The formal language of Grace Identity ministry is this: (from Grace's 2008-2010 Strategic Plan)
1. Grace will work to strengthen the relationships of its members to God, each other and the world through "state of the art" methodology. (Identity Ministry)
Tactics (Actions)
We will offer whole congregation worship, education and fellowship activities on Sunday mornings that are intergenerational whenever possible
We will develop and support a system for small group ministry so to assist households in deepening relationships and choosing which educational and service opportunities to pursue
We will encourage every household to be intentional about their faith development, including its "investment" of time and money into the ministries of Grace
The informal explanation about Grace's Identity ministry, as it is today - the 2009 church year follows:
Identity ministry for Grace is about helping individual "households" to claim their place in the universe.
As the Holy Spirit pulls and pushes the "Holy catholic/universal church" forward, local expressions of the church, such as Grace Lutheran, are becoming more fully aware that a primary, if not the most important, reason for the local expression of church, is to "equip" - to help, the people of God. This means to be much more focused on helping each person to be more fully human and to be honest about the joys and challenges of following Jesus Christ. To be, in the words of one theologian, Philip Hefner, Professor Emeritus at the Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago, a "co-creator" with God. What this may mean for each household, how that jives with being a disciple of, and brother or sister with, Christ, and how we bring our own story into the mix, is part of our evolving life identity.
Such a life involves life long-learning, discovery, doubt and being in the creative tension between: God and me (the vertical part of the cross); and, God, all of God's creation, fellow followers of Jesus, and me (the horizontal part of the cross).
Identity Ministry then has two focuses: 1) supporting individual households and 2) offering group activities. The first is being addressed intentionally and may take a few years to grow. The second is what most folk usually think of when they think church.
1) Supporting individual households
Grace is evolving a system of people (Shepherds is the term we are currently using) who will be fully aware and supportive of every Grace household. Grace households, as is true for most of the households in the United States, are very different than in decades past. Today's households include, single people, more that are women than men, "traditional" households, a husband and wife with children, "non-traditional" households, same, and other, gender couples who cohabitate, single parents, "blended-families" and "empty-nesters". Most Grace households are very involved within the community of Grace. Some are not as involved. Some people are away at school, some are homebound or restricted to elder care facilities, some work at times that prevent their presence at the large community gathering on Sundays. Some may just be away spiritually or socially for the moment. All such Grace people (households) will have a person (a shepherd) who on behalf of the Grace Community will foster a Christ-centered caring and supportive relationship as desired by the household itself.
Eventually, each household will be supported to engage the world, as they are able. They will deepen relationships with others at Grace (small group ministry) and be on the frontier of humbly serving, inviting, being, receiving, questioning, walking with and loving all of God's creation and those who inhabit it.
Anybody, interested in being part of this journey, is invited to explore the possibilities with a household of Grace. For this year - 2010 - please contact David Ernat, Pastor.
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2) Offering group activities
The focus for group activities is what happens on Sunday Mornings. In 2010, these activities are called Sunday "Moorings". They include worship, fellowship and education.
