Congregational Life
Jean Carson of Hillsboro visits the EAM display at Diocesan Convention.
Congregations in rural or urban low-income communities are poised for powerful and creative witness. Small congregations in particular have the potential to be profoundly in touch with the community's life, deepest values, and needs.
One of our most important challenges in this diocese is to make sure that small churches are not stunted by worries over survival, or by too narrow a model of what it means to be a congregation (red door, full time priest, organ). We want to ensure that Episcopalians no longer hear the word "mission" as a noun denoting size, and remember that mission means purpose embodied in action.
Southern Ohio congregations have developed an array of successful ways to work as congregations, from inner-city empowerment programs to cluster ministries spanning state and diocesan borders.
Our Commission on Congregational Life provides free consultation to help members of local churches to develop a dynamic structure of worship and mutual ministry to mobilize members' spiritual gifts for effective ministry both within the congregation and in the community beyond.
To get connected, contact Pat Ellertson (ellertson@muskingum.edu) or the Rt. Rev. Ken Price, Bishopken@aol.com
Bishop Price has helped congregations throughout West Virginia and Southern Ohio to implement structures that work for them, especially through cluster ministry. Pat is Chair of the Commission on Congregational Life, has many years of experience in area ministry and lay ministry development.