Purpose: “Centralizing our Triune God and serving our neighbor”

Guiding Values

1. Prayer: first, last, and throughout. Results won’t come from our strength or smarts, but from the powerful presence of Holy Spirit through prayer

2. Priority on the Gospel of Grace and Truth: not succumbing to the fundamentalisms of either side when focus is on grace only or truth only.

3. Participation: every member of the body enjoys fulfilling function and deep connection. We exist for each other on the Mission of God, not as an organization offering services for personal psychological health.

4. Partnership not pioneering: supporting the existing good in the community, not imposing our will on the community.

The Structure:

Gathered Worship

Corporate and Individual Prayer

Community Groups

2-3 Deep Community Partnerships

Leadership Equipping

Result

• If we live out these values then we will become a church who is characterized by a powerful modesty in our love for each other, our consistency in prayer, and in quietly benefiting our neighbors.

• A ‘re-launch’ or ‘re-plant’ means that we continue the original purpose for our church—a geographically-focused, missionally-oriented community of believers centered around Highland Park—and articulate a new direction (vision) and way of being (culture) for our life together.

Roll-out

Jan—April ‘24:

• Sermon Series on the values (3 on Truth & Grace, 3 on Prayer, 2 on Participation, 2 on Partnership leading up to re-launch)

• Community Group discussions of the values, 2x per month (based off sermons and Group Leader trainings)

• Community building church retreat March 8-10, Camp Vesper Point

• Sermon Series on Membership values (with the intent of inviting folks to join when we relaunch)

May ‘24: Re-launch

Fall ‘24–Winter ‘25: Leadership Training

Winter/Spring ‘25: officer nominations, training, and installation