Lead as a Presbytery in a Post-Denominational Setting

The Way Forward Work Group asks that the Presbytery of San Diego receive and implement the following report:

Work Group Chair: Rev. Dr. Mike McClenahan

Tasks (From the Task Force on the Way Forward Final Report Adopted by the Presbytery of  San Diego on November 21, 2006):

1.  Lead  as a presbytery in a post-denominational setting – Engage our entire presbytery and its member congregations in a process of education and reformation as we recover the church’s missional identity which is best  defined as being inwardly strong and outwardly  focused. Consider how to survive and thrive in this emerging post-denominational culture. Re-invent our presbytery meetings, gatherings, and communications to make them missionally relevant and supportive. Annually evaluate the missional effectiveness and progress of our presbytery and member churches with regard to church health, congregational growth and vital ministries that  further the Kingdom of God here on  earth.

2. Create a new way of being a presbytery – Explore such possibilities as realignment within geographic areas based on like-mindedness; parallel presbyteries within the synod; blessing and releasing one another to separate ministry and mission – modeled after Paul and Barnabas.

 Report and Recommendations:

 The post-denominational setting of the communities we serve provides an opportunity for us to learn together to be missional churches supported with the Presbytery of San Diego. A missional church is “a community of God’s people that defines itself, and organizes its life around, its real purpose of being an agent of God’s mission in the world,” (Alan Hirsch). Our presbytery will focus on education and gatherings that leads to missional transformation.

 Our recommendations:

 1. Pilot Missional Leadership Gathering of pastors, elders, and staff who meet monthly around God’s Word and resources to gain insights of missional church and to pray for each other’s ministries.

 2. Pilot Missional Church Project with 5-6 congregations who join together over 18 months. The pilot includes the mission-shaped congregation survey and the mission-shaped pastor leader survey.

3. Pilot Missional Pastor Project where we invite 5-6 pastors to join together over 12 months. The pilot will include the mission-shaped pastor leader survey.

 4. Affiliate with the Presbyterian Global Fellowship(PGF) as a presbytery, a movement within the PC(USA) “to transform mainline congregations into missional communities following Jesus Christ.”

 5. Encourage sessions to affiliate with the PGF and celebrate those churches at presbytery meeting beginning May 2008.

6. Attend the Inside Out Conference presented by PGF in Long Beach,   

CA, from August 14-16, 2008. Our goal is for two thirds of our churches in attendance.

7. Redesign Presbytery meeting. The Vision Team of Council will redesign presbytery meetings to create a culture of celebration, missional transformation and learning, including

Sharing God’s Word and praying for our churches and the world,
Celebrating stories of missional change, growth and learning,
Inviting a broader cross section of our ordained leadership to attend.
Currently elders who work are not able to participate in Presbytery meetings.
Encourage churches to nominate next generation elders as presbytery representatives,
Limiting the work of presbytery to essential business.

 This document was approved March 11, 2008, at a regular stated meeting of the Presbytery of San Diego.

 

Comments

[Kate]

I am encouraged by most of these thoughts, but I hope that the "like-minded" group category doesn't keep us from mmeting and meeting with those who are "different-minded." Let's not become an group of exclusive cliques who forget our common beliefs in Jesus, as our Savior.