The Shared Practices Working Group The Visioning Process for the Churches of Ohio, West Virginia, and Northern Kentucky as we unify faith community.

Why Shared Practices? Unifies ministries Standardizes policies and procedures Eases the burden on regional practices Defines our shared mission and purpose Brings people together to work toward shared outcomes Increases mobility between regions of Ohio, West Virginia, and Northern Kentucky

Categories of Shared Practices Social Witness and Prophetic Ministries Communication and Technology Faith Formation Wider Church Relationships Church and Ministry

A Process for Shared Practices Discovery from those who do the work (Associations, National, Regional) Bring together those who engage in the work (collaboration, collegiality) Consider practices, policies, and procedures Formulate guides for regional application that allow for interpretations and differences in application Allow for evolution of ideas, policies, procedures, and programs

A Starting Place Faith Formation Lay Ministry Training Lay School/School of Ministry/Ministry Formation Undergoes process for Shared Practices Outcome is a shared program that is recognized throughout Ohio, West Virginia, Northern Kentucky

A Second Possibility Church and Ministry Members-in-Discernment (alternate paths to authorized ministry) What criteria, how to determine competencies, who qualifies and how? Through the process for Shared Practices Outcome is a single, clear definition for use by regions of Ohio, West Virginia, Northern Kentucky

Depth and Richness of Shared Practices Social Witness/Prophetic Ministries Communication and Technology Faith Formation Wider Church Relationships Church and Ministry

Question and Attempt to Answer

Closing Prayer Gracious Lord God, through your continual gift of grace, teach us to more perfectly express genuine acceptance of others, zeal for collaboration, and real excitement in cooperation. Unify us in mission and ministry that reflects the work of your Son, Jesus Christ, and that relies on the power of your Spirit. Let our practices in the Church demonstrate our faith, by focusing on possibilities and potential that lead into the future. Free us from the past and the present, so we might better equip, empower, enable, and train persons for the ministry to which each is called, in Jesus’ name. Amen