By Walt Wiltschek
Seven Church of the Brethren districts in the midwest and plains regions partnered to hold an online workshop titled “Changing Mindsets for Ministry” on Feb. 22, with about 80 people participating.
The event featured Jeff MacDonald, a journalist and pastor from the Boston area, as keynote speaker. MacDonald is author of the book Part-Time Is Plenty, which examines positive aspects of the increasing trend of part-time pastors in congregations–something he said is now becoming “the norm.”
MacDonald examined some of these statistics and led the group in re-imagining how churches “should” look and how ministry can happen in a variety of models. He emphasized the need for empowering laity, partnering with colleagues and community, and engaging with the church’s neighborhood, along with more flexible roles in the traditional church structure and right-sizing church buildings. Some of the congregations represented have already moved to shared ministry teams or other models that more heavily involve lay leadership, while others are looking at those possibilities due to decreasing budgets and other new realities.
“When we shift our expectations, what felt limiting can become liberating,” MacDonald said.
The Church of the Brethren Ministry Office will be offering an equipping session related to this theme at Annual Conference in Greensboro, N.C., this summer. Titled “Many Hands Make Weighty Work Light: A Shared Ministry Model,” it will be offered on Thursday, July 3, at 8:30 p.m. Leadership will include shared ministry team leaders from Springfield (Ill.) First Church of the Brethren in Illinois and Wisconsin District; Spruce Run Church of the Brethren in Lindside, W.Va., in Virlina District; and the New Carlisle and Pleasant Hill congregations in Southern Ohio and Kentucky District. Other opportunities to continue the conversation will be sought going forward.
— Walt Wiltschek is district executive minister for Illinois and Wisconsin District.
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Find more Church of the Brethren news:
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- Global Church of the Brethren Communion meets in Spain
- Grant of $500,000 to the Church of the Brethren will support Brethren Disaster Ministries
- Discovering joys, challenges, and God at work with the churches in the Dominican Republic
- Global Mission executive visits Church of the Brethren in Burundi, meets with church leaders from Democratic Republic of Congo