To be missional is to take part in God’s mission in the world God loves. The God who created the world in love also redeems in reconciling love the world which has revolted against its God. The Church – the Body of Christ – is invited to take part in God’s reconciling world through Jesus Christ in partnership with all of God’s people – those who are already part of the Church and those who are not yet part of the Church.
As Presbyterians we believe that partnership is not just the way we engage in ministry with others – it is our way of being faithful disciples of Jesus Christ whose oneness with the Father and the Holy Spirit is the model for our oneness in his Body. The Presbytery of Philadelphia endeavors to live out this life of partnership by sharing together in the joys and commitment of being Christ’s Body in our region, by recognizing one another’s gifts, by offering our resources, and by partnering with other parts of Christ’s Church and with other people of good will.
We recognize that, as Reformed Christians, we bring a special blessing to the common life of our region, but we also rejoice in the gifts of others. We recognize that we have been extraordinarily generous to others, but that our ministry to them has often felt patronizing. As a denomination we have resolved to be partners – with God and with God’s people – in all that we do.
The Congregational Outreach and Mission Partnership Team stands ready to help any congregation explore what it means to “do mission in partnership.”
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