Since the approval of the Peace, Unity, and Purity Task Force’s Authoritative Interpretation (PUP-AI), the New Wineskins’ leadership and strategy teams have sought to develop a number of faithful options in response to this divisive action. New Wineskins continues to affirm that being a part of a new wineskin doesn’t depend on a particular denominational affiliation. This proposal offers a faithful way forward while remaining within the PCUSA.

Recently, the PCUSA GA Moderator asked two important questions, “Why do we need a denomination?” and “Why do hurting and lost people everywhere need Christians to be well organized?” As good as these questions are, they are not New Wineskins questions. For years, we have been asking, “What are missional and faithful ways to connect with one another so that the gospel of Jesus Christ prospers during an increasingly post-Christian era?” We assume that these faithful connections are possible and necessary but we haven’t assumed that the answer is a traditional denominational structure per se.

There is one fundamental purpose for being well organized as a Christian body, namely “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up the body of Christ… to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12-13). Simply, a Christian body centers its ministry and mission on the teachings and actions of Jesus Christ. This means establishing a theological center from which we do collaborative and cooperative ministry and mission. Our historic principles tell us “that truth is in order to goodness” (G-1.0304). Theology precedes ministry and mission. Without knowing the truth, how would we be able “to speak the truth in love” in order to “grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15)?

In a post-Christian era, the Church can no longer assume that the surrounding culture is acquainted with the essentials of the Christian Faith. In case after case, it can no longer be assumed that leaders within the PCUSA believe the essentials of the Christian Faith. To be missional and to be faithful within the PCUSA requires the establishment of a common theological identity as a starting point. Nothing else will do. Establishing and maintaining a common theological center is the beginning of the missional process. But how do we move out from this common theological center?

The NWAC constitution provides a framework with a great deal of flexibility and freedom for a Ministry Network to develop its own covenant.

Ministry networks- a covenant community within the PCUSA:

I. The Purpose of the Ministry Network

A Ministry Network is a relational and trans-denominational connection between presbyterian and reformed congregations and their leaders who ordinarily share a common geographic proximity. The Ministry Network seeks to serve its constituent congregations and their leaders in their respective works of ministry and mission. Congregations will be healthier when their spiritual leaders are joined in close friendships of mutual support, trust and encouragement and accountability. Such relationships create a natural opportunity for sharing resources, fostering spiritual growth, offering encouragement, and providing theological, moral and missional accountability. Congregations will also be healthier when they are able to link together in some form of common mission: sharing strengths to compensate for weaknesses, sharing wisdom to offset ignorance, and sharing in collaboration to offset individualism.

II. Formation of Ministry Networks

A) A Ministry Network is a cluster of congregations, formed by mutual agreement and for mutual benefit. A Ministry Network is formed when at least three congregations, ordinarily sharing geographic proximity, agree and sign a Ministry Network Covenant.

B) Each Ministry Network will establish Equipping and Fellowship Groups for its members, which are covenanted fellowship groups that develop and regularly review their group covenant. Each Equipping and Fellowship Group exists for the purposes of worship, prayer, fellowship, Bible study and theological reflection, training and equipping, resource sharing, planning for cooperative ministry, and mutual submission and accountability. These groups will include:

1) Pastors’ Covenant Group, which will consist of all pastors, pastoral candidates, commissioned lay pastors and commissioned lay pastor candidates in active ministry in a congregation. The Pastor’s Covenant Group will meet regularly for worship, prayer, study, mutual support, accountability, and ministry planning. These meetings may be less frequent and of longer duration, or more frequent and shorter, but must take place at least once per quarter. Pastors who are not in New Wineskins congregations may be invited to participate, without official standing, in meetings of a Pastors’ Covenant Group.

2) If desired, Equipping and Fellowship Group(s) for elders, deacons, educators, trustees, women’s, men’s, and youth ministries, worship and music leaders, parachurch workers, and other ministry leaders.

C) Each Ministry Network will provide a shared ministry event for its member congregations no less than two times per year. These events may include, but are not limited to, training events, evangelistic events, service outreach events, shared mission partnerships, special projects, concerts of prayer, and worship gatherings.

D) If a congregation wishes to join an existing Ministry Network, the Session will ask the Ministry Network for consideration of the request. If the Ministry Network approves, the congregation will join after the Session signs the Ministry Network Covenant.

E) Ministry Networks may form, evolve and re-form in a fluid, ministry-focused manner. A congregation may transfer from one Ministry Network to another. The Session will make application to the Ministry Network that it desires to join, and send notice to its network of current membership. Upon receipt of the application the network will consult with the network of current membership, review, and act upon the application. If approved the transfer is effective.

III. Ministry Network Components

A) A Facilitator/Moderator, elected by the Leadership Team for a one year term open to re-election, who leads the Leadership Team.

B) A Leadership Team, consisting of one pastor and one elder elected by each Session for a one year term open to re-election, that gives direction and conducts business as needed.

C) Pastors’ Covenant Groups for pastoral leaders.

D) Other Equipping and Fellowship Covenant Groups, as developed by the Ministry Network.

IV. The Leadership Team of a Ministry Network:

A) Will oversee the holding of shared congregational events and may appoint ad hoc planning teams for these events.

B) Will form an Equipping and Fellowship Covenant Group for those in pastoral leadership called the Pastors’ Covenant Group.

C) Will encourage the formation of Equipping and Fellowship Covenant Groups for other ministry leaders.

D) As needed, the Leadership Team in consultation with their respective Sessions, will make decisions regarding the addition or withdrawal of member congregations of the Ministry Network and will propose changes to the Ministry Network Covenant.

E) The Facilitator/Moderator will be elected annually by the Leadership Team. The Facilitator/Moderator will be responsible for convening the Leadership Team meetings as needed.

V. Membership for congregations

Membership is open to all congregations, regardless of denominational affiliation. To be a member, the leadership (e.g.. session) within the local congregation must subscribe to The Essential Tenets of our Reformed Faith and affirm A Declaration of Ethical Imperatives. Congregational leadership (e.g. session) must also agree to faithfully participate in a local Ministry Network.

An example of ministry network covenant and resulting ministry and mission from the “NW Ministry network of the South Hills” in Pittsburgh:

The Ministry Network Covenant:

In forming this network we intend and agree to support one another’s ministry through prayer and by sharing resources, nurturing fellowship, offering encouragement, and holding each other accountable.

We further agree to work with our sisters and brothers in the Ministry Network by participating in equipping and fellowship groups, the Leadership Team and in shared congregational events. We will proclaim and promote the unity of the church and the connectional nature of our corporate lives in Christ through partnering in ministry and mission that promotes the Gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, furthers the kingdom of God until Christ comes again, and declares the glory of God in all that we do.

The Ministry Networks cooperative ministry and mission:

In Pittsburgh, our South Hills Network, over the past two years, has held three joint worship services between our four covenanted Churches, one four-way pulpit exchange, two local Music Fests (featuring our contemporary worship bands along with a few ecumenical guest bands); a joint venture in local mission with the Pittsburgh Project (a north-side housing rehab ministry); cooperative efforts in mission trips to areas devastated by hurricane Katrina; and our youth ministers have been meeting to plan a joint event for youth involved in our networked Churches.

Examples of commitments for reformational purposes:

1) Use The Essential Tenets of our Reformed Faith, affirm A Declaration of Ethical Imperatives in the examination of elders and deacons.

2) Locate or develop an educational process for complying with the intent of the PCUSA Book of Order regarding the preparation and examination of deacons and elders found in G-14.0205.

When persons have been elected to the office of elder or deacon, … the minutes of session shall record the completion of a period of study and preparation, after which the session shall examine them as to their personal faith; knowledge of the doctrine, government, and discipline contained in the Constitution of the church; and the duties of the office… If the examination is not approved for one or more elected officers, the session shall report its action to the congregation’s nominating committee, which shall bring nomination(s) to a special meeting of the congregation for any office(s) not filled.

This forms a standard for Christian education for church offices. As this type of process becomes normal and standard rather than in reaction to events or particular candidates, the examination of ministers will be understood in the context of PCUSA polity. This process also begins to establish an understanding that our sessions are not a secular “board of directors” but a ministerial body of the Church.

3) Co-sponsor a symposium on covenant communities. This would be a time of historical and theological reflection, retreat, and community building. We are called to be salt and light, in the world but not of the world.

4) Evaluate congregational stewardship regarding funds sent to higher judicatories. Focus financial and other giving on ministries serving our Lord’s purposes.

5) Investigate your congregation’s property issues in your state sooner rather than later. The General Assembly’s and some presbyteries’ actions are unpredictable.

6) If your congregation is in a presbytery that is openly seeking God’s will through Scripture and has an orthodox theology, then:

Consider your presbytery as a place of ministry and mission for specific elders with this calling. Routinely send such elders as commissioners.

Consider the development of your presbytery as a regional missional center. Include congregations outside your geographic boundaries. Such a presbytery would support local congregational ministry and mission as it provides an administrative core to the development of ministry networks.

7) Consider an agreed upon time limit to these efforts (~2-4 years) to be followed by an evaluation period.

Our New Wineskins’ task force welcomes your feedback and questions to this proposal either on this weblog or sent to Renee Guth at rguth@newwineconvo.com.

This entry was posted on Friday, April 27th, 2007 at 10:31 am and is filed under New Wineskins. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.