Archives
Catalog Of Theological Statements Of The Presbyterian Church General Assemblies 1935-1996
Comfort My People
This policy approved by the 218th General Assembly (2008) offers practical Guidance to individuals and groups about how to welcome and address the needs of persons affected by mental illness. Guided by Jesus’ words and actions, the person and family living with serious mental illnesses are invited together into new ways of participating in God’s […]
Committed Conversation
Congregational Transformation
This booklet is about Congregational Redevelopment and is one in a series of how-to booklets produced by the Evangelism and Church Development Program Area of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). To redevelop a congregation is to redirect its ministry in response to significant changes that may have taken place either among its membership or in the […]
Connectional Church Development
Cooperative Parish Manual
Cooperative Parish Ministry (Definition) Several congregations that share a common ministry area or region covenant together to envision that parish area as the place in which Christ is calling them into cooperative planning and ministry. While each congregation maintains its own board or session, the covenanting lead to the sharing of ideas, energies, leadership and […]
Core Values: Creating the Culture of a New Congregation
From the Introduction: A new church begins with a dream. Whether it begins with a presbytery commission or a group of residents, somewhere the dream is born. As the dream matures and starts to take shape, a pastor is called and charged with the responsibility of developing a handful of people into that dream church. […]
Discerning Your Call And Your Gifts For Ministry
From the Foreward: In the past two decades since the Preparation for Ministry process was formalized in the Book of Order, there have been significant changes in society and in the church. We now have more women in seminary than men. More than two thirds of our inquirers and candidates are second or third career […]