The Three-Legged Stool -Leg Three: Missional Formation

The image of a three-legged stool is often offered as a metaphor for healthy, well-balanced Christian formation. As I discussed the last two weeks, our August 15, combined presbyteries meeting at Mission del Sol in Tempe, will be supported bythe three legs of spiritual formation, congregational formation and missional formation. Having discussed spiritual and congregational formation, today I would like to describe the workshops offered for missional formation. In a sense, we are describing a kind of trinity of foundational relationships: Communion with God (spiritual), Community with one another (congregational), and Compassion for the world (missional).

There are seven workshops offered in the area of missional formation, a combination of “big picture” perspective seminars and “local” descriptions of how sister churches are involved in the world for the sake of Jesus.

• Missional Ministry: Nuts and Bolts - Ken Page will look at ways to build bridges of blessing into our communities. What needs to happen to build mission that is relational and not just “Big Brother/Sister” offering a helping hand?
• Understanding The Changing Shape of Community - EneyasFrietas will describe the amazing transformation occurring at Urban Connect (Historic First) and new lenses through which one can see community; it’s not always what we think it is.
• Media: How an Image Based Culture is Reshaping How We Do Church - Jim Toole will describe the earth shattering concept that how we communicate dictates how we can think, or at least how we actually will think and what that means for churches trying to reach the world!
• Mission Partnership: Our Native Congregations - Martha Sadongei, Judy Wellington and Custer Lowe will discuss ways to be in partnership with our native congregations. How can a congregation do mission together with Native congregations in ways that help and serve?
• Sanctuary Movement - Alison Harrington and Eric Lederman will discuss the why’s and how’s of the sanctuary movement and its transformative impact on their congregations.
• Agua Fria Food Bank - Members of the Presbyterian founded food bank in the west valley will talk about food scarcity and how congregations can be involved in serving the least of Jesus’ brothers and sisters.
• Florence Project - Members of Grand Canyon’s Peace and Justice Network will discuss the plight of prisoners, especially immigrants in detention centers, and how we can fulfill our call to visit those in prison.

To register for the August meeting and to reserve your place in one of the workshops, click here.

For a complete list of workshops click here

Grace and peace,

Brad Munroe