The vision of the New Worshipping Community Working Group (NWCWG) is to find people who feel called to create transformational, risk-taking, outside-the-box forms of ministry, lead by the wild winds of the Holy Spirit.
Why Start a New Worshipping Community?
The Presbytery of Utah is called to love God and our neighbors, and dedicated to fostering communities of faith that actively demonstrate God’s love, justice, and mercy toward “the least of these” (Matthew 25:45). We are similarly compelled by Jesus’ Great Commission to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you,” believing that he will indeed be with us always, as he promised (Matthew 28:19-20).
This formative process comes with an invitation to not only honor the ministries of our existing churches, but also to embrace the new and creative ways that faith leaders/communities are reaching out to others in our particular socio-religious context. We believe that New Worshiping Communities have the potential to offer creative, compassionate, and grace-filled alternative expressions of worship to those who are unfamiliar with the gospel of Christ or have felt hurt or disenfranchised by existing religious institutions.
To that end, we in the Presbytery of Utah commit to investing in the creative, risky, and joyful work of partnering with God to nurture New Worshiping Communities into being. This means we’re dedicating human and financial resources in support of emerging faith communities and their leaders. We are eager to find collaborators in both existing congregations and unexpected places throughout our state who will help us invite others into relationship with one another and with Jesus Christ.
In doing this work in prayerful collaboration and partnership with the Holy Spirit and our existing congregations, we hope that the process of nurturing New Worshipping Communities will fan the missional flame and breathe new life into all involved, to the glory of God.
What is a New Worshipping Community?
We understand “New Worshiping Community” as:
New
New
Taking on varied forms of church for our changing culture
Living out the gospel demands ministry that engages today’s cultures (John 1:14). New ways of joining Christians together for contextual ministry will use current and historic ways of “being church” as springboards for creative innovation (Matt. 9:17).
Seeking to make and form new disciples of Jesus Christ
NWCs witness in word and deed (1 John 3:18), continuing Jesus’ own mission of discipling, feeding, teaching, healing, welcoming, crossing boundaries and proclaiming God’s coming realm. Those with new and renewed faith join the Spirit’s transforming work in the world.
Worshipping
Worshipping
Gathered by the Spirit to meet Jesus Christ in Word and Sacrament
We seek to hear, come to believe, and are equipped to live the promises of God revealed in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. NWCs welcome new members of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27) through baptism and are nourished by Christ’s spiritual presence in the Lord’s Supper.
Sent by the Spirit to join God’s mission for the transformation of the world
The Spirit impels us outward, so that worshipers participate in the redemption of the world in Christ (Col. 1:20). Therefore, the primary beneficiaries of the NWC are not its own members, but rather its community and world.
Community
Community
Practicing mutual care and accountability
We commit ourselves to love one another (John 13:34) in relationships of mutual care and accountability, as faithful disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Entrusting ourselves and the church to the Holy Spirit, we seek to grow to maturity in faith and life.
Developing sustainability in leadership and finances
As distinct yet connected expressions of the body of Christ, NWCs have local leadership arising from their own community of faith (Exod. 18:21). Pastoral leadership, facilities and programs are all appropriately structured to demonstrate good and faithful stewardship.
Get Involved
1001 NWCWG meets on the 3rd Wednesday of every month.
If you feel the wild winds leading you to new paths of ministry, please contact the NWCWG at
Resources
Starting New Worshipping Communities Discernment Guide
PbyUtah 1001 NWC Process Guide