Presbyterian Mission Agency good futures accelerator Archives

‘Nobody gets through an endeavor like this without focusing on what God is calling a congregation to do for the sake of their neighbors’

Posted November 27th, 2024

The Rev. Mark Elsdon, an author and co-founder of Rooted Good, which has partnered with the PC(USA) on its Good Futures Accelerator Course, joined Dr. Corey Schlosser-Hall, the PC(USA)’s Deputy Executive for Vision and Innovation, for a recent edition of “A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast” hosted by Dr. Andrew Peterson and Simon Doong. Listen to their 52-minute conversation on reimagining church property here.

From stand-alone churches to mixed economy ministries

Posted October 4th, 2024

“What does it feel like to be stuck?” asked the Rev. Sara Hayden, host of the “New Way” podcast, a production of the 1001 New Worshiping Communities (1001 NWC) movement. Her guest, Dr. Corey Schlosser-Hall, deputy executive director for Vision and Innovation at the Presbyterian Mission Agency, gave both a theological answer and a personal anecdote. According to Schlosser-Hall, to be stuck is to be without confidence and faith, i.e., lacking in “con-fidelis.” Feeling stuck reminded him of driving a brown Ford Pinto station wagon in high school and having to navigate the North Dakota winters with only rear-wheel drive. Sometimes, one needs more to get unstuck and stop spinning one’s wheels than to exert more effort doing the same thing. Sometimes, one needs a group of people pushing from behind or sand to help with traction under one’s tires.

‘Dream big because God is big’

Posted August 21st, 2024

If anything can succeed in generating a solid crowd at 6:45 a.m. during the already rigorous demands of a General Assembly, it’s the promise that God is doing a new thing. And, just maybe, a speaker like the Rev. Mark Elsdon.

PC(USA) churches connect with community partners to be a blessing beyond themselves

Posted July 25th, 2024

Picking up on his Wednesday theme of faith communities and mid councils “seeing beyond the standalone model of being church,” on Thursday Dr. Corey Schlosser-Hall told the 540 or so people attending Synod School he’s talked to several attendees about how they’re “creatively using God’s resources to be a blessing beyond themselves.”