Comments on: California church focuses on conversation https://disciples.org/congregations/california-church-focuses-on-conversation/ We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness. Wed, 01 Feb 2023 21:08:00 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 By: Cherilyn Williams https://disciples.org/congregations/california-church-focuses-on-conversation/#comment-4341 Fri, 18 May 2018 23:15:00 +0000 https://disciples.org/?p=15683#comment-4341 Nearly two decades ago, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) took on a challenge to boldly step out in faith and share the love of God we know through Jesus Christ by starting new churches. During this time, hundreds of faithful brothers and sisters have answered the call that God has placed on their hearts to share the gospel in new communities of faith, and we honor their ministries. It is true that some of these faithful communities only gathered for a short time, but we celebrate the impact they had on the lives of those who were touched by their ministry.

The Design defines a congregation as “the primary expression of the community of faith” where “individuals are brought to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, baptized into the Body of Christ, nurtured in their faith, and gather at the Lord’s Table” (). Individuals, existing congregations, Regions and Areas, and the general church have all come together at different times and in different ways to expand our Disciples community of faith. The Spirit has moved through the 2020 Vision, and for that, we are grateful.

We welcome the opportunity to speak with you further about the specific statistics and concerns you have raised here, Reverend Escamillia. Our contact information can be found at .

Journeying together,
Rev. Gilberto Collazo and Pastor Terrell McTyer, Hope Partnership

]]> By: Rev. Xose G. Escamilla https://disciples.org/congregations/california-church-focuses-on-conversation/#comment-4328 Wed, 16 May 2018 21:37:46 +0000 https://disciples.org/?p=15683#comment-4328 The Disciples of Christ “denomination” is following a trend that is not unknown across the country. The decline trend. The decline trend’s reason is also not unknown. It is because of congregations dying out. Therefore, the effort of the 20/20 vision of establishing 1000 new congregations by the year 2020. We are one and a half years away from it, and there is no sign of statistics anywhere about new churches that have been established that have survived and their growth. These new and “innovative churches” are great, but I rather call them ministries, not churches. This initiative of 1000 new churches in 1000 different ways, has opened the door to start and use valuable resources on “innovative” ministries which will not save this denomination from extinction. Which I believe was the original purpose of the 20/20 vision. We continuously hear and read about “new and innovative church starts”, but never hear of their sustainability, growth, and much less giving back to Regions or General church through DMF. Lets start also being accountable before promoting giving. I’d like to receive statistics of new church starts, the survival ration, how many of these churches that have started have actually grown to self-sustainability, and are giving back through DMF giving or in any other way. Maybe the yearbook can start track of them, indicating which churches in the YB are new churches since the 20/20 vision started. Lets not just count how many churches have actually started, but how many new church starts have actually become grown self-sustaining churches that actually give back.

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