New Church New Way August 2020

Six months into the culture shift of COVID-19, the 1001 team remains committed to the key resources that support the vision of starting and sustaining new worshiping communities across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). It’s a strange dance of identifying and supporting new leaders in very local contexts through online and virtual methods. This month, we will launch a new virtual Discerning Missional Leaders Assessment program and a virtual NWC Accelerator training event. At the same time, new leaders will begin apprenticeships and residencies in site-based learning experiences hosted by some of our more mature and thriving new worshiping communities. Like the rest of us, we are clearly learning as we go — shifting our training and support from in-person events to virtual classrooms and cohorts, but the work of starting new churches continues in very real neighborhoods where the PC(USA) continues to call new disciples to the Way of Jesus. Thanks for sharing the joy of this journey with us.

And they’re off! Meet the 2020–21 cohort of Residents and Apprentices who kicked off their year of learning and practice with a first-ever virtual training event, July 6–8, 2020. We may be socially distanced, but the world of starting beautiful new beloved communities continues. This site-based learning program, led by the Rev. Sara Hayden, associate for apprenticeships, residencies and leadership cohorts, has three major components: Inaugurating a contextual and transformative new ministry from scratch Participating in a cohort of peers and mentors for reflection, training and discernment Learning through a professional coach. "We invest heavily in this model of training because we believe this work cannot be fruitfully done in isolation," Hayden said. "Our peer cohort component encourages humility and mutual support." Concrete training gives participants access to insights many of us have learned the hard way — and over time. Coaching ensures the work is contextual, sustainable and gospel-formed. Learn more about our residents here. Meet our 9-month apprentices →

New book for NWC, church, middle governing body leaders "Sustaining Grace" explores the dynamic between new worshiping communities, established churches and denominational systems through the lens of stewardship and sustainability. This collection of essays speaks to a central tension in the growing movement of new worshiping communities — the mutual need of and the mutual frustration between establishment leaders and innovators, conservators and risk-takers. Standing at the contact point of that tension, 1001 New Worshiping Communities and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary engage the question of faithful stewardship with voices reflecting and strategizing on each side of the tension, broadening the conversation to include those beyond the Presbyterian Church, and bringing both the academy and practitioners from church presbyteries, new worshiping communities, and traditional church communities to offer a theologically grounded, practical and generative conversation. Available here →

Matthew 25-Actively engaged in the world The Matthew 25 invitation was officially launched in April of 2019. Over a year later there are more than 530 churches, groups and mid councils that have made the commitment to become a Matthew 25 church and work towards building congregational vitality, dismantling structural racism and eradicating systemic poverty. Explore our bold vision →

Coronavirus/COVID-19 Resources for Congregations and Members

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