First, the Committee on Ministry is encouraging every pastoral leader and their session to become familiar with the Seven Marks of Vitality. These marks are both biblically sound expositions of what a faithful Christian community embodies, the result of two national mainline protestant congregational surveys that sought to understand what makes vital congregations vital, and years of research, exploration, discernment, and prayer. Peace River Presbytery is part of the 3rd wave of cohorts with the Vital Congregations Initiative.
The VCI Immediate toolkit contains all the information you need to learn more about the 7 Marks of Vitality, and to lead bible studies on the 7 Marks. You may download it here: https://www.presbyterianmission.org/resource/vital-congregations-immediate-toolkit/
Second, some congregations choose to participate in the Vital Congregations initiative. To learn more about the initiative, click here.
Also, available soon via e-learning, will be additional reading and videos related to:
- The Seven Marks of Vitality
- Appreciative Inquiry (the backbone of the VCI)
- The Congregational Life Cycle
- Adaptive Change
(Look for an invitation from the Presbytery to participate in e-learning when it is available)
Third, if you would like to view the sermon preached by Rev. Norman Pritchard at the February 2022 presbytery meeting, please enjoy. Rev. Pritchard uses Philippians 2:25-30 to give a beautiful overview of how the 7 marks integrate into our lives as disciples.
Rev. Dr. Norman Pritchard’s sermon from the February 2022 Presbytery meeting on the 7 Marks of a Vital Congregation.
