Strategies
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Toolkit Template
01
Introduce the Problem
Define the key terms that are often confused in this sector.
Clarify the two major usages of “church” (global body vs. local congregation).
Define the sector‑specific institution (e.g., workplace, business, marketplace ministry, etc.).
Identify common sources of confusion and why clarity matters for partnership.
Pose questions that expose the ambiguity:
“When we ask what the church is doing about ______, which actions count?”
“Do the actions of Christians in their workplace count as the church’s mission?”
“What about Christian-led organizations that operate outside congregational authority?”
Discussion Prompt
Why do congregations and ______ organizations sometimes struggle to work together?
02
Create a Theological Framework for Legitimacy
Are ______ organizations legitimate expressions of Christian mission?
State the common objection (“If churches did their job, ______ wouldn’t exist”) and introduce your theological framework.
Ordained and Emergent Divine Institutions
[Or whatever theological framework you think will best resonate with your audience]
Explain:
Ordained institutions (family, government, congregation, global church)
Emergent institutions (businesses, schools, charities, etc.)
How this sector’s institutions emerge from biblical commands
Provide examples relevant to the sector.
Discussion Prompt
Respond to a common phrase:
“God created the church; He didn’t create ______.”
03
Understand Structural Differences
Introduce the two institutions being compared
(e.g., congregations vs. workplace ministries; congregations vs. Christian businesses).
Pick whatever structural contrasts you want to highlight (or add your own).
Generalization vs. Specialization
How congregations are generalists
How sector‑specific organizations are specialists
The beauty
The tension
Caretakers vs. Disrupters
How spiritual gifts cluster differently
How this affects collaboration
The beauty
The tension
Theological Unity vs. Diversity
Levels of doctrine
How congregations and sector‑specific organizations differ in theological breadth
The beauty
The tension
Membership vs. Donor/Revenue Models
Congregational belonging
Sector‑specific funding or revenue structures
The beauty
The tension
Steady State vs. Rapid Growth
Trends in congregations
Trends in the sector
The beauty
The tension
04
Create Models for Partnership
Provide strategies for both congregations and sector‑specific organizations.
Congregation Strategies
(Create universal and specific strategies for your sector)
Universal Strategies
(Everyone should do X, Y, and Z)
Specific Strategies
(Some people should lean into one or more of these approaches. Examples below from the charity context, you can invent your own.)
Keystone Partner
What / Why / How
Matchmaker
What / Why / How
Direct Service Provider
What / Why / How
Coalition Builder
What / Why / How
Missional Extension Strategies
(Create universal and specific strategies for your sector)
Universal Strategies
(Everyone should do X, Y, and Z)
Specific Strategies
(Some people should lean into one or more of these approaches. Examples below from the charity context, you can invent your own.)
Keystone Partner
What / Why / How
Matchmaker
What / Why / How
Direct Service Provider
What / Why / How
Coalition Builder
What / Why / How
05
Compile Case Studies
Detail 1-3 detailed stories of collaboration
