Church of the Brethren Newsline
March 13, 2018
by Joshua Brockway
At the spring meeting of the Mission and Ministry Board, Congregational Life Ministries staff announced a new team name and strategy. Now titled Discipleship Ministries, the team envisions a “people of God, new and renewed, that embodies and articulates their faith.” Along with a new name, staff of Discipleship Ministries also outlined new strategic emphases and a staffing plan to carry out the work.
Discipleship Ministries staff named three strategic emphases that connect and inform all the work of the team: make and grow disciples, form and develop leaders, and transform communities. These emphases will shape the events, resources, and relationships overseen and cultivated by the team.
To facilitate this work, the team will include director-level staff alongside two administrative support staff. In addition, Discipleship Ministries will develop a team of contractors who will provide leadership in congregations and districts related to specific ministries such as evangelism, conflict transformation, and Christian education. Discipleship Ministries will work in collaboration with a number of volunteer committees to further the vision for denominational events. Such teams include the National Older Adult Conference Planning Team, National Youth Cabinet, and New Church Advisory Committee. This structure will expand the offerings of Discipleship Ministries, and allow more opportunities for director-level staff to work directly with congregations and districts
Moving forward, Discipleship Ministries will evaluate position descriptions to align them with the vision and strategy. The team will soon announce new titles for its members. The current director-level staff are Stan Dueck, co-coordinator and director of Transforming Practices; Joshua Brockway, co-coordinator and director of Spiritual Life and Discipleship; Becky Ullom Naugle, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries; and Gimbiya Kettering, director of Intercultural Ministries
The team will announce a new administrative position in the coming weeks. This new member of the team will coordinate the many details for the events hosted by Discipleship Ministries.
— Joshua Brockway is co-coordinator of Discipleship Ministries and director of Spiritual Life and Discipleship for the Church of the Brethren.
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