Rev. Denise Ditzler Bender |
Rev. Nani Willis Arning |
We are a non-profit ministry consulting group of United Methodist deacons that equips individuals and faith communities to connect more deeply with God, with each other, and with the world. We do this through consulting on teaching, and developing resources for faith development, mission planning and implementation, communication in local churches, and mobilizing congregations for nurture, outreach, and witness.
We work both ecumenically and in partnership with judicatory offices, denominational boards and agencies, and non-denominational and community-based organizations. We support church leaders through long-term, staff contracts; short-term consultation; workshops, classes, retreats, mission trips, and the creation of new materials for faith formation.
Consultants receive compensation through contract fees, grants, and revenue from materials sold online. The cost of doing business, including liability insurance, advertising, and other overhead, is covered through consultant, colleague, and board member contributions to the company Financial gifts go to the general budget unless specifically designated elsewhere. We maintain a small scholarship fund.
We work both ecumenically and in partnership with judicatory offices, denominational boards and agencies, and non-denominational and community-based organizations. We support church leaders through long-term, staff contracts; short-term consultation; workshops, classes, retreats, mission trips, and the creation of new materials for faith formation.
Consultants receive compensation through contract fees, grants, and revenue from materials sold online. The cost of doing business, including liability insurance, advertising, and other overhead, is covered through consultant, colleague, and board member contributions to the company Financial gifts go to the general budget unless specifically designated elsewhere. We maintain a small scholarship fund.
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.' |