Discipling Philosophy - Silverwood Mennonite Church

DISCIPLING COMMISSION

PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY STATEMENT

11/28/07

1. OVERVIEW

The Discipleship Commission helps the congregation grow as a missional congregation that functions as an alternative Kingdom community, enabling all members to serve as faithful disciples of Jesus, living out Kingdom behavior. The Commission works at educating for discipleship with an Anabaptist-Mennonite orientation.

2. THE CHURCH’S TASK OF MAKING DISCIPLES (from Congregational Discipling) a. “to call people to faith and baptize them in the name of the triune God.”

b. “to teach them to observe all things that Jesus commanded – to love God, self and neighbor – and come to mature faith.”

3. UNDERSTANDINGS OF DISCIPLESHIP

a. To engage in a faith pilgrimage of communion with God, obeying Jesus’ teaching, bringing the whole of life under Jesus’ Lordship, becoming more like Jesus, experiencing transformation and reconciliation in our own personal lives and interpersonal relationships. b. To tell and re-tell the story of God and God’s people. This would include the scope of the Bible, church history and our own stories, in dialogue with the Biblical story.

c. To follow Jesus daily in life, along with others who respond to Jesus’ call, and do what Jesus did in acting for justice, righteousness and in steadfast love, in calling others to also follow Jesus.

d. To exercise Spirit given gifts to serve and help build up the Body of Christ

4. CONGREGATIONAL PERSPECTIVES FOR DISCIPLING

a. The church as a corporate, missional body, called by God to mission and ministry.

c. Informed by the scriptures, church history and Anabaptist/Mennonite perspectives.

d. Empowered by the work of the Holy Spirit and daily life of prayer, dwelling in the scriptures and practicing other spiritual disciplines.

5. RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER ASPECTS OF CHURCH STRUCTURE

a. It is intended that the Discipleship Commission interact with each of the other Commissions and the Spiritual Gifts Discernment Committee to help the congregation articulate and stay faithful to its mission and vision.

b. We intend to help the congregation faithfully engage God in worship, each other in our community life and the world in our outreach, demonstrating our love for God and our neighbor as ourselves.

6. CONCEPTS FOR PROGRAMMING AND ACTION

a. The priority for discipling is believers, beginning with adults. Parents especially, and other adults as well, are the primary faith models for children and youth.

b. Discipling and learning take place in the context of relationships and the family/household relationships are of primary importance.

c. Lifelong learning – mindful of special needs at each stage of the life cycle.

d. Education opportunities for young and old should align with the congregation’s vision.

e. Increase integration of youth and adults in the congregation.

f. Include opportunities for intergenerational learning.

g. Include gift discernment in membership and membership renewal processes.

h. Take into consideration MC USA and its denominational emphases such as growing in holistic witness, anti-racism, leadership development and global connections.

7. SIGNIFICANT EMPHASES

a. The Kingdom of God – its essence, values, behaviors

b. Two Kingdom theology; discipleship vs. identification with nationalism and empire

c. Spirituality and Christian formation

d. Mission and evangelism

e. Peace and prophetic social justice; and relating with and advocating for the poor and marginalized

f. Global perspective – world wide Body of Christ; citizenship in heaven; aliens and strangers in this world

g. Multiracial and multicultural fluency

h. Stewardship – time, talents, health, relationships, money

i. Creation Care

8. SOURCES IN ADDITION TO THE BIBLE

a. Congregational Discipling. Mennonite Board of Congregational Ministries and Commission on Education. 1997.

b. Ventures in Discipleship. A Handbook for Groups and Individuals. John R. Martin. 1984.

c. On the Pilgrim’s Way. J. Nelson Kraybill. 1999.

d. Literature on Anabaptism.