Everyone keeps asking, "What is it?" So here's a start:
The Mission of Spirit of the Heartland is:
* to "listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches"(Rev. 2)
* to increase the ministry of "all the baptized".
* to bring together the members of the "body of Christ" in central MN.
Total Ministry is:
--the ministry of all the baptized
--the formation& training of teams of ordained or commissioned ministers
--shared team ministry between congregations
Who is it?
--"All the baptized": Everyone is a minister and has a way to help with God's work. That's why we call it "total" ministry instead
of using other names like "team" or "mutual."
Examples: chalice bearer, coffee maker, lector, altar guild, bulletin folder
--"teams": Some ministers make a special commitment and receive training and preparation and are commissioned or ordained
for specific kinds of ministry in our congregations. Seminary-trained clergy and diocesan-trained deacons may also serve as
part of teams.
Examples: preachers, liturgists, administrators, hospital visitors, sacramentalists..
--"shared team ministry": Each congregation maintains it's own identity, but team ministers from all congregations will serve in
other churches as well as their own.
What the congregation does:
1-- Lent: Congregational Mission Discernment. Identify the corporate ministry/mission of Individual Parishes. Review Mission
Statements and outline specific goals & actions. What do we do that makes us a church?
2--Easter to Pentecost: Ministry Needs Discernment. Identify the tasks/ministries that need to be done to carry out our
mission. What kinds of ministers do we need in our parish and for total ministry to work?
3--Summer: Discernment of Ministers. Identify individual potential team members to match our ministry needs. Who in our
congregation can best fill these ministerial roles? Prayerful reflection by all.
4--Fall beginning: Team formation. Support the team members with your own ongoing ministry and with prayer.
5--Discernment is ongoing as our congregations and ministers change and grow.
More questions? Visit our FAQs page for "Frequently Asked Questions."
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