Congregations Cooperating for Mission

Dwelling in the Word 1 Kings 19:1-18 What jumped out at you, caught your attention? How does this connect with you today? With your congregation?

A KEY TO SUCCESSFUL SHARING MINISTRY

How are we building trust? Kum-ba-yah Moments

Transparent To be open, easily readable, vulnerable. What you see is what you get

Responsive Give honest feedback Respectfully Spontaneously Non-judgmentally

Use Caring Whatever I say or do comes from my heart My behavior is Compassionate Affirming Understanding

Sincere To have integrity To keep my actions in line with my values

Trustworthy To be honest To honor my word To keep my covenants and promises

Building Trust Takes Time It’s a Process

TRUST BUILDING STORIES Baby Steps Watershed Moments Along the Way

A KEY TO SUCCESSFUL SHARED MINISTRY Communication

Miscommunication

Gossip Passive-Aggressive Blame Mind-Reading Miscommunication

BLAME GAME

Mind Reading Believing you know what someone means without asking for clarification

Tips, Continued When you feel insulted or slighted, your first assumption needs to be that there was miscommunication Ask them to repeat what they said, using different words than they used the first time. If you still feel insulted, ask them, “are you saying…?” You are not good at mind-reading. Ask them

Antidotes to Miscommunication Speak directly to each other; do not involve a third party Do not listen to gossip; tell them you will go directly to the source for information Use “I” statements Control the tone of your voice; avoid speaking in anger Speak in complete sentences Put words to your feelings/ideas to avoid guessing Look for common ground; build bridges not walls. Say “Yes, and…” rather than “No, but…”

Within each congregation Negative people/gossip in Fayetteville Change of leadership in Ellinger Council retreats – clear vision and roadmap Use all means of communication available bulletin, announcements, phone calls, Facebook, emails, texts

Between congregations Congregation of Councils Council retreats – advertising & more Calendar Technology, including website Newsletter Bulletin – prayer concerns Personal interaction of members

Pastor and people Publish pastor’s contact information – someone knows how to reach pastor Mutual Ministry Committee Encourage direct communication Enforce the 8th Commandment – speak kindly of one another, assume the best “Body of Christ” – we do this together

WORKSHOPS Administration & Finance Structure (staffing, governance, decision-making, church size characteristics) Programming

NEXT STEPS Where to from here?

CREATING A CULTURE OF COLLABORATION &COOPERATION

Blessing  Find a partner for the blessing. Receive the ☩ sign of the cross on your forehead, a sign of God’s endless love and mercy for you. That you may hear the gospel of Christ, the word of life, receive the ☩ cross on your ears. That you may see the light of Christ illumining your way, receive the ☩ cross on your eyes. That you may sing the praise of Christ, the joy of the church, receive the ☩ cross on your lips. That God may dwell within you by faith, receive the ☩ cross on your heart.  That you may bear the gentle yoke of Christ, receive the ☩ cross on your shoulders. That God’s mercy may be known in your work, receive the ☩ cross on your hands.  That you may follow in the way of Christ, receive the ☩ cross on your feet.   You belong to the Body of Christ; your body is + blessed and strengthened for love and service. C: Praise to you, O Christ, the wisdom and power of God.