Summer 2012 FOP/ECO gatherings
Required narrative process was difficult but a blessing
By Paula R. Kincaid, The Layman, August 29, 2012
One of the things that will be required of congregations joining either the Fellowship of Presbyterians (FOP) or ECO: A Covenant Order of Presbyterians will be the completion of an annual “Narrative on the Heath of Mission and Ministry.”
To help FOP and ECO churches prepare for that requirement, the Rev. Jerry Andrews, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in San Diego, Calif., led a breakout session at the recent 2012 Summer Gatherings of ECO/FOP on “Introducing the Narrative on the Health of Mission and Ministry for Sessions and Congregations.”
In the FOP and ECO, Andrews said, “Congregations are going to be held accountable for the health of its mission and ministry … An accountability to amend our ways and to build healthy congregations.”
He said that Presbyterian churches before the 1920s were required to answer questions inquiring into the state of religion in the congregation. There were questions on transformation, fruits of the spirit, worship and evidence of God; and the answers were reported to the denomination.
“My friends, you will have to report on that,” Andrews said. While the plans for doing this are not finalized yet, he said that for now, the plan is for three, four or even five churches — of their own choosing — to gather and report their findings to each other.
Following the exchange of information, there will be prayer – celebrating the grace of God in the life of the congregation and for even more grace in the next year, Andrews said.
During this gathering of churches, there would also be best-practice sharing between the congregations, he said, and eventually, change may be required of a congregation.
“You simply can’t report year after year that the congregation is stuck. At some point there has to be change. There has to be amendment,” Andrews said. “This is for the amendment of the soul of the congregation … If you are frightened by what I just said, you heard me correctly.”
The session of the congregation that Andrews serves, recently completed the process of answering 10 narrative questions and allowed him to share their answers. “We thought there was a benefit to us,” he said. “It was difficult, but a blessing.”
The questions – which may be changed in the future – include: [the session’s answers can be found here]
1. How has the Holy Spirit been evident in your congregation in the past year; through conversions, growth in the fruit of the Spirit, or other transformational experiences that make disciples of Jesus Christ? [“I can’t understand why that question isn’t asked to God’s churches all the time,” Andrews said.]
2. How has your congregation extended itself beyond its bounds through the establishment of new communities of worship and discipleship, expanding the Kingdom of God? [“This question was one of the more challenging to us,” he said.]
3. In what ways is your congregation seeking the welfare of the community to which you have been called; devoting itself to the poor, seeking justice, and living out the whole of the Great Commission?
4. How are you encouraging people to allow God’s Word to shape their priorities and actions, and to nurture constant learning and the life of the mind?
5. How are you helping children and others new to the Christian faith to discover Jesus and grow in their understanding and love of God’s Word?
6. Describe the moral expression in your congregation – are you more like the world or more like participants in the values of the Kingdom of God?
7. How is your congregation intentionally unleashing the ministries of women, men and people of different ethnic groups who are experiencing God’s call?
8. How is the idea of ministry as the joy and calling of every disciple evident in your congregation? How are you equipping people to represent Jesus more effectively in their respective professions?
9. Illustrate the commitment of your congregation to global evangelism and discipleship, including examples of where you are engaging and with whom you are partnering.
10. How does your congregation understand commitment to the larger church through our connectional relationships within the Body of Christ?
After reading the questions and the answers provided by the session of First-San Diego, Andrews asked, “Do you get us now? Do you know what to pray for? Can you offer best practices? … Would you say, ‘Really? That’s all the progress you have made?’”
Andrews said that First-San Diego is located in an area where there are many unsaved people who do not know the Gospel. “There is no reason you should ever let us off the hook.”
“This is what you will be required to do,” he said.
Related articles:
ECO discusses future of narrative reporting
Narrative on the Heath of Mission and Ministry of First Presbyterian Church of San Diego, July 2012