the church.” A church’s strategy is “the process or picture that demonstrates how the church will accomplish its mandate on the broadest level.” A church’s measures are a set of attributes in an individual’s life that define or reflect the accomplishment of a church’s mission.” (Church Unique by Will Mancini, pp. 120, 129, 137, 152.)
Another way to understand the frame is think about "Joe." The mission is "what Joe hears." The values are "what Joe experiences." The strategy is "where Joe goes." The measures are "who Joe becomes."
I think the entire vision frame is present in Titus. Of course, selecting passages and identifying elements is somewhat arbitrary. Others might do the same exercise and articulate this differently.
Using Paul’s exhortation to Titus, we could organize the mission of New Testament church in Crete in the following way. I share this as an example to inspire church leaders to establish and communicate their own unique vision frame.
Grace Church
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people. Titus 2:11
Mission:
Training people to live the good life both now and forever.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ… (Titus 2:11-13). Be ready for every good work (Titus 3:1b).
…or…
Demonstrating the goodness of our God for the good of all people.
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5-6). Be ready for every good work (Titus 3:1).
Values:
Church order
This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you (Titus 1:5).
Sound doctrine
He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. Titus 1:9 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine (Titus 2:1).
Godly leadership
If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined (Titus 1:6-8).
Intergenerational discipleship
Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled (Titus 2:2-6).
Strategy:
Preach -> Model -> Instruct -> Train -> Work
Preach
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior (Titus 1:1-3).
Model
Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works (Titus 2:7a).
Instruct
He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it (Titus 1:9).
Train
In your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us (Titus 2:7b-8).
Work
The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people (Titus 3:8).
Measures:
Embracing grace
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior (Titus 1:4).
Loving truth
He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it (Titus 1:9).
Pursuing purity
To the pure, all things are pure… Titus 1:15a [Jesus] gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession… (Titus 2:14a).
Avoiding quarrels
But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned (Titus 3:9-11).
Modeling goodness
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work (Titus 3:1).
Living for eternity
Being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:7).
***
Perhaps this little survey of the epistle to Titus will help you as a leader see a biblical model that will inspire and inform you as you seek God’s vision frame for your church.
If you would like help developing a vision frame for your church or non-profit, please visit the auxano website and look for a Vision Frame Lead Navigator. You can reach me at rick@auxano.com.
Note:
Mission statements typically have an A to B movement. A is where people are and B is where you hope to see the Lord to take them. The mission needs to be something that will inspire leaders to get up and get going with great passion every day. It also needs to do that to a church team. It needs to inspire and motivate.
The values are what a person in a church feels or experiences. In other words, it's the culture or the environment that you're seeking to produce. What is it that you want people to feel or experience when they connect with your church?
The strategy is a description of where you hope a person goes in your church; it’s a step-by-step process to deeper discipleship. It’s the unique path toward maturity in your church.
Measures describe who you see a person in your church becoming. Think about the profile of a disciple. These are the things you want to measure in order to determine how successful you are. Typically, we measure this through stories we hear about who our people are becoming. You want your people to know clearly who it is that you're trying to help them become.
As you articulate your vision frame, keep in mind a few big questions: Will it help keep you fired up and motivated – getting you out of bed with enthusiasm every day? Will it give you clear and focused direction as you lead your people? Will it help you decide what NOT to do? Will it help people decide “This is the kind of church I want to be part of” or “This is the kind of church I don’t want to be part of”? Does your vision frame help you and everyone else see how your church is different than 10,000 other churches?
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