EMMY so far …

Emmy so far…

So what’s EMMY?

EMMY kicked off this year at the initiative of the LCANZ’s Mission Directors.

It’s a simple, generous space for pastors and leaders to pause, listen, and reflect together on where God’s mission is already unfolding among us.

Rather than being a program or a strategy, EMMY is a monthly online conversation shaped by prayer, scripture, and lived experience. Each gathering usually begins with a short stimulus — a reflection, story, or video — followed by open conversation. The emphasis is not on having the right answers, but on learning to notice, name, and trust what God is already doing.

For many, EMMY has become a welcome counter‑rhythm to busy ministry life: a place to slow down, to be reminded that mission begins with listening, and to be encouraged by the wisdom and faith of others across districts.

Missed a few sessions? You can still take part.

If you haven’t been able to join EMMY live — or if you’ve only dipped in recently — you’re warmly invited to backtrack.

Earlier EMMY videos are now available online, making it easy to catch up at your own pace.

The videos aren’t polished productions. They’re intentionally simple and reflective, designed to be watched quietly, revisited, or shared with others.

Many people have found them helpful as:

• a conversation starter with colleagues or leadership teams
• a way of re‑orienting ministry around prayerful attentiveness rather than urgency

Whether you watch one or several, the invitation is the same: to slow down, listen deeply, and allow God’s mission to come into clearer focus.

If you’ve been part of EMMY already, backtracking can also be a way of re‑hearing themes that continue to echo — prayer that fuels mission, courage to move beyond maintenance, and trust in the Spirit’s quiet work among God’s people.

You’re invited to join the conversation — live when you can, and online when you need.

Explorations in Mission and MinistrY (EMMY)
Online Conversations for Pastors and Leaders – 2026

From Maintenance to Movement
Helping congregational leaders shift from survival mode to Spirit-led mission

Many congregational leaders know the feeling: there is always another issue to manage, another gap to fill, another decision to make. Energy goes into rosters, budgets, buildings, governance, and expectations. Much of this work is faithful and necessary. But over time, leadership can become almost entirely reactive. Instead of asking where God is leading, leaders find themselves focussing on keeping things running.

That is often the point where a congregation slips into maintenance mode.

Maintenance mode is not a sign of poor leadership. It is usually the result of accumulated pressure: declining capacity, ageing volunteers, financial stress, cultural change, and uncertainty about the future. In that environment, pastors, councils, and ministry leaders naturally focus on stabilising the present.

Yet leadership in the church is not only about preserving what is. It is also about helping a community listen again for the voice of God.

The shift from maintenance to movement begins when leaders recognise that their task is more than institutional care. It is spiritual discernment. It is helping a congregation lift its eyes from immediate pressures and recover a renewed imagination for mission.

That shift begins with theology before strategy.

When leaders move into ‘saviour mode’, believing that the future of the church depends on them, anxiety rises. Leadership becomes heavy. Decisions become defensive. Risk feels irresponsible. But the church belongs to Christ. Leaders are stewards, not saviours. Their role is not to rescue the church through effort alone, but to lead people in faithful response to the God who is already at work.

That truth does not make leaders passive. It frees them to lead with clarity and courage.

Leaders who help congregations move toward mission usually do several things well.

First, they name reality honestly. They do not pretend everything is fine, but neither do they allow fear to dominate. They create space for truthful conversation about fatigue, loss, and uncertainty.

Second, they keep returning the congregation to its deepest identity, its charism. The church is not simply an organisation trying to sustain itself. It is the people of God, gathered by grace and sent into the world in love.

Third, they create practices of discernment. Rather than rushing to solutions, wise leaders ask better questions: Where do we see signs of life? What is God drawing our attention to? What is one faithful next step?

Fourth, they lead toward manageable action. A new connection with the local community. A renewed commitment to hospitality. A small experiment in neighbourhood engagement. Movement rarely begins with dramatic change. More often, it starts with simple, faithful steps.

Previous Recordings

February – What on Earth is God Doing? And how do I join in?   LINK
March – Leading with Missional Imagination   LINK
April – Prayer that Fuels Mission   LINK
May – to come

Coming Up in 2026

📅 June 23 – Seeing our Neighbour with New Eyes
In this conversation, we’ll learn simple ways to “read” our local context — listening, noticing, and discerning where God’s Spirit is already active among our neighbours.

📅 July 28 – Faith the Spills Over: Everyday Discipleship in Action
Mission isn’t just for the few — it’s for all of us. This session will explore how ordinary believers can live out and speak the gospel naturally in their daily lives. Together, we’ll share ideas for helping faith overflow into everyday conversations and actions.

📅 August 25 – Better Together: Building Mission Partnerships in Your Community
You don’t have to do mission alone. Many congregations are discovering the joy of working alongside schools, service groups, and local agencies. Join us to explore practical ways to form meaningful partnerships that reflect Christ’s love in your neighbourhood.

Podcast Pick (a monthly suggestion for those who like listening to podcasts)
When Church Stops Working invites you to reflect on a deep and timely question: what does it mean when the church seems to stop working? In this inspiring 20-minute podcast, Lutheran pastor and theologian, Andrew Root explores what that can mean for the church, for ministry, and for those called to serve with faith and hope.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/when-church-stops-working/id1462822741?i=1000571605618

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5nhnRn3QRNNyam0BioKnxO?si=fb1aee1ccf5c4484

Busy churches are not always missional churches. Movement is not about doing more. It is about aligning the life of the congregation with the heart of God. Even a small or tired church can become deeply missional when it is open to the Spirit’s leading.

The challenge for leaders is not simply to keep things going. It is to help God’s people take the next faithful step with courage, trust, and hope.