By Garry Sanossian
Between March and September this year, the Network Resource Team (NRT) visited with churches both regionally and online to engage with the proposed ‘Working’ Vision statement on behalf of Conference Executive. The extensive consultation process has now concluded, with compiled feedback set to be presented to Conference Executive this month.
This engagement initiative brought the network together through eight regional gatherings across NSW and the ACT, supported by 23 online meetings to ensure broad participation. Gatherings spanned regions including Sydney, the Hunter, Northern and Western NSW, the South Coast and the ACT, and 66 churches participated in the engagement process. 154 members gathered in person at regional events, while online meetings also drew 95 leaders, elders and church members from across the network.
ACT Regional Gathering
During a recent regional meeting, Stephen Cathcart, pastor at Southern Church, reflected on what this process means for our network.
“I think we’re in a moment, probably another one of these generational moments, where we have an opportunity to bring forward what makes churches of Christ, churches of Christ,” he said.
Stephen Cathcart and other Illawarra leaders at NewDay Church.
“We now are in this moment of decision where it takes courage to call out and to bring to the surface who we really are, that we are a flourishing network of people who are in the priesthood of all believers, who have this DNA within us to be missional and to be involved in mission and see people coming into the Kingdom.”
Stephen also highlighted the unique participatory nature of the process. “One aspect I am grateful for in this process is the fact that we actually have a vision, a “working” vision, and that we have the opportunity to participate in that vision. What other movement of churches would allow you to actually speak into vision making?,” he said.
ACT Regional Gathering
Northern Rivers Regional Gathering
South Western Sydney (Auburn) Regional Gathering
The Working Vision is part of a larger Future Vision and Realignment Project approved by Conference Executive in October 2024 and announced at the 2024 Annual Meeting of Conference and Collective 24.
Conference President Emily Drough said, “While Conference Executive are responsible for stewarding across the whole network, which includes both our churches and entities, they particularly wanted to hear how our churches resonated with the direction Conference Executive were taking. They wanted to know if there was a sense of resonance with the mission of each local church.”
Central Coast / Hunter Regional Gathering
Anne Simpson, Executive Leader (interim) at churches of Christ, led and facilitated these gatherings with NRT leaders on behalf of Conference Executive. Reflecting on what the consultation process revealed about the network’s identity, she said, “Our churches, by participating in these regional conversations and opportunities and engagements, are playing an active participation in the future shape of our network.”
“We’re in this together. We want to shape the future together.”
Anne Simpson, Interim Executive Leader, facilitating the gathering at Auburn.
Across the regional gathering feedback, four key themes emerged from churches: the call to mature discipleship, the centrality of the local church in mission, a desire to see increased resourcing for mission, and the focus on community-impact.
Anne reflected, “There was overwhelming support for – yes, we want to be a flourishing network! We want to be about disciple-making. We want to be about local context. We want to be about community impact. We want to be resourced for this work.”
ACT Regional Gathering
Northwest Sydney Regional Gathering
The compiled feedback and recommendations will assist Conference Executive in future planning around governance, organisational development and resourcing as the network moves forward in pursuing its mission of disciple-making and community impact.
Dubbo Regional Gathering
