You are here

Shared Ministry: "Try It! You'll Like It!"

Shared Ministry

We have wonderful thriving ministries in our congregations! Every week, I receive church newsletters (both paper and electronic) that testify to vibrant outreach ministries, festive social events, unique educational and spiritual activities, and lay ministry formation events. Recently, we created a Community Calendar that enables congregations to announce these events to a much wider audience. Moreover, we hope that this service might encourage collaboration among our churches, and perhaps lead to sharing of resources, information and ministries.

It is no secret that many of our congregations are facing significant financial and people resource challenges that impact our ability to do the mission and ministry to which God has called us. Apart from the reality of dwindling pledges and endowments, is the fact that we have fewer people to carry on vital ministries. Christian formation (Sunday School and adult education), youth ministry, confirmation preparation, and lay ministries training readily come to mind. But think also about financial, administrative, and maintenance needs that are a perennial struggle, particularly for our small congregations.

Perhaps now is the time to have that conversation with neighboring congregations, exploring possibilities for doing ministry together. Could it be that in the midst of the challenges that we are all presently facing that God is providing us with an opportunity to become collectively something more than we are now? That through sharing of ministries, talents and resources, we might be enabled to do that ministry to which God is calling each of us, and perhaps to even be empowered to realize that unique ministry that may be just beyond the reach of our present capabilities?

There are already many congregations who share worship, administrative and financial personnel, and take part in joint training and education of lay ministers. Book clubs and anti-racism dialogues, for instance, have proven to be vehicles for congregations to explore other ministry possibilities. Why not start by going to the websites of nearby congregations. What are they up to? What possibilities of shared ministry might we consider together?

So let’s start to envision/imagine new forms of cooperative and mutually supportive ministry, and not be confined to considering only what’s good for our own little corner of the world. Even if your congregation is blessed with an abundance of resources and ministries, consider how you might reach out to other churches that might benefit from shared ministry or other forms of collaboration.

Our continuing invitation is for each of us to embark on a journey of faith with one another and be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit – discerning together the opportunities for partnership in mission and ministry where God has uniquely planted and nurtured us. We as diocesan staff would like to be partners in this holy venture – offering support and guidance where, when, and how we can. For truly, we are all in this together.

Add new comment

Our comment policy requires that you use your real first and last names and provide an email address (your email will not be published). The Communications Office of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark reserves the right not to publish comments that are posted anonymously or that we deem do not foster respectful dialogue.