From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org
Presbyterians Promise to Make Evangelism a Priority
From
PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>
Date
21 Jun 1998 20:07:50
Reply-To: wfn-news list <wfn-news@wfn.org>
20-June-1998
GA98128
Presbyterians Promise to Make Evangelism a Priority
by Joanne Hines
CHARLOTTE, N.C.--Racial Ethnic/Immigrant Evangelism, New Church Development
and strategies for urban church growth were obvious priorities for the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) this year.
Commissioners voted to move forward with ministries to specific groups
of persons making sure that racial ethnic persons are involved in the
planning and implementation of ways to reach out to Hispanic, Native
American, Korean American and new immigrant groups.
It further urged that the General Assembly Council seek ways to fund the
support necessary to implement those commitments to meet the goal of a 10 %
racial/ethnic constituency by the year 2000 and a 20 % constituency by
2010.
Responses to referrals to continue to study evangelistic efforts in
small and rural churches, explore funding, develop and implement
advertising and media campaigns and strive for specific numerical goals
were also approved.
The Assembly concurred in the recommendation of the Evangelism Committee
to add commissioned lay pastors to those who would be able to organize new
churches and gave the presbytery commissions for a newly developing church
more leeway to assume the same duties afforded the session of an organized
church.
Commissioners approved the Racial Ethnic Church Growth Strategy Report
and directed ensuing Assemblies to implement and coordinate the strategies
and to annually report the results. Funding was, again, a primary
consideration. Commissioners directed the strategy team to recommend a
long range funding plan giving priority to racial ethnic church growth.
They approved an overture from the Synod of the Northeast encouraging risk
taking and radical innovation in all congregations.
The Urban Strategy Task Force Report (Part I and II) was also received
and commended for its intent. It will be printed with comment in the
Minutes of General Assembly.
Recommendations with financial implications were referred to the
Council on Theological Education (COTE) and the National Ministries
Division Urban Strategy Work Group along with consultation from
Presbyteries Cooperative Committee on Examination of Candidates.
Finally, Commissioners Resolution 98-22 challenging each congregation to
pray for the evangelization of the church and for each one to bring one
person to Christ this coming year was affirmed. This committee's report
concluded with prayer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This note sent by PCUSA NEWS
to the wfn-news list <wfn-news@wfn.org>.
Send unsubscribe requests to wfn-news-request@wfn.org
Browse month . . .
Browse month (sort by Source) . . .
Advanced Search & Browse . . .
WFN Home