What does it mean for Bethlehem to be a "Missional Church?"

My pastor colleagues and I have just returned from the Southwestern Minnesota Synod Fall Theological Conference, an event in which I’ve participated for 26 years. I have to say that this event always seem to come at a time when it’s hard to pull away: I’m busy reading Faith Statements from Confirmands, preparing for the Affirmation of Baptism (Confirmation) Service on Reformation Sunday, the week before is usually MEA (a week during which it’s difficult to connect with people), and it’s time to be heavily engaged in work for the November Stewardship emphasis. Instead, there I was, driving to Mankato, hoping my computer connection would be successful (it was!), and finally, looking forward to time apart. And in fact, through all of these years, I have always found that God uses this time to renew and strengthen me.
One of the speakers this year was Dr. Pat Keifert, of Luther Seminary. Years ago Dr. Keifert was helping people think about what it means for the church to live out the hospitality of Jesus Christ to welcome strangers; his teaching then helped us plan for Bethlehem’s relocation and our ministry of welcoming people in this place.
Now, Dr. Keifert is talking about what it means to be the church in mission in the 21st century. He presented a session that reflected on the question, “What Does it Mean to be Missional?” and identified four quadrants in which churches might find themselves in relation to that question:

• Quadrant I – a religious club or spiritual filling station that exists to “Meet my needs.”
• Quadrant II – a church with a mission: focused on evangelism and/or social action
• Quadrant III – a closed door community: focused on being a “good” church, but only for “us.”
• Quadrant IV – a missional church: both congregational life & outreach are focused on GOD’s mission.

The missional question with which churches need to grapple is: What is GOD’S preferred and promised future for this congregation? What is God up to in this community and how does God want us to be a part of it? These were the kinds of questions we were talking about at Bethlehem during our strategic planning process 3 years ago. Much has changed since that time, and yet there is much in our strategic plan that we have yet to address.
So what do you think? Where do you think we are? How shall we follow in the way God is leading us?

O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (ELW p. 317)