I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church

Session Two: Choosing

CommunityOver Isolation

November 26, 2013

Facilitators: Teaching Elder

Shannan Vance-Ocampo

And Transitional Leader Cheryl Galan

WHAT IF PEOPLE LOOK FOR COMMUNITY SOMEWHERE ELSE BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY HAVE A BETTER SHOT

OF FINDING IT THERE….THAN FINDING IT

AT CHURCH?

HOW MIGHT OUR CHURCHES BE PLACES OF

DEEP CONNECTION?

HOW MIGHT WE CREATE SETTINGS AND

EXPERIENCES IN WHICH PEOPLE MOVE FROM

ISOLATION TO COMMUNITY?

SIGNS OF ISOLATION People scattered across worship

space, sitting in isolation from one another

No systematic design for connecting with people who drop out of worship for more than a couple of weeks

Nice coffee time after worship, but no settings to move beyond small talk to share real talk

SIGNS OF ISOLATION Fortress-like buildings erected in

another era by people that used to live in the neighborhood, but either died or moved somewhere else; typically locked up 165 hrs./week

Ministries to the poor offered at arms-length distance from people served, rather than as part of a strategy that partners neighbors and congregations in authentic spiritual community

CHOOSING COMMUNITY OVER ISOLATION

This involves choices in three circles of relationship• Relationships to the wider community around the church

• Quality of community that exists within the church itself

• Grounding our life together in practices that shape community, in Christ

Knowing God

Knowing Yourself

Knowing Others

PANEL OF PRESBYTERS Unbinding the Gospel

Christine Treger, Westfield Red Ribbon Fellowship

Jeniffer Rodriguez, First Elizabeth

Disaster Assistance Mike Rountree, Basking Ridge

PANEL OF PRESBYTERS Support Group for Released

Prisoners – Michael Granzen, Second Elizabeth

Interfaith Hospitality Network/Art Therapy –Kris Smith, Lamington

Small Group Ministries – New Providence – ???

THE CHALLENGES OF CHOOSING COMMUNITY

OVER ISOLATION The challenge of the habits

and routines of existing groups The challenge of vulnerability The challenge of leading by

example and experience

PRAYER TRIADSHow may I pray for YOU today? Ask God Tell the others: This is how you

can pray for me Decide how you will pray for

one another Enter a time of prayer; listen for

singing bowl to signal time to switch