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      BENEFITS  OF  JOINING  A                        6261  MINISTRY COMMUNITY

  • 6261 Ministry Communities promote vitality for all 6 of its congregations by providing:

    • A collective pool of resources to support full-time pastors and deacons, in a time of clergy shortage and in a way that supports clergy health, as well as additional staff such as musicians, Christian education, administration, and more.
    • A training structure for lay ministers and interns, allowing for a natural flow of trained leadership – some of whom may discern a call to public, rostered ministry.
    • A means for staff and members to practice teamwork in a familiar network as they will have to rely on one another to fully support and sustain ministry.
    • Built-in support for re-identifying values, mission, and community in the wake of Covid-19 and an ever-changing landscape.
    • A deeper and broader training and accountability structure for councils, officers, committees, staff, rostered ministers, and lay ministers.
    • Greater oversight to guard against financial malfeasance.
    • Insight into the Church universal as congregations partner together for the sake of the Gospel, reaching beyond their individual doors and into the broader community.
    • Increased opportunities for worship, Bible study, small groups, service, fellowship, and other faith practices.

WHERE

6261 Ministry Communities can happen anywhere!  Ideally, 6261 Ministry Communities will be comprised of 6 congregations who are within 15-25 minutes of one another.  This geographic versatility gives the 6261 Ministry Community the opportunity to be deeply interconnected and to engage in ministry within the same surrounding community, demographically.

WHO

Lay ministers, deacons, and pastors will be the staff of 6261 Ministry Communities, supported by coaches.   All 3 types of leaders are essential.

6 CONGREGATIONS

6261s can happen in rural areas as well as urban or suburban contexts.  6261s can be large or small congregations, those currently with full-time staff as well as those in a pastoral vacancy or who typically have only part-time staff.  6261s can also happen with Ecumenical partners as well as ELCA and Ecumenical partners across Synods.  6261s do not need to consist of only 6 ELCA congregations.

MINISTRY FOCUS

The benefit of a 6261 is that its interwoven nature allows for a variety of congregations to partner together for shared ministry.  This ministry may have a singular focus that unites the 6 congregations.  Or the 6261 may have several different yet complementary ministry foci across the 6 congregations that are mutually supported by the 6261 Ministry Community.

WHY

There are so many benefits to partnered ministry!  And we believe that God calls us to share our resources with one another and the community for the proclamation of the Good News and for service in our communities.  The ELCA and our NEPA Synod Constitution uplift shared ministry as a part of vitality.

Lay Ministers

Lay ministers vary in their theological backgrounds and training, gifts and passions for ministry, and their availability for service. 

Lay ministers become licensed to serve in a 6261 Ministry Community after completing the synod-authorized discernment, training, certification, and deployment process, including the 2-year LLM (Licensed Lay Ministry) Program. 

Lay Ministers are licensed by the Bishop to perform certain duties within specific congregations or 6261 Ministry Communities. These duties may include:

  • Praying for the 6261 Ministry Community, its congregations, its surrounding community, and its ministries
  • Leading Worship services, including preaching
  • Leading Bible studies
  • Leading and coordinating small groups
  • Visiting those in the hospital, the homebound, and others who request a visit
  • Potential for licensed Sacramental authorization in special circumstances 

Deacons

Deacons are ordained to the roster of “Word and Service.” 

As such, deacons share the Word through preaching and teaching.  Deacons are uniquely called to the ministry of service, connecting the Church to the world and reminding all believers of our call to loving service of our neighbors.

Deacons are rostered ministers called by the Synod to a 6261 Ministry Community.  They have completed a seminary-level theological degree with equivalent training and candidacy rostering requirements.

Deacons of 6261 Ministry Communities will be specifically responsible for:

  • Praying for the 6261 Ministry Community, its congregations, its surrounding community, and its ministries
  • Building relationships across the 6261 Ministry Community
  • Equipping the 6261 Ministry Community for service embedded within the community
  • Using their distinct and diverse ministry gifts, as well as their prophetic voice, for encouraging and integrating the primary ministry project of the 6261 Ministry Community
  • With their 2 pastor colleagues, mentoring and supervising the 6 Licensed Lay Ministers in their contexts
  • Leading worship, preaching, and setting the table for Holy Communion
  • Coordinating with ministry teams and raising up leaders for faith in action
  • Other ministries as determined by the 6261 Ministry Community such as leading Bible studies, small groups, visitation, teaching Confirmation, administration, etc.

Pastors

Pastors are ordained to the roster of “Word and Sacrament.” 

As such, pastors are best known for preaching and teaching of the Word, along with presiding at the table for the sharing of the Sacrament of the Altar (Holy Communion).  Pastors also perform the Sacrament of Baptism as well as other worship rites such as Confirmation/Affirmation of Baptism, Weddings, and Funerals.

Pastors are rostered ministers called by the Synod to a 6261 Ministry Community.  They have completed a seminary-level theological degree with equivalent training and candidacy rostering requirements.

Pastors of 6261 Ministry Communities will be specifically responsible for:

  • Praying for the 6261 Ministry Community, its congregations, its surrounding community, and its ministries
  • Building relationships across the 6261 Ministry Community
  • Leading worship, preaching, and providing Holy Communion
  • Performing baptisms, weddings, and funerals
  • Coordinating ministry teams and staff to plan worship services – including music, prayers, service setting, liturgical elements, creative opportunities, etc.
  • Visiting those in the hospital, the homebound, and others who request pastoral care
  • With their deacon colleague, mentoring and supervising the 6 Licensed Lay Ministers in their contexts

Characteristics

Congregations are also encouraged to consider the following characteristics that each congregation of a 6261 Ministry Community should embody:

Characteristics

  • Openness to sharing a common life of ministry and mission - inside and outside their walls - to be transformed by the neighbor and each other
  • Willingness to share pastors, deacons, lay ministers, and administrative staff
  • Call and capacity to lift up local leaders to serve as lay ministers
  • Geographic proximity, ideally within 15-25 minutes of the other 5 congregations in its 6261 Ministry Community
  • Focus on our common synodical goals of: Growing Young, Gaining Strength, and Going Beyond Death to Life
  • Approval by its congregational council and written commitment to participate in the 6261 Ministry Community as well as appointing 2 members to serve on the 6261 Joint Council
  • Willingness to actively participate in Congregational Learning Opportunities
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Expectations

The NEPA Synod expects the following of congregations in 6261 Ministry Communities:

Expectations

  • Prays for the 6261 Ministry Community – the shared ministry, the staff, the 6 congregations and their members, and all who encounter it.
  • Supports its staff (pastors, deacon, and lay ministers) with grace and flexibility.
  • Encourages, prays for, and supports the lay ministers within the congregation and the 6261 Ministry Community, accompanying them on their journey and training through the LLM program.
  • Remains open to trying new things, new types of ministry, and incorporating technology where and as needed.
  • Commits to meeting neighbors of the community and forming relationships, based in the knowledge that all people are created in God’s image. Completes a demographic study/review when desired and beneficial.
  • Works with staff to ensure vital, authentic, creative worship that nourishes souls and empowers worshippers to live out their faith in their every day lives in the community. Openness to a variety of worship materials and worshipping in languages other than English.
  • Appoints 2 members of the congregation to serve on the 6261 Ministry Community Joint Council. Supports these 2 members in prayer, relationship, and participation.
  • Actively participates in the biannual Congregational Learning Opportunities. Ensures the 2 Joint Council members are able to attend the annual 6261 Ministry Community Joint Council retreat.  Promotes, advertises, and works with Synod staff to host and participate in “God’s Work Our Hands” Sunday service sharing day. 
  • Financially supports and budgets ongoing support of 2 pastors and 1 deacon, including benefits, housing, and cost of living adjustments. Financially supports lay ministers with scholarships and mileage reimbursement for the LLM program as well as budgets appropriate compensation of lay leaders for Sunday worship leadership.
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Ready to Get Started?

Grab your Vision Team, Congregational Council, or other Leadership Team and start thinking through this Narrative Inventory Form.

This Form helps the congregation think through its gifts, hopes, expectations, current partnerships, and potential for shared ministries that it could not do alone.

Narrative Inventory Form
Narrative Inventory Form QR code
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