Partnerships explored

by Mark Hinds
General Editor for curriculum development for Congregational Ministries PUblishing

On August 28, 2007, Joe Small, the publisher, and I, the general editor, represented Congregational Ministries Publishing in a roundtable discussion with representatives of Faith Alive Christian Resources, the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) and the Reformed Church in America
(RCA). We met to begin a conversation about potential publishing collaborations and the possibility of future partnerships.

During the meeting, Joe Small and I met with Ken Bradsell and Kirsty DePree of the RCA and with Gary Mulder and Leonard Vander Zee of Faith Alive Christian Resources and the CRC. Our goal was to get to know one another, to become familiar with our respective ministries and to explore whether there might be opportunities to partner on some projects.

The group discussed common issues that all denominational publishers face, such as

• lack of widespread understanding of the Reformed worldview
• financial viability
• technology
• serving increasingly diverse denominations
• the increase in the number of parachurch organizations that publish resources

Our group agreed that the potential of coming together to better serve our churches is something that we celebrate.

We agreed that the similarities among our denominations far outweigh the differences.

Our theological basis is solidly Reformed as shown by the confessions that our denominations have adopted.

We agreed that influencing the North American culture with the Reformed perspective is a common priority and that by working together we can have more influence than by working separately.

The group did some brainstorming at the meeting and over dinner about some possible areas of cooperation. Among the ideas mentioned were

• a resource associated with the 500th anniversary of John Calvin’s birthday in 2009
• a curriculum for new adult Christians
• continuing conversations about the “missional” church, perhaps leading to resources
• exchanging catechism materials to see where there might be commonalities
• a resource on a Reformed view of parenting
• music
• resources in languages other than English
• resources for elders/deacons

We agreed that we should spend another day together soon and continue the conversation.