Central's New "Philosophy of Ministry"

As you might have been hearing and reading over the last few weeks, ministry and leadership at Central is changing. In this situation, it is easiest to focus on the changes to the organizational structure, like Session's decisions to downsize itself from 21 to 9 elders and to create a Ministry Empowerment Team that will facilitate the day to day nurture and support of our ministries. The real focus, however, should be on the reasons for the new structure. Before approving organizational changes, the Session took a step of even greater significance that will have important implications as we all move forward together in ministry. The Session adopted the following new "Philosophy of Ministry."

1. Leaders (staff and volunteer) are primarily equippers who give away ministry. (expansion article)

2. All Christians should understand their "spiritual design" as the foundation for their call to ministry inside and outside of Central. (expansion article)

3. Christian growth, pastoral care, and fruitful ministry happen best in the context of an authentic community. (expansion article)

4. Every ministry is given life, accountability, and support based on Central's mission, vision, values, and philosophy of ministry. (expansion article)

5. Authority and responsibility are lodged as close to the actual ministry as possible. (expansion article)

6. Self-organizing, "spiritual-design"-based, covenanted ministry teams are the norm at Central (both grass-roots and leadership initiated). (expansion article)

7. We value thoughtful experimentation, success and failure as learning opportunities, and change for the sake of fulfilling our mission. (expansion article)

You might notice that, in many ways, much of this "new" philosophy of ministry is not new at all. Most of the innovative ministries that have been given life at Central in recent years, have sprung up by following these principles (for example, Central Lights, the AiM Ministry, the launch of the EPIC service, and the Concert Series). While we may not have expressed these concepts before in exactly this form, this is the direction in which we have been moving for some time. By formally adopting this Philosophy of Ministry, it is our hope that we can be more consistent and intentional in implementing these principles in all that we do together as a community of faith. In the coming months - in sermons, in Sunday School classes, in News & Views, and in the Centinel - you will be hearing more about this Philosophy of Ministry: its meaning, its Biblical foundation, and its practical implications for us at Central.

In so many ways, these are exciting times to be a part of ministry at Central.

Richard Ames-Ledbetter, Clerk of Session