What we need is vision to lead us to our particular calling as persons and congregations. I love detective stories, especially Sherlock Holmes. I read carefully, trying to identify the important clues, and put them together in a way that points to the right solution. Casting a vision for a congregation is like finding the solution to a mystery. The vision for any congregation arises out of that particular group of people, their calling to ministry in the world and the ways God has gifted them.
Vision requires both careful observation and attentive listening.
Pastoral leadership for vision is not imposing a vision from without, but helping God's people articulate their dreams and identify their possibilities. Just as a pastoral counselor might help a parishioner put a name to feelings, the pastoral leader helps a congregation put a name to its vision. We bring a vocabulary of ministry to the congregation, taking the ideas we hear and connecting them to biblical story and theological language. We can direct their attention to their successes and the gifts that enabled them to achieve those successes. We demonstrate that everyday ideas can in fact be a sign of their calling to ministry in the name of Jesus Christ.