The third Immigrant Ministry Dialogue met at Princeton Seminary this fall. 24 people from 6 presbyteries and 3 synods met to struggle with the question "Who do we need to become in order to welcome the stranger". The focus was on how judicatories can work with established congregation on being open to the immigrant ministry that is of often literally on their doorsteps.

 

Bob Armstrong, Consultant for Church Innovations, led the group through a process of listening, discovery and exploring adaptive challenges for our congregations and presbyteries.  Sunday evening presentations were made by Rev. Bob Richardson of Calvary Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, DE and by Revs. David Sanchez, Bob Larson and Ferry Pattipeilohy on their work for a multi-cultural and inter-denominational ministry center at Christ's Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.

 

    Bob Richardson, Calvary Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, DE

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 Rev. Ferry Pattipeilohy and Bob Larson, Christ's Presbyterian Church

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Immigrant  Ministry Dialogue 2009

We all know of congregations that have been blessed by God when they have welcomed strangers into their midst. We also know how often congregations have missed out on what God has in store for them when they have failed to see the stranger as a gift from God.

The question is not how to fix those who have not opened their hearts to the other in their midst-as much as we would like to fix our congregations. No, the real question is "What do we (presbytery and church leaders) need to become in order to foster hospitality for the stranger within the churches of our Presbyteries?

 About the Immigrant Ministry Dialogue 2009
For three years we have met to discuss how Presbytery leaders can be more effective in assisting immigrant faith communities within our Presbyteries. The focus of this year's event will be how we can help our congregations be more welcoming to the strangers in the midst of us. And that begins with us.

In addition to sharing information about what is happening in our congregations and presbyteries, we will focus on establishing the Missional/adaptive challenge before us-Who do we need to become in order to welcome the stranger?

Who Should Be part of the Dialogue?

·        Executives, Associate Executives and/or Judicatory Staff who work with Immigrant Ministry

·        Leaders of Committees, Teams or Task Groups that work with Immigrant Ministry

·        Leaders of Multicultural Congregations

·        Leaders of Single Cultural Congregations who want to become more welcoming to other cultures.

·        Immigrant Pastors and other Leaders

·        Resource People for Immigrant Ministry

Bob Armstrong invests his energy and creativity in helping leaders, churches and clusters of churches foster a climate of openness to both the heart of God and their communities so the Holy Spirit can lead them into the venture of being Christ to one another and their neighbor. Helping people awaken to the ways Christ is among us and between us in the world is vital to transforming our actions and efforts into expressions of our partnership with God in his mission.

An ordained Presbyterian pastor, Bob brings over 30 years of experience working in local churches in Michigan and Ohio. He has been instrumental in initiating congregation-wide small group and caring ministries, contemporary worship, multi-site, entrepreneurial mission teams and city-wide Missional networks. Steeped in the church-growth movement for 20+ years Bob brings his understanding of those dynamics to the challenge of shifting a church's focus from survival to growth to Missional engagement. In his working relationships he has extensive training and experience in personality & leadership, personal and corporate spiritual direction & discernment, deep listening and counseling