Thriving/Reconciling

The Commission on Thriving, Reconciling Congregations is charged with increasing the number of congregation that are thriving which have a clear sense of purpose; intentionally cultivating the Christian formation of their members, welcoming  new Christians and worshippers, and assiting them in becoming apostles of reconciliation who are missionally engaged in their communities.

Our Vision and Mission

What we are about: Our work is to inspire and assist the congregations within the Baltimore Presbytery to become so spiritually alive in our life together and so creatively engaged with the community around us that people are eager to become part of who we are and what we do, allowing God’s vision for God’s children to take root and flourish in and around us.

We envision a church that is more of a community and less of an institution, more adventurous in its ministry and less consumed with maintenance, and more closely attuned to the movement of God’s Spirit leading into the future and less to the memory of the church of the past.

What we imagine such a church might look like:  We think it might look a little different for each congregation as it discerns where God’s Spirit is leading them. We have no interest in a cookie cutter approach. We believe that some signs that this new church is becoming a reality will include:

• An intentional way of being in community together that includes praying for each other, loving and challenging one another, sharing with and supporting one another in the joys and sorrows of life and navigating conflict in healthy ways;
• Worship that is alive in the Spirit of God, open to mystery, nurturing and celebrating God’s presence in our life, and strengthening our understanding of and resolve to follow in the way of Jesus;
• A grounding in Scripture, the sacraments of the church and the wisdom of the historic confessions, confidence in God’s forgiving and reconciling grace, and a passion to be channels of that grace as we seek reconciliation and peace in all relationships; Continually growing in the understanding and practice of discipleship and in our eagerness to share our faith, inviting and welcoming others into our life together and engaging it all with such passion and energy that growth will lead to new congregations being birthed into being;
• Being unafraid to confront injustices, speak truth to those in power and work collaboratively with others in witnessing to and practicing the mandate to love neighbor as self, even at the risk of our own survival, believing that God works through acts of courage and self-sacrifice bringing hope out of despair and life out of death;

• Cultivating generosity and creativity as signs of faithfulness so that the resources for ministry, including staff, programs, buildings and equipment are adequate for the vision that has been discerned;

WHAT WE WILL DO TO HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN: We will organize congregations into ministry groups to be clusters of mutual support and encouragement, mission and service, sharing and learning and challenge and accountability in creating the thriving congregations at the heart of this vision. We will actively search for and provide resourcing and staffing assistance for helping vision become reality. We will encourage churches to adopt governance models that blend organizational skills with spiritual leadership. We will be open to what we hear from congregations and their leaders and to the Spirit’s nudging as we move into the future, modeling for congregations a trust in God’s lively and transforming presence in this work.

WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE CHURCH WE ARE BEING CALLED TO CREATE AND WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS POSSIBLE!