Family Ministries  | |
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Family Ministries classes to be offered at the
Congregational LIFE Workshop
Feed My Lambs—Jeri Lauren Lambert
This training is an excellent step toward preparing yourself for ministry
with new and expecting parents and working for answers to questions of
faith formation: What are the ideals surrounding Christian parenting?
How might parents and caregivers be supported in this most important work
of helping children come to understand themselves as beloved children of
God? FOCCUS Inventory Training—Patti Page
This class will provide an in-depth orientation to an effective marriage
preparation resource called FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple
Communication, Understanding, and Study). FOCCUS identifies unique
issues, challenges, strengths, and realities for couples preparing for
marriage. Class participants will learn how to prepare for and
facilitate appropriate, on-target couple discussion. |
Visions of Home and Family Life
Family Ministries Task Force, Community
of Christ
(Endorsed by the World Church Leadership Council, September
2003)
Introduction
The health of family relationships is important for its members and
blesses the life of congregations. In this policy we seek to recognize the
diversity of families in the Community of Christ and seek ways to foster healthy
relationships in whatever family individuals find themselves. We also remember
that Jesus was single and lived a full life in community with others. Home is
used intentionally to include both those who are single and those living in
family. Home ministry is a ministry long recognized in our denomination. We view
spiritual health of individuals and their families from a holistic perspective –
including physical, economic, cultural and relational well being.
Key Scripture
"…Your people shall be my people, and your God my God." (Ruth
1:16 NRSV)
"Choose this day who you will serve…but as for me and my household, we
will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15 NRSV)
Mission Statement for Home and Family:
As home and family we are called to proclaim Jesus Christ through nurturing
relationships of joy, hope, love, and peace.
Vision
We believe that…
- We are made in the image of God, who is at the same time parent, child,
and Spirit. We are therefore created to be in relationship. In addition to
relationships commonly associated with the home, strong mutual relationships
take various forms including intentional community, extended family,
congregation, and wider church community.
- The home is a place where opportunities to grow by participating in
forgiveness and reconciliation are manifested on a daily basis. The home is a
place where ideally brokenness is embraced as a doorway to God’s grace, where
difference and otherness are celebrated. The home is to be a place where we seek
to love one another without fear of abandonment.
- Covenantal relationships are called to reflect the Reign of God.1
It is
within intimate communities that we experience love and hope, respect and
mutuality, play and laughter, sorrow and pain, stewardship and service.
- Shared faith creates a foundation of stability and unity in the home
through the sharing of sacred stories, values, beliefs, and practices across
generations. The fruits of faith include faithfulness, prayer, generosity,
hospitality, and life lived in response to God’s love.
Program
In this initial phase of programming designed to strengthen family relationships we seek to uplift the importance of children growing up in
stable and loving relationships. We begin strengthening home and family by equipping ministers and other leaders through training in their ministry to:
- Strengthen healthy relationships within marriage by:
- Equipping ministers to participate in comprehensive premarital and
post-ceremony preparation and education fostering mutual companionship.
- Providing ongoing marriage enrichment opportunities.
Provide home visiting ministry to all by:
- Equipping ministers and others in skilled home visiting.
- Encouraging the development of stewardship practices in the home.
- Enabling spiritual formation, family worship, and connecting with church
school and camps.
- Engaging homes in the ministry of hospitality.
Support all families by providing:
- Parenting education including spiritual formation.
- Human sexuality training.
- Education in family financial management.
- Encouragement to both men and women to be responsible for the loving care
of their children.
Advocating for all families so that:
- All families have sufficient income and benefits to provide for their
children.
- Parents have adequate time available to care for their children including
parental leave during late pregnancy and after the birth of their child.
Footnote:
1. The Reign of God is another way of saying Kingdom of God without a
masculine connotation. The Reign of God calls us to inclusive well being. It is
an abiding call to righteousness or right-relationships - between God and
humans, each other, and humans and nature. (Draft 7 October 2003)
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