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Transition Year Conversation - December 2006 - Responses ...
Called to be a Public Church
The question:
How is God leading us in the next six years in our baptismal call to be a “public church?”
As we seek to discern where God is calling and leading us as a synod in the next six years, what should be our strategy for being the public church?
How do we, together (collectively) as a synod, focus our attention and energy and resources in continuing to lift up and deepen the call to the ministry of being "witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus" and inviting people to follow Jesus in discipleship?
Responses:
Congregational Responses Faith Lutheran Church, Bellaire, TX Sprit of Joy Lutheran Church, The Woodlands, TX Grace Lutheran Church, Conroe, TX
Faith Lutheran Church, Bellaire, TX The congregations of the Gulf Coast Synod are doing many public ministries. There is great value in identifying these ministries to partner congregations and networking congregations together. The ministry of the Synod can be to facilitate the connections and encourage success.
Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church, The Woodlands, TX To be a more public church the synod should encourage a grass roots effort on the part of Lutheran churches to work together and share their best practices and gifts. Companion church programs have been encouraged internationally in Peru and the C.A.R. A similar program could be created within our synod and also with other Christian denominations and other faiths. The synod can play a role in bringing the churches together.
Grace Lutheran Church, Conroe, TX 1. How is God calling us to be a public church? We should always be looking at what the needs of the community are and looking for ways to supply those needs. Children with drug problems. Unwed mothers. Our involvement with Interfaith Hospitality Network Our work with hurricane victims. Matthew 25: Calling us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, visit the sick and in prison Designating a portion of our giving to outreach ministries.
2. What should our strategy be for being a public church? The synod is the churches. It’s only as strong as the weakest congregation. So we need to make sure our congregations are as healthy as possible. Helping congregations to ask the right kinds of questions: How are we engaged with the needs of our community? If our church disappeared tomorrow would anyone in the community notice? Sharing ideas between churches. Finding ways for the stronger churches to help the weaker churches. Fostering more cooperation between churches. Also, working together on projects like Habitat for Humanity. Stir up the God-given passions of people in the congregations.
3. How do we focus our attention and energy? See answers to question #2 above.
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