| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Healthy Ministries: the Goal of
Committee on Ministry Work |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
The Committee on Ministry’s
primary responsibility is “to serve as pastor and counselor
to the ministers and Certified Christian Educators of the presbytery,
to facilitate the relations between congregations, ministers,
and Certified Christian Educators, and the presbytery, and to
settle difficulties on behalf of presbytery when possible and
expedient.” (G-11.0501) The primary responsibilities of
the COM are best fulfilled by fostering healthy ministries in
the congregations of the presbytery.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Health, wellness, wholeness, well-being:
all these English words come from a common root word that connects
to the Hebrew word, shalom. Shalom is variously translated as
a greeting akin to “hello,” as peace, and as wholeness,
health and well being. God’s will for the shalom, the peace
and health, of God’s people is a theme found in every part
of the Bible. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Yet health in congregational life
is not so easily defined as health in a human body. The shape
of congregational life varies from one place to another. Not every
church can or should engage in precisely the same forms of worship,
Christian education, congregational fellowship, or service to
the world beyond the church building. We might be tempted to say
that healthy congregations, like beauty, are in the eye of the
beholder. The marvelous diversity of healthy congregations might
even encourage us to conclude that healthy congregations can only
be known when we see them. However, there are some shared characteristics
that are discernable in most healthy congregations. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Characteristics
of Healthy Ministry:
Healthy congregations can be found in inner city settings,
on the square in county seat towns, and nestled into suburban
developments. Yet in all the variety of healthy expressions
of ministry, healthy congregations are alike in sharing many
of these norms and behaviors:
- Vibrant faith in God is expressed in lively, faithful worship
and in a commitment to engage in ministries of justice and
compassion.
- Caring response to the needs of people outside the church
is as important as fostering relationships of friendship and
caring within the congregation.
- Following God’s intentions for the congregation is
more important than maintaining buildings or merely balancing
the budget.
- Respect for tradition and the past is balanced by flexibility
and creativity.
- People of all ages are growing in wisdom and knowledge.
- Relationships of friendship and mutual accountability provide
the context for inclusive hospitality and respectful evangelism.
- Respect, accountability and trust rather than control,
individualism and secrecy characterize relationships within
the congregation.
- Clear structures of authority and decision-making are coupled
with open access to those structures by the entire congregation.
- Transparency and openness in regard to communication, information
sharing and decision-making are balanced by appropriate and
respectful treatment of confidential information.
- Respect for the authority of called and elected leaders
is coupled with the awareness that leaders are only part of
a very complex organism.
- Congregational self-confidence is balanced by appropriate
humility.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
In the language of another era
the Preliminary Principles of the Book of Order tells us what
the church is called to do.
The great ends of the church are the proclamation of
the gospel for the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture,
and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance
of divine worship; the preservation of the truth; the promotion
of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the Kingdom
of Heaven to the world. (G-.0200)
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Congregations, like the people
who are part of them, are gifted and flawed, faulty and faithful,
often messy and always thoroughly human. No congregation will
ever fully live up to the ideal of the great ends of the church.
However, when congregations are healthy, they are able to devote
their best energies to fulfilling God’s call to them, as
each congregation finds its way to respond to the claims of God
on the people of God. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Committees on Ministry that are
healthy devote their best energies to helping the ministries of
the presbytery to be healthy. As they do, they partner with God
in bringing to reality the Great Ends of the Church.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
