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STATEMENT OF MISSION PRIORITIES
FOR THE
CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN ALABAMA-NORTHWEST FLORIDA
(Disciples of Christ)
[For the Decade Beginning in the Year 2000]
The Purpose of the Alabama-Northwest Florida Region is two-fold:
- To extend the ministry of Christ in mission, witness and service among the people and social structures of the Region; and,
- To establish, receive, and nurture congregations in the Region, providing counsel and pastoral care to members, ministers and congregations in their mutual relationships, and relating them to the wider mission and witness of the whole church.
In seeking to achieve this purpose, the Region affirms its commitment to becoming an anti-racist/pro-reconciling institution as it adopts the following Mission Priorities:
Spiritual Growth and Faith Development
- We will seek to make every gathering an opportunity for spiritual growth and faith development
- We will commit ourselves to prayer for one another, our congregations, and our common ministries
Ministerial Support
- We will undergird the People Energized, Prepared, & Productive program (PEPP)
- We will provide resources for the Ministry Assistance Program (MAP)
- We will offer training for persons involved in Interim Ministry
- We will train clergy to serve as Search and Call Partners with congregations seeking ministerial leadership
- We will sponsor retreats/workshops to meet the professional and family needs of those in ministry
- We will promote and highlight the advantages of ministry in Alabama-Northwest Florida for ministers in the Search and Call process
Leadership Development
- We will continue to provide retreats, workshops, and training events to equip persons for leadership within congregations and within the Region
Youth Ministries
- We will administer a vital and faithful camp and conference ministry for youth as well as season events throughout the year which promote spiritual development, service, and witness
- We will provide leadership development for youth-age leaders, offering them a challenge to consider a Christian vocation
- We will provide training for camp staffs and for congregational youth sponsors
Congregational Vitality
- We will seek opportunities and funding for the revitalization of existing congregations, and we will provide oversight to those processes
- We will encourage all congregations to renew their commitment to mission by assisting in the planning and implementation of new congregation establishment
- We will support small group ministries
- We will facilitate on-site consultation and training in the following areas:
Evangelism
Christian Education
Stewardship
Outreach and Mission
Strategic Planning
Congregational Polity and Administration
Endowment Programs and Estate Planning
Disciples Identity, Heritage and Witness
New Congregation Establishment
- We will seek opportunities and funding for the establishment of new congregations and for the revitalization of existing congregations, and we will provide oversight to those processes
- We will develop strategic implementation plans for meeting the goals of the 2020 Vision
- We will encourage congregations and districts to search actively for potential sites
- We will facilitate shared mission projects among congregations
Communication
- We will publish a Regional newsletter and send Leader's Packets to provide information on resources, events, and matters of common interest across the life of the whole church
Approved at Regional Assembly in April, 2000
Modified by Regional Board in February, 2003
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