Speaking of Resurrection! What Comes Next for our Shared Ministry

We’ve heard that there is some confusion around the process of our shared ministry agreement. In an effort to clarify things, we’ve laid out where we think we are, and some next steps.

We are approaching Easter 4 in our church calendar.  Our readings from the scripture for Sundays have turned to the early church and how this rag tag group of disciples built the community of Christ throughout the known world.  It always amazes me that Thomas went to India, that Christianity was said to arrive in Ethiopia by the Ethiopian Eunuch we read about in Acts 8, that Paul went around the Mediterranean Sea, starting churches throughout that area.  Christianity even got to Britain long before Augustine became the first official envoy.  Merchants from Rome who were converted took the message throughout the world.

There are lots of reasons why the early church grew.  Folks found in the story of Jesus a compelling, meaningful Way and community of love in which to resist the Empire and build an alternative gathering where everyone was equal, and nobody was turned away.  There were also other accidents of history, like a Pagan religion that was increasingly corrupted, or Constantine who decided Christianity would benefit the empire, but initially it was the resurrection event and the community of Christ that created the space to find God in a new way.

I think in many ways we are there again.  Although Christianity has been aligned with the Empire since the 300s, in the past century it has lost its status.  The world has become more secular, or at least the western world has.  (Of course the exception is the United States, which has become increasingly more religious as conservative Christian forces align themselves with the government’s ideology.)  

But for us in the progressive Christian Church, our message is often lost amongst the many ways people seek meaning and find community.  It is time, once again, to approach our faith in a kind of “missionary” way – not afraid to proclaim that Resurrection is possible, that we can change the world if we pull together, that God’s blueprint for humanity is forged in hope for peace, justice, and love.

The challenges are real and our resources are limited.  That is why our Shared Ministry amongst the three congregations, Red Deer Lake, Ogden & McDougall, is so important.  If we work together, if we dream together, if we carry each others burdens, we have the opportunity to create dynamic communities of faith that can make an impact in our neighbourhoods and proclaim a Christianity for all of us.

I know many in our congregations are confused as to our next steps.  I want to assure you all, that there is no conversation happening in regards to amalgamating.  What we are proposing (and it is a proposal at this point!) is that we become a multi-site pastoral charge where three congregations share the equivalent of 3 ministry personnel.  Each site will retain and maintain it’s own building, have staff on site, and handle the day to day operations of the church.  This is the practical piece that we hope will secure this arrangement for years to come, even after the present team has moved on.

The more important piece, and the one we began to address during the April 27 town hall gathering, is how we can truly share ministry.  This will involve dreaming together about the 3 point catchment area, and how we can reach out to people who are seeking a progressive community of faith.  What this will mean, is that we share a joint vision of mission,  that we create a list of shared values that the communities adhere to, that we engage in ministry opportunities available at all 3 sites, and that we share an overarching pastoral charge name (although each site will keep their own name.)  

This is common in the United Church.  For example, the Pioneer Pastoral Charge was created, including churches in Oyen, Cereal, Acadia Valley and Empress.  They all continued with their current worship plans, but committed to working together in that region of Alberta.  (I know this, because I interned at Oyen United Church!)

For the average attender, who loves their community and Sunday morning worship, nothing much will change.  For those who are committed to creating a welcoming space in their congregation, things will go on as before.  But there will be more crossover with justice work like affirming and right relations, and each site will have a primary focus for ministry which accords with their location and demographics.  This is yet to be articulate, and the dreaming has just begun, but the Ministry Team sees a strong emphasis on family ministry for the Red Deer Lake site, as new residential development from Calgary is getting ever closer.  McDougall has access to transportation, and is beginning to “turn over.”  We hope that it will be a place for innovative progressive Christian ministry (like the podcast, Taste & Try & other smaller groups that build community) that will include an alternative worship service that is geared to a younger young adult demographic.

Ogden has food scarcity issues, so we hope to create programs that will address those needs, as well as begin regular worship aimed at seniors in the area.

As you can see, each place has a unique footprint, but we all share similar values and dreams.  By working together as a multi-site pastoral charge, our hope is that our impact will be increased and our congregations will be strengthened.

Here is a link to a presentation which I gave to the joint visioning group (with members from all 3 churches) which outlines the history and purpose of our shared ministry. https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=3DF423ED6DF6B5E0%2168902&id=documents

Of course this conversation is ongoing.  Flexibility is so important.  But as we have shared worship and programming, pastoral care and children’s ministry opportunities, we have forged a bond that is deepening.  This has been a wonderful experience of shared ministry – one we hope will continue long into the future.  

Our hope is that, like those first century disciples, we can imagine a new and living way of life in the 21st century that creates space for people to share their hopes and dreams and burdens, where God is among us and Jesus is risen again and again.

Should you have any comments or questions, please contact one of the joint visioning team members: Doug Den Hoed (doug.denhoed@gmail.com), Barrie Clayton (clayfarm@xplornet.ca), Ron Bierwirth (bwirth@telus.net).

Joanne Bill & Danah

To learn more about our Shared Ministry, please visit our Shared Ministry Webpage

To learn more about Leadership Council please visit our Leadership Council webpage.