In 2022, members of Bethany were encouraged to join small group discussions after reading the book “Sailboat Church: Helping Your Church Rethink its Mission and Practice” by former Presbyterian Church Moderator Joan S. Gray.
Books were provided to Bethany members, with phone outreach to encourage people to participate.
Today—two years later—as Bethany seeks to discern and anticipate its future in light of declining membership numbers, it seems timely to review some of the conclusions arrived at by the small groups. Here, for you to read and reflect upon, are those statements:
Seek God's plan for the church.
Pray without ceasing.
Compromise to plan worship format.
Discern what the issues are.
Leaders and all members are equal in commitment to faith.
Acknowledge gifts people have and allow each to participate in planning the future.
Love your neighbor, as Christ loves you.
Eliminate the need to control.
Let go of past hurts.
Love those you deem unlovable as God enables us to.
Put your weaknesses in God’s hands.
Spiritual growth occurs as we put ourselves in God’s hands.
HIS power dwells within us.
GOD leads we are to follow.
Many thanks to elder Barbara Greene, who is a member of the Presbytery Administrative Commission working alongside Bethany, for sharing these important notes from the 2022 discussions with us!
