New Ministries Committee

The New Ministries Team of the Presbytery of the Cascades is gathered in order to: 

1. Steward efforts in the Presbytery to begin new churches and ministries.
2. Work with 1001 New Worshiping Communities of the PC(USA), connecting local efforts to national support.
3. Encourage existing congregations to revitalize their mission through developing new ministries. The mission of the Presbytery of the Cascades reads: “Because God is at work in our world, the Presbytery of the Cascades commits to:
   • encourage and support congregations to grow in their particular ministries.
   • support and care for those in leadership.
   • develop supportive relationships within the presbytery and with other sisters and brothers in Christ.
   • inspire, equip and connect churches for mission and ministry.”

The work of the New Ministries Team can play a central role in helping our Presbytery fulfill this mission in the world both by encouraging existing ministries to grow and by inspiring individual leaders and congregations to imagine new kinds of ministries for a new era of church. We want to be part of a new movement of Spirit in these times.

In doing this work we are guided by some basic principles:

1. We will listen to each other in the circle gathering of the team.
2. We want to be at the table of change. We believe that the church is in a whole new era when practices which used to be meaningful to people are losing interest, and where people are asking different questions of their inner life.
3. Our focus is on doing things differently, in response to the changing yearnings of our times.
4. We are willing to take risks, even to fail and learn from our failures.
5. We will work to use resources of people and money wisely.
6. Our focus will be on ministries and people, and less on buildings.
7. We are a learning community, sharing stories and resources.
8. We will partner with other denominations, religious faiths or community groups, as opportunities arise.
9. We choose not to burn-out, so we will add members to the team as needed.

We will expect new ministries to:

1. Develop multiple income streams as they work toward sustainability.
2. Articulate their mission / vision in terms of their faith.
3. Be informed by and accountable to the values of the presbytery as well as the population they serve.

Specific Relationship to the Presbytery of the Cascades:

1. We steward the funds devoted to New Church Development, and are responsible to the presbytery’s budgeting process for this task.
2. We will be the supervising team for ministries with grants from 1001 New Worshiping Communities.
3. We will assist in, or make sure there is provision for, the mentoring of leaders doing new ministries.
4. We are responsible/accountable directly to the Presbyterian Leadership Commission for our work.
5. We will make regular reports to the Presbytery of the cascades, as requested, and will offer workshop or open space opportunities at each regular presbytery meeting.