Shared ministry acknowledges that the work of the congregation involves each of us. It is the act of serving or attending to the wants and needs of each other, as well as our involvement in the larger community. As such, ministry is practiced by all of us, not just by our Ministers. All acts that support the mission of the congregation and congregational life, whether they are social, emotional, spiritual, educational, or physical, are forms of ministry. We minister to each other as we interact, volunteer, express ideas, share vision, teach our children, welcome guests, educate each other, offer support, and share feelings and needs.
We are all in relation with one another, and it is important to share a commitment to supporting and monitoring the health of these relationships — the total ministry of our church. To be in relationship means that we give and we take, we speak and we listen, we provide and we accept, we reconcile differences; we do not turn away. This shared ministry depends on being able to communicate with each other about things that we care about and finding ways to work together to manifest our mission and live into our faith.
Shared ministry acknowledges that the work of the congregation involves each of us. It is the act of serving or attending to the wants and needs of each other, as well as our involvement in the larger community. As such, ministry is practiced by all of us, not just by our Ministers. All acts that support the mission of the congregation and congregational life, whether they are social, emotional, spiritual, educational, or physical, are forms of ministry. We minister to each other as we interact, volunteer, express ideas, share vision, teach our children, welcome guests, educate each other, offer support, and share feelings and needs.