Welcoming in a Time of Change (Introduction)
This is an introduction to welcoming ministries in The United Church of Canada in the 21st century.
This welcoming ministries guide is written using wiki technology, which allows practictioners from across Canada and beyond to contribute and develop information and resources about welcoming newcomers to The United Church of Canada, and any church in the a post-Christiandom context. Wiki technology is best known as the software behind Wikipedia, the well-known on-line encyclipedia.
Welcoming newcomers to church in a post-Christiandom context is much more than just ensuring guests are properly greeted when they arrive at a new congregation on a Sunday morning (though it is that as well).
For a congregation and a church to be truly welcoming in the 21st century Canada requires that they know themselves, their gifts, and "that part of the Gospel which God is calling them to lift up in their context." Welcoming in post-Christiandom is all about building relationship with one's community and those in it.
This welcoming ministries guide is initiated by Emerging Spirit, an exciting initiative of The United Church of Canada focused on establishing and nurturing a relationship between the United Church and Canadians who don't attend church, with a focus on those between the ages of 30 and 45.