An Effective Approach to Cooperative Parishes

Know about the book -

An Effective Approach to Cooperative Parishes is written by Kay Kotan and published by . It's available with International Standard Book Number or ISBN identification 1950899659 (ISBN 10) and 9781950899654 (ISBN 13).

The earliest structure of Methodism in American history was communal and creative. The isolated frontier churches shared clergy and operated in cooperatives in which teams of itinerant circuit elders (usually a trainee and a slightly older mentor) would traverse the countryside on horseback preaching, visiting the sick, and holding the many classes and bands to task in their Christian discipleship.The cooperative parish concept has been knocked around in our Book of Discipline and our annual conference staff organizational charts for decades. And yet, either out of fear, distrust, or selfishness, few congregations have seen fit to actually live into the possibilities of sharing ministry intentionally. Sure, churches may begrudgingly share a pastor when a district superintendent comes in for consultation and asks nicely. But the powerful impact of intentional regional ministry represented in the cooperative parish model is so much more than just operating as a charge for the clergy appointment-making purposes.In this book, Kay Kotan and Jason Stanley offer a roadmap for discernment and implementation for congregations to cooperate strategically and creatively to make a bigger Kingdom impact. You will be challenged, directed, and coached by the pages of this book. But all this work begins and finds momentum in the willingness of disciples to serve Christ together in community.What Readers are Saying about An Effective Approach to Cooperative ParishesThis welcome new resource is a godsend for congregations who hunger to collaborate and cooperate forward for maximizing God's Kingdom work together, and who desire wise, experienced-based step by step guidance. Highly recommend!Rev. Sue Nilson KibbeyDirector, Bishop Bruce Ough Innovation CenterUnited Theological Seminary, Dayton, OhioA helpful guide full of useful information for churches who wish to further live into God's preferred as cooperative parishes. Kay and Jason have produced a must-read leadership discussion resource for churches exploring parish merger. Read this book and learn from two helpful guides!