THE MISSION OF FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH:
Nourished by the generous love of Jesus, we welcome ALL to grow in faith, serve with joy, and share God’s many blessings. Inspired and called into action, we celebrate God’s abundance with our neighbors throughout creation.
WHO ARE WE?
Our values describe the unique character and identity of our congregation and the type of culture we are seeking to form through the individuals that gather here. Our values are a guide for how we treat one another and make choices that reflect who we are and who we feel called to be.
FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH VALUES:
Our values are inspired by Scripture and the following scripture is presented with our values.
“But strive first for the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33
We are invited and invite others into God’s kingdom as we live into these values. We as First Lutheran Church of West Allis seek and strive to be:
Inclusive and Kind: We strive to form an intergenerational culture of active love for all people, and respect for the dignity of each individual, especially if they have been excluded elsewhere. We are curious about each person’s unique story and perspective and seek to learn from each other and the world around us.
Generous: With gratitude for what God has given and the creation we live in, we respond daily to these blessings by using our personal and communal gifts and resources to share God’s love.
Creative: We value our congregational history of innovation, breaking through institutional barriers, and adapting to the needs of the community. We become better leaders in a changing world through taking risks on new ministries, finding inspiration from outside our cultural bubble, and acting out of gratitude instead of fear.
Collaborative: Weaving a net of partnerships and possibilities in our communities forms the relational web with which we grow, learn, connect and invite new people to join our mission.
Transformative: As 21st Century disciples we carry on the voice of the prophets, Jesus and courageous Christians when we believe God can use us to change lives, communities, institutions and systems by reflecting and promoting the counter-cultural values and practices we learn from Jesus.
WHAT IS A VISION STATEMENT?
A Vision Statement describes what will happen if the congregation carries out its mission and what will be seen if that happens. It further describes and organizes the action of the mission statement in specific recommendations, practices and measurable outcomes. The work of the church could be organized into these three areas of focused ministry work. This organizational vision outline will be presented to the congregational council as a guide for implementing the mission into the organizational life of the church, including recommendations for new teams, initiatives, and ministries.
OUR VISION FOR FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH:
We will be seen as a vibrant and imaginative congregation and a resource in many communities and networks, as we connect with our neighbors locally and worldwide. We will Grow in faith, serve with joy and share God’s many blessings.
