An emerging relational network for ministers and ministries looking for an alternative to traditional denominational structures.
OUR PURPOSE:
To root Christian ministers and ministries in a diverse network of mutual relationships so that the way of Jesus can flourish in the world.
Our Principles — Guiding Values
In our collective work, we prioritize the following guiding principles rooted in the Christian story of divine love revealed in Jesus that’s unfolding into the world through God’s Spirit:
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Love is our currency and we move at the speed of trust
Reflecting the divine community of love, our foundation is a mutual community based on trust where each participant is seen, valued, and contributes to our collective wholeness.
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God’s table is wide and open to all, especially the marginalized and excluded
Recognizing that the one mystical Body of Christ is formed through God’s expansive grace, we welcome all who share our purpose and values into full participation, including those who have been excluded or alienated from traditional denominational structures.
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Leaning into our limits leads to wisdom
As finite creatures who together reflect the infinite God, we recognize that each is a part of the whole. So, wisdom begins with acknowledging our limits, exploring the perspectives of others, and having the courage to experiment and fail.
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Collaboration and cooperation rather than command and control
Following the pattern of Jesus who came to serve and share power, we seek to co-create and collaborate, believing wisdom emerges best from collective imagination and participation rather than through top-down authority.
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Imagination is the engine of renewal
Cooperating with God’s creative Spirit, we embrace the reality that Christian thought and practice must be continually reimagined beyond established traditions and White Western models as we examine underlying assumptions and engage with new questions and contexts.
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Loving practice binds us together rather than dogma
Following Jesus’ invitation into a new way of life, we prioritize shared participation in the experience and work of Christ’s love, healing, and justice over uniformity of theological doctrine and opinion.
Our Collective Commitment
Grounded in our guiding principles, we commit to the shared, ongoing work of anti-racism, decolonization, de-centering whiteness*, dismantling patriarchal structures, and fully welcoming and including all people regardless of age, race, ethnicity, disability, economic background, marital status, sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
We recognize that each of us is on a journey and has our individual work to do in these areas. Yet, collectively, as a network, we aspire to fulfill God’s vision for the Church as an ever-expanding circle of love, kinship, and belonging.
*The term whiteness does not refer to people but to a social construct that assumes the normativity of White Western cultural norms, practices, and perspectives, which have often been taken as the dominant standard or default in many societies throughout history.
Our Vision
We are pastors, congregations, leaders, and ministries longing to see an expression of Christianity in the world that is more loving, just, and inclusive. The Church is facing unprecedented challenges and systemic problems, and we know the best way to navigate uncertainty and ambiguity is to walk together with others. However, current denominational structures are proving unable to adapt to an increasingly complex and fast-changing world, and many newer associations are lacking robust structures for belonging, credentialing, and practical support grounded in trust and relationships.
For these reasons, we are seeking to create a more flexible organizing structure for an increasingly post-denominational world. We are seeking a way for leaders and organizations of all kinds to connect, collaborate, and share resources with one another without the bureaucracy and top-down hierarchies of traditional denominations.
Our dream is to cultivate a diverse, relational network based on mutuality and interdependence that makes the work of God’s love, healing, and justice more sustainable and generative for all.
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