Rev. Denise Bender |
Rev. Nani Willis Arning |
From The Christian Century article by Eric Smith entitled "The New Circuit Riders" (2019)
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“Most pastors and churches have stories of struggling to adapt to shifting cultural, economic, and spiritual contexts. . .Sacred Stones [is] part of a paradigm shift in ministry. A lot of churches need to change their structure of ministry or close their doors.
“We help them thrive,” said Bender. Small churches have many of the same needs as large churches—needs that deacons are ordained to serve. Sunday school classes need curriculum; youth groups need opportunities for mission and reflection; worship services require liturgies; lay leaders need training and encouragement. But few small congregations can afford to pay an ordained person to do that work, and certainly not to do it full time. 'We can come into a church and help them assess what their needs might be,' Bender said. 'We work with the pastors and the churches to help them vision in a way they haven’t thought of before.' |