’Ä¢ It will be a holy adventure with an all-powerful awesome God, driven in its common life to do a great kingdom work of excellence for Jesus Christ. In other words, it will have a clearly defined mission statement (why it exists), vision (what it will become), core values (deeply held convictions, priorities and underlying assumptions) and strategies (how to get there).

’Ä¢ Its Priests will be strong and gifted leaders who serve as spiritual guides, mentors, equippers, coaches, preachers/teachers and strategists. The priest will no longer be understood as the chaplain or chaperon of the village.

’Ä¢ Bishops will serve in the same capacities as described above for priests. In fact, bishops will model the new vocation and will train, equip, empower and encourage priests to live the new paradigm. There will be no need for canon missioners and congregational development personnel. Bishops will function in these capacities (BCP, pp. 517-523, 855). A bishop will be defined in the following ways: church planter, chief vision caster, missionary, one who is sent who then sends, risk taker, re-purposer and apologist for orthodoxy.

’Ä¢ Small-minded issues, special interests, guidelines, rule-based committees, micro-management, policy manuals and even canons will not drive the church's common life. On the other hand, it will be a highly decentralized, purpose-driven church (the great commission, Matt. 28:18-20, and the great commandment, Mark 12:23-24). It will encompass cell (small) groups and celebration (Acts 2:42-47; 20:20) as a biblical functioning community (James 1:22) that constantly develops leaders who develop leaders (2 Tim. 2:1-2). It will understand that "everything rises and falls on leadership." Moreover, it will have a simple structure, be flexible and travel lightly and quickly as the body of Christ. It will be built upon the eight quality characteristics of a healthy church: 1. empowering leadership, 2. gift-oriented ministry, 3. passionate spirituality, 4. functional structures, 5. inspiring worship, 6. holistic small groups, 7. need-oriented evangelism, and 8. loving relationships.

’Ä¢ The cell system will assure that even if the parish is extremely large, every member will be cared for in a meaningful way. Everyone will be cared for by someone and no one will care for more than 10 people. Each cell will be affinity-based. As it lives basic Christian community, the cell will function as a team to carry out random acts of kindness in its community. It will seek to meet or eliminate the felt needs which surfaced during a survey of the community via focus groups and demographic studies.

’Ä¢ The rector will be highly relational and will develop the leadership team consisting of the clergy staff, ministry staff and support staff. Most staff will be recruited from within the parish.

’Ä¢ The major role of the STAFF will be to develop, equip and train people (Eph. 4:12) to implement the cell system. A constant system of leadership development will be in place. For example, the leadership community will bring key leaders (staff, vestry, elders, associate elders of commissions, commission members, cell leaders, leaders of ministry teams, etc.) together on a regular basis for further growth and development.

’Ä¢ Moreover, it will seek lay mobiliZation with each person seen as having a S.H.A.P.E. (spiritual gifts, heart/passion, abilities, personality, experiences of life), a role and a place to serve. A system approach will be needed to identify gifts, equip and place people in service. The perspective is one of "whole life ministry" with people using their gifts to serve others not only in the church, but also with family, work, community and the world.

’Ä¢ It will have an intense process of incorporation and assimilation, which will encompass knowing Christ, growing in Christ, serving Christ and sharing Christ.

’Ä¢ The primary function and focus of the vestry will be to unleash the congregation to kingdom work. After all, the most important reality of kingdom life is what takes place after meetings. Obstacles and failures will be understood as opportunities - the church will learn to "fail forward." Consequently, risk taking will be normative and even rewarded. Stability will not be the church's companion. It understands that it will seek and serve Christ amid chaos, complexity and confusion. The faith is its anchor! Instead of a fortress mentality, it will have "can-do" spirit.

’Ä¢ It will not exist for itself, but for the non-member. It will be a seven-day-a-week church.

’Ä¢ Since Jesus Christ is head of the church, it will seek Christ's authoritative will for its common life. How? The Anglican church ideally appeals to holy scripture interpreted by church tradition with the aid of reason guided by the Holy Spirit. However, as Anglicans, we believe that in all matters of faith, the holy scriptures, as the Book of Common Prayer states, are "the rule, and ultimate standard, of authority." Is this something upon which we may all agree? Is this an anchor upon which we may moor the beginnings of church reform and reclamation? The answer, clearly, is yes.

’Ä¢ It will be sensitive to doubters and seekers, but it will always uphold the biblical and credal faith (Jude 3). It will uphold a dynamic and gentle orthodoxy.

’Ä¢ It will start (plant) other congregations.

’Ä¢ In the United States, Anglicanism is not called to survive, but to thrive. After all, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us ... (Eph. 3:20). o

The Rev. Gregory A. Tournoux is rector of Christ Church, Owosso, Mich.