– Written by Scott McRoberts, Learning Community Development Leader at Cairn
‘Go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.’
(Jesus Christ)
‘If you make a church, you don’t always get disciples. But if you make disciples, you always get a church.’
(Mike Breen)
Church of Scotland Presbyteries
We’ve been through a long period of hurting and longing in the Church of Scotland.
What is God doing with us next? What direction is He taking us? Which way lies growth?
As we complete unions and form into new churches in new ways, how do we start things off together?
Rather than a short course or one off conference, discovering the new path for our local churches is a slow growth process. What if we took two years with our church leaderships to re-examine how Jesus set about mission and discipleship, and how we can do that where we are?
Cairn Learning Communities can help with that.
Who?
This is a two year journey for 4-8 of your elders or church leaders, including your minister where you have one.
It’s a journey of discipleship, leadership development, releasing of people’s gifts in your church, and growing communities of mission.
It’s for elders and leaders, to discover and pass on a new culture of ‘doing it Jesus’ way’ to our churches.
It might be for a Kirk Session, a Local Mission Church Leadership Team, or a Mission Team in a church – but always those appointed to bring leadership to the church.
My role is to get Learning Communities going in Church of Scotland presbyteries, but we’re delighted if other church denominations join in too – getting different church leaderships from an area together to learn, plan, pray, unite and excite for mission is the goal!
What?
You’re investing 4 weekends (Friday evenings and Saturday daytimes) over a 2 year period, spaced out six monthly, to come together with other church leaderships in the Presbytery. Ministers or other key leaders in the church will receive fortnightly online discipleship/coaching huddles, too.
We’ll look at how Jesus discipled, and called us in turn to disciple, and find how different things could be in the Church when we do!
When?
If 2 or 3 people in a presbytery start thinking ‘this could be good for us to do together,’ just get in touch with me to discuss when a Learning Community could begin. Planning for a few months, or even a year, in advance of beginning these gives time to build up a community of churches committing to journeying together in a presbytery, or group of presbyteries.
Where?
Those who become key presbytery contacts for me can plan for where a Learning Community can be delivered in a presbytery – it could be a church building that can accommodate all the groups coming, or a local hall – whatever space brings people together for all together sessions and space for teams to break out a little and chat together. We’d love to see as many church leaderships gathering in person as possible, but in some presbyteries, there really is a need to offer an online option too – we can work with that, and that’s how we’ll be doing things in my own presbytery of Cleir Eilean I.
How?
The cost of a two year Learning Community is typically £11,600. That works out at about £1500-£1800 per church if about 6-8 churches participate – there are economies of scale the more churches that take part. A combination of funding from participating local churches (eg £500 per church) to encourage buy in, and the remaining funding coming from Presbytery is suggested as a model. The Church of Scotland’s Seeds for Growth is very open to presbyteries applying to them for funding for Cairn Learning Communities.
I believe, from my own experience, that the impact of less than £2000 per church over two years, including fortnightly coaching for core leaders and 4 learning community weekends, far exceeds the cost.
Why?
Because I’ve seen the transformation it has brought me personally, and people in my church, to learn and live out discipleship Jesus’ way.
Because I’ve seen that transformation in the ministers and elders of other churches participating in this in Inverness over the past few years.
Because now is a time for churches who have been cut and reshaped to grow into what’s new.
Learning Communities are ideal for churches who are thinking ‘right, now we’re this shape – how do we do it?’
I really hope you’ll join in with the journey.
Join us to set the rudder together for mission and discipleship in your presbytery.
Scott McRoberts
Get in touch to find out more: [email protected]
