Nazarene Compassionate Nazarene Compassionate MinistriesMinistries

Southwest Region SummitSouthwest Region SummitA Vision for Compassionate A Vision for Compassionate

MinistriesMinistries

Presented By: Althea C. TaylorPresented By: Althea C. TaylorNovember 18, 2008November 18, 2008

Point Loma Nazarene UniversityPoint Loma Nazarene UniversitySan Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California

A Year of ObservationsA Year of Observations

• Two Distinct organizationsTwo Distinct organizations– Institutional Church of the NazareneInstitutional Church of the Nazarene– Institutional Compassionate Ministries Institutional Compassionate Ministries

CenterCenter

• Three Scenarios PresentThree Scenarios Present– Places where relationships are strainedPlaces where relationships are strained– Places where relationships are unifiedPlaces where relationships are unified– Places where relationships are Places where relationships are

indifferentindifferent

Shared ThemesShared Themes

ChurchChurch• ResurrectionResurrection

– Life, Death, Burial, Life, Death, Burial, ResurrectionResurrection

• Class StruggleClass Struggle– Haves & Have-NotsHaves & Have-Nots– Financial (Have)Financial (Have)

• Social JusticeSocial Justice– Politics of JesusPolitics of Jesus– Called to Speak to Called to Speak to

SJ issuesSJ issues

CMCCMC• ResurrectionResurrection

– Tangible expression Tangible expression of the significance of the significance Christ’s life on the Christ’s life on the issues of humanityissues of humanity

• Class StruggleClass Struggle– Caring for those Caring for those

marginalized by marginalized by societysociety

– Financial (Have-Not)Financial (Have-Not)

• Social JusticeSocial Justice– In some instances, we In some instances, we

are falling short. are falling short. (Relief vs. Liberation)(Relief vs. Liberation)

Our HistoryOur History

• The Church of the Nazarene has compassionate The Church of the Nazarene has compassionate ministries as an integral part of its DNA.ministries as an integral part of its DNA.

• The Church of the Nazarene was birthed The Church of the Nazarene was birthed through tangible expressions propelled by the through tangible expressions propelled by the themes of resurrection, class struggle, and themes of resurrection, class struggle, and social justicesocial justice

• As time progressed CMC’s were born to address As time progressed CMC’s were born to address a shift that was occurring as some wanted to a shift that was occurring as some wanted to distance themselves from social services. distance themselves from social services.

A Theology of A Theology of CompassionCompassion

• Compassion an essential element of Compassion an essential element of ChristlikenessChristlikeness

• Signs of the Kingdom Signs of the Kingdom (Matthew 9:35-37)(Matthew 9:35-37)

• The “Church”** - God’s Strategy for The “Church”** - God’s Strategy for transforming the worldtransforming the world

**I am defining the church as “the people of God” wherever **I am defining the church as “the people of God” wherever they are called to servethey are called to serve

Signs of the KingdomSigns of the KingdomJesus’ ExampleJesus’ Example

• The Blind Man The Blind Man – Matthew 20:30-34, Mark 10:46-52 Matthew 20:30-34, Mark 10:46-52

• Woman at the wellWoman at the well– John 4:10John 4:10

• Healing of the Crippled ManHealing of the Crippled Man– John 5:1-16John 5:1-16

• Woman with issue of bloodWoman with issue of blood– Matthew 5:25-29Matthew 5:25-29

The VisionThe Vision• We [Church of the Nazarene & CMC’s] are flip We [Church of the Nazarene & CMC’s] are flip

sides of the same coinsides of the same coin

• The “Church” is God’s strategy for The “Church” is God’s strategy for transforming the worldtransforming the world

• CMC’s are separate legal entities but they are CMC’s are separate legal entities but they are an extension of the strategy utilized to bring an extension of the strategy utilized to bring about transformation in our communities.about transformation in our communities.

• To encourage and experience an environment To encourage and experience an environment of collaboration as we establish the “Kingdom” of collaboration as we establish the “Kingdom” on earth as it is in heaven. {tangible signs of on earth as it is in heaven. {tangible signs of the Kingdom}the Kingdom}

The ChallengeThe Challenge

• Articulate a strategy for strengthening our Articulate a strategy for strengthening our compassionate ministry centerscompassionate ministry centers

• Articulate a strategy for encouraging and Articulate a strategy for encouraging and building strong collaborations between the building strong collaborations between the “Church” and CMC’s.“Church” and CMC’s.– Possible BarriersPossible Barriers

• Administration – Theology of CompassionAdministration – Theology of Compassion• Apathy from some of our churches, CMC’s, districtsApathy from some of our churches, CMC’s, districts

• Articulate a strategy for every local Articulate a strategy for every local congregation to be engaged in congregation to be engaged in compassionate ministries.compassionate ministries.

OpportunitiesOpportunities

• To develop a resource guide for To develop a resource guide for District Superintendents, CMC’s, District Superintendents, CMC’s, and Churches to provide guidance and Churches to provide guidance with maintaining healthy with maintaining healthy relationships as organizations grow relationships as organizations grow and continue to meet the needs of and continue to meet the needs of their communities through acts of their communities through acts of compassion and as advocates for compassion and as advocates for social justice. social justice.

• Social Justice (what will this look like) on Social Justice (what will this look like) on the SW Regionthe SW Region– Righting wrongs (simple definition)Righting wrongs (simple definition)– Analyzed from multiple levelsAnalyzed from multiple levels

• Having (creating) intentional opportunities for political Having (creating) intentional opportunities for political and social justice conversationsand social justice conversations

– Understanding: social justice is an imperative for Understanding: social justice is an imperative for the church.the church.• Cannot be afraid to take a stance on controversial Cannot be afraid to take a stance on controversial

issuesissues• Silence is not a viable optionSilence is not a viable option• Picking and choosing cannot be the way forwardPicking and choosing cannot be the way forward

– What does (social justice) mean in my local What does (social justice) mean in my local contextcontext

– Tell the storyTell the story– Extending GraceExtending Grace– Honoring justiceHonoring justice

– Local, district, and regional coordinators for Local, district, and regional coordinators for communicating the story of compassion on our communicating the story of compassion on our district.district.

• District coordinator involved at district advisory level District coordinator involved at district advisory level meetings (occasionally)meetings (occasionally)

• Intentional conversation opportunities for raising Intentional conversation opportunities for raising awareness of compassionate ministriesawareness of compassionate ministries

• Move the poor to the front of the church (of our Move the poor to the front of the church (of our theology)theology)

– Requirements for Licensing and ordination Requirements for Licensing and ordination process: How are you engaged in process: How are you engaged in compassionate ministries?compassionate ministries?

Assimilating & Engaging the Church (local & Assimilating & Engaging the Church (local & district), Compassionate Ministries, and district), Compassionate Ministries, and University (PLNU) for Effective Ministry to our University (PLNU) for Effective Ministry to our CommunitiesCommunities

– District Summit: convening opportunities for District Summit: convening opportunities for dialogue across the regiondialogue across the region

– Recognition of organizations working Recognition of organizations working collaboratively in compassionate ministries collaboratively in compassionate ministries (matching resources)(matching resources)

– Training, Transition, Troubleshoot (possibility Training, Transition, Troubleshoot (possibility for University involvement)for University involvement)• Creating a team for conflict resolutionCreating a team for conflict resolution• Coaching Team (for new pastor/new ministry site)Coaching Team (for new pastor/new ministry site)• Training for start up ministriesTraining for start up ministries

Assimilating & Engaging the Church (local & Assimilating & Engaging the Church (local & district), Compassionate Ministries, and district), Compassionate Ministries, and University (PLNU) for Effective Ministry to our University (PLNU) for Effective Ministry to our Communities (cont’d).Communities (cont’d).

– Shift in strategy for identifying and procuring fundingShift in strategy for identifying and procuring funding

– Reevaluate how we are supporting our ministriesReevaluate how we are supporting our ministries

– Ministry should dictate the size of the churchMinistry should dictate the size of the church• Form income generating ministries (doing business Form income generating ministries (doing business

differently)differently)• Identify human resources from within your church who are Identify human resources from within your church who are

trained in finances, entrepreneur, directing the ministry.trained in finances, entrepreneur, directing the ministry.• We cannot depend solely on the church to build, develop, We cannot depend solely on the church to build, develop,

fund and/or support ministries (not just money)fund and/or support ministries (not just money)• Promote stewardship regardless of resources even as we Promote stewardship regardless of resources even as we

find other ways to financially support our ministries.find other ways to financially support our ministries.

– Help CMC who are interested access fundingHelp CMC who are interested access funding

– Creative structures for sustainable ministriesCreative structures for sustainable ministries• ““tent-making”tent-making”• Volunteers Volunteers

Sustaining Ministry:Sustaining Ministry:Outside the Box Funding and other Outside the Box Funding and other Resources Resources

• (To be determined)(To be determined)

How Will We Leave Footprints for How Will We Leave Footprints for SuccessionSuccession