rooted good

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

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

“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’

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

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.”