New Forms And Models Of Church - 1258 Words

In thinking about the potential for new forms and models of church, we must first articulate what the goals are for this church as well as for the community. With respect to the church, one of the main emphases at this time according to judicatory, is to care for the congregation. The second goal for the church is to develop a new ministry plan that is more extensive than the previous plan. The third and final goal is to organize work in the community. These goals will guide the possibilities for new forms and models of church. Another aspect of this church that forms the discussion of the models and forms of church is the idea that this is a â€Å"Community church.†[1] What this means is that this is a church that is intentional about being†¦show more content†¦While as the case mentions, this will evolve as time goes on, this congregation will begin on this goal by intentional steps for the many different members to get to know each other more deeply in order to bec ome a community. This could be as simple as sitting with someone new in worship each week, or sticking around for a few minutes after the service to talk to someone new. This begs the question, of how will this intentional focus be initiated? It will be initiated by the pastors that rotate in the pulpit, by the teaching and preaching on the focus of becoming a community and how this is important for the congregation. For example, a sermon or sermon series could be on Paul’s words in Corinthians about the body[3] and how that understanding can be the fundamental for understanding what community means in the congregation. In addition, there is also a form within the model of community that is important. This form is a congregation that has â€Å"Open hearts, open minds, open doors.†[4] What this form will look like is a church that is inviting and welcoming of all peoples either already in the congregation or if they are new and come into the congregation. The bottom line is that while of course, the pastors shall care for the congregation, especially in the ways