Missional Collaboration
by Gary Snowden, Missional Collaboration Team Leader
The Vision 2020 strategic
planning process gave birth to
four new strategic initiatives
and a corresponding shift in the
makeup of our ministry teams.
I'm privileged to help give
direction to the work of the new
Missional Collaboration Team.
The overarching purpose of our
team is stated as follows:
"Facilitate genuine collaboration
between congregations and
among church leaders for
support, encouragement,
resource sharing, learning
opportunities, and joint projects."
A number of goals and action
steps have been proposed to
help us accomplish that broad
purpose statement. Several of these appear to offer real possibilities for building up networks of churches and leaders that will in turn enable us to facilitate missional collaboration. I'd like to comment on a few of these. Establishing and resourcing peer groups for pastors and church staff offers great opportunities for face-to-face sharing of both victories and challenges in ministry. Peer groups offer a support network where ministry practitioners can safely and honestly drop their guard and receive prayerful encouragement from other church leaders. That need is greatly pronounced in a post-denominational era where
(continued on next page)
Gary Snowden speaking during the
Missions Banquet at the Annual Gathering.
(photo credit: Brian Kaylor)
"Facilitate genuine collaboration
between congregations and among church leaders for support, encouragement, resource sharing, learning opportunities, and joint projects"