The "gathering phase" of the Chain of Lakes New Church Development (NCD) is moving forward. Last month the Steering Committee approved the final draft of a Church Information Form (CIF) as the first step in calling an organizing pastor. The CIF will be available online, including our website, to solicit Personal Information Forms (PIFs) from ordained ministers interested in applying for the organizing pastor position. The Steering Committee will act as the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) to receive and review any PIFs submitted, conduct interviews, select a candidate, and recommend that person to the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. Once the organizing pastor is in place (we hope by mid-autumn, or the end of the year at the latest), he or she will work with the core leadership group that was pulled together over the last few months to discern where the fledgling congregation will gather, begin regular worship services, establish community, and continue to seek individuals and families who feel God is calling them to help start a new church.
The vision is that this new church will be a Christian community of diverse people interested in building relationships, exploring biblical faith, experiencing personal and spiritual growth, and seeking ways in which God might be calling them to relate to their local and global contexts. The church is particularly interested in welcoming those who have little or no church background, or who may have belonged to a church at one time but, for any number of reasons, may have become disconnected from a meaningful church experience.
While the new congregation will be firmly grounded in the Presbyterian/Reformed way of being Christian, it will seek to meet the needs of people where they are in faithfulness to the biblical witness rather than dictating that the church experience should be the same for all. Further, it will encourage the living out of Christian discipleship in ways that are unique to each individual, yet still within the context of a supportive community.
If you think God might be calling you to consider being part of this newly emerging church, I encourage you to contact me so that we can discuss what the promptings of your heart might mean, as well as any questions you may have.
Meanwhile...stay tuned!
Pastor David
