NT-NL: The DiscipleLife Synod
Sowing and Growing Disciples of Jesus

We call it DiscipleLife – the experience of being disciples in our day just as the disciples who gathered around Jesus discovered that their very being was changing because of what they learned and saw and loved in him. DiscipleLife is an invitation to learn, study and reflect as students of the Teacher, but also to grow, change and re-order the way we live our lives.  DiscipleLife is not just something we might do, it is something we are.  It is not just something we practice, but something we become.  It is not just learning about the living Christ, but allowing the Christ to live in us.


The NT-NL Synod has been exploring its call to DiscipleLife in recent years by focusing on congregational mission, personal discipleship and missional leadership. 



CONGREGATIONAL MISSION

(Finding our mission in our community at the intersection of these three things:)

Our identity and purpose

Our context for ministry

Our gifts and resources



PERSONAL DISCIPLESHIP

(Described in Power Surge: Six Marks of Discipleship for a Changing Church by Michael W. Foss.)

Daily Prayer

Weekly Worship

Regular Reading of Scripture

Engaged in Service for Others

Active in a Small Group

Tithing



MISSIONAL LEADERSHIP

(Inviting our lay leaders, pastors and members to give their best energies to the pursuit of)

Mission rather than Maintenance

Relationships rather than Tasks

Modeling rather than Managing

Positives rather than Problems

Our Unity rather than our Differences



The Northern Texas – Northern Louisiana Synod has declared that its purpose is to be Sowing and Growing Disciples of Jesus.  We envision ourselves to be a mission-oriented, dynamic, innovative and fast-growing synod that builds its life around several key values: 


Mission: responding to the Great Commission (Matt. 28)

Discipleship: practicing the Six Marks of Discipleship

Heritage: sharing the teachings and traditions of our Lutheran faith

Outreach: providing safe, life-giving, transformational experience

Ministry: trusting in the gifts that lay and clergy both can give

Excellence: exercising integrity, innovation, flexibility and justice

Focus: building on strengths and empowering ministries.



Further Information on DiscipleLife within the NT-NL Synod

  1. Equipping Leaders - Coaching
  2. Equipping Leaders - Congregational Life Cycle
  3. Equipping Leaders - Good to Great
  4. Equipping Leaders - Ministry Outcomes
  5. Equipping Leaders - Mission Context
  6. Equipping Leaders - Missional Leadership
  7. Equipping Leaders - Natural Church Development
  8. Equipping Leaders - Thinking Missionally
  9. Equipping Leaders - Transformational Ministry
  10. DiscipleLife - DiscipleLife Leadership Council
  11. DiscipleLife - Purpose, Vision & Values statement
  12. DiscipleLife - Strategic Priorities
  13. DiscipleLife - assembly themes
  14. DiscipleLife - graphic
  15. DiscipleLife - planning process
  16. Bible Study on Congregational Mission
  17. Bishop`s Report - 2006 Synod Assembly
  18. Bishop`s Report - 2007 Synod Assembly Resolution
  19. Bishop`s Report - 2008 Synod Assembly
  20. Synod Ministry Review - 2008 Communications Audit

Copyright 2008 Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

 

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