Recently a group of leaders from different churches involved in TrueCity got together to consider what God has been doing in our midst and to let that fire our imaginations as we envision where God wants to lead us.
We structured our day around our current description of TrueCity– Churches Together for the Good of the City
We recognized that there are three horizons to this statement–
1. Churches–the challenge of local congregations growing towards missional vitality
2. Together–the challenge of local congregations living the reality of our unity in tangible ways
3. for the good of the city–the challenge of discerning and living out the reality of God’s good for our city
Here is some of what flowed from that day–
*/Horizon 1—Churches/*
We envision whole congregations which are increasingly identifying and engaging with their neighbourhoods. These congregations will not only be incredibly open and welcoming to everyone in their neighbourhood, they will also be involved in most aspects of the life of the neighbourhood. They will serve others sacrificially and generously, but will also humbly allow themselves to be served and to be shaped by the experiences and insights of others. They will be firmly grounded in and formed by the story of God’s redemptive and loving involvement in the world as they cultivate community around practices of Word and Sacrament. Emphasizing presence over program, they will be local embodiments of God’s reign and mission in this city.
*/Horizon 2—Together/*
Congregations throughout the city will understand themselves to be integrally and essentially connected with each other as part of the one mission of God. They will celebrate each other and will share everything for the sake of God’s loving intentions here: people, money, buildings, ideas, resources, leaders, church planting efforts, etc. They will assist each other in training leaders and forming missional followers of Christ. Congregants and leaders will work closely together with those from other congregations in missional efforts throughout the city. Our unity will be a profound witness to the transformational power of the Gospel here and around the world.
*/Horizon 3— for the good of the city/*
Vital churches will spread across the city so that each neighbourhood will have at least one TC congregation. Each of those congregations will contribute to the well-being of its neighbourhood schools, so that the schools prepare children for lifelong learning, work, and community. These churches would work long-term with children and teens with the result that fewer people would resort to criminal, self-destructive behaviour, and that poverty would become scarce. The congregations will embrace immigrants and refugees, so that they find meaningful employment, and a warm welcome from the congregation, to the end that the city is known for its multi-cultural embrace. Church members will be catalysts for neighbourhood associations and for associations that will secure affordable housing for immigrants, refugees and the poor, and transformational housing for those on the street. TC congregations will contribute tangibly to stable, expanding employment becoming the pattern of the region as industry leaders, who are formed by the Gospel in communities of Christ followers, provide meaningful employment, just wages, and quality consumer products, all contributing to a sustainable, healthy and beautiful environment (both natural and constructed). City, regional, and provincial governments will look to Hamilton as a model for quick-response to crisis need, for long-term commitments to neighbourhoods and people, and for community connections, and will recognize the significant contribution that Christ-centered churches have made. The Gospel of Jesus Christ will thereby be connected in the minds of the city as TC churches, through both their programs and the mission-shaped vocations of their congregants, contribute to the public good of Hamilton in educational, economic, political, cultural, and spiritual spheres.
We would welcome hearing your dreams of what it would look like if a movement of churches served together for the good of our city. Feel free to share them either by leaving comments our e-mailing us at admin@truecity.ca
1 response so far ↓
Heather Laurel Peters // October 30, 2008 at 5:07 am |
My roommate and I were laughing with joy at the vision posted. Why does it make us laugh to imagine Christians living out their lives saturated with Christ as a BODY and impacting the world in this way? This is beautiful. Thank-you for posting your vision, the utopia of Christ indwelling each member of the body for the love and healing of our communities. May His kingdom truly come and spread in Hamilton!