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Marilyn Houser Hamm |
Congregational Partnerships invites you to
"dig in" and understand the life and ministry of a Missional Church
Dear Church Leaders:
Much enthusiasm and excitement has been expressed in response to the missional
church vision you have read and heard about in the past months. Our congregations
clearly want to be continually nourished and challenged by God's hope for the
world. We need to see the world through the eyes of the kingdom of God—not
an easy task in a media-driven, revenge-seeking world. God's desire is to create
strong people, discipled and rooted in scripture, inspired by vision, and equipped
for ministry.
To assist congregations and individuals in advancing their knowledge and awareness
of the missional church, Mennonite Church Canada Witness is developing several
educational and awareness building opportunities. The enclosed materials (Take
A New Road and Join the Journey) (See your church office) present these
opportunities (at varying levels) to help us carry forth both missional vision
and action.
This is an invitation to discovery for your congregation and its leaders. As
an introduction to this invitation, we present to you a new brochure (full colour)
that illustrates some key missional church information and education opportunities.
These opportunities represent a direct link from vision to action through MC Canada's
Congregational Partnerships services.
This brochure is separated into two parts: Missional Formation and Congregational
Partnerships in Mission. I encourage you to use this brochure as a tool to speak
with your congregation's committees and groups, or to encourage individuals to
consider the missional leadership education opportunities available through Missional
Formation. The Congregational Partnerships in Mission section illustrates the
levels of missional connection (action) that are possible through national, international,
and peace & justice ministries.
Missional Formation opportunities #1-3 are congregational processes that logically
lead to opportunity #4, Congregational Story-telling. The Leadership/Mentor Training
(opportunity #5 described in detail in the attached blue leaflet Join the journey…)
is being offered beginning in January of 2003 in Winnipeg. In the following year,
offerings will be available in other regions. Opportunity #5 is intended for individuals
(as opposed to groups), but enrollment is limited, so start tapping shoulders
now! Prayerfully consider your participation in this training, if not for 2003,
then in a subsequent year.
These Missional Formation opportunities provide a solid foundation for engaging
in Congregational Partnerships in Mission, but are not prerequisites for getting
involved in the partnership opportunities. Your congregation is invited to explore
a potential partnership at any time!
Additional copies of these materials (and more in-depth explanation) are available
on request. Contact the MC Canada Missional Facilitation Coordinator in your area
to express your interest (see the back of this sheet), or contact me directly
with your questions and comments. Feel free to make copies of this material for
persons whom you feel should know about this training, or to use as a reference
yourself.
God's blessings to you as you enter the fall ministry,
Marilyn Houser Hamm
Executive Director, Congregational Partnerships
(1-866-888-6785 or mhhamm@mennonitechurch.ca)
August 12, 2002
Regional Contact Persons:
Gerd Bartel MCBC Phone: 604-850-6658
Email: gbartel@mennonitechurch.ca
Eric Olfert MC Saskatchewan Phone: 306-249-4844
Email: eolfert@mennonitechurch.ca
Jim Loepp-Tiessen MCEC Phone: 519-634-8712
Email: shantzmc@golden.net
Norm Voth MC Manitoba Phone: 204-896-1616
Email: nvoth@mennochurch.mb.ca
* The search for an Alberta representative is ongoing.
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