Should our church explore New Beginnings?
Your congregation is exploring making an important decision – whether to embark on a bold and exciting journey towards new possibilities for ministry. The New Beginnings program is a yearlong transformational process of spiritual discernment. Your congregation will gain a better understanding of its context, clarify its purpose or mission, explore future options for ministry, and make a faithful and informed decision about the future direction to which God is leading you.
The first step is to determine if your congregation is a right fit for the New Beginnings program. New Beginnings is designed for congregations at a crossroads; it is most helpful for churches who have a sense that they cannot continue as they are and have the energy to potentially start a new journey. Please note that New Beginnings is not helpful for congregations who are in the midst of conflict, either with the minister or within members of the session or congregation.
The questions below will help determine if your congregation is well positioned to begin and complete the yearlong process. Please submit the completed questionnaire to Jennifer Astop no later than March 15th (if you intend to apply for the New Beginnings grant with a deadline of April 15th). If funds remain in the fall and you intend to apply for a grant by the October 15th deadline, please submit the completed questionnaire by September 15th.