The Vitality Practice of COMMUNITY EMBEDDEDNESS

And the Word became flesh and lived among us.

— John 1.14a

Just as Jesus became human and lived among us, we are called to leave our church buildings and work to build a better world locally. Congregations can better engage their local communities by learning the needs of the community and how to better meet those needs — in collaboration with their neighbors.

Recommended Curriculum to help you learn more about the Vitality Practice of COMMUNITY EMBEDDEDNESS

FROM MANY, ONE: CONVERSATIONS ACROSS DIFFERENCE

“From Many, One: Conversations Across Difference” is a campaign inviting Episcopalians and our neighbors to engage in one-to-one listening and sharing across the many differences that separate us. This program contains guides, videos, and details to engage with neighbors around four important questions. This program opens space and helps us connect and learn from our neighbors. EN ESPANOL

FRESH EXPRESSIONS JOURNEY

Fresh Expressions is the 6-part framework for redeveloping churches or starting new ones developed by the Church of England. This site is filled with ideas and resources to help connect churches to the neighborhoods they are in. This isn’t about replicating the same model in different places, but about letting the place we’re in and the people around us shape what church looks like. It is about doing church that makes sense to the people and place it finds itself in.

PUBLIC NARRATIVE

Public Narrative, a story-based community organizing method, is a leadership skill for ministry. The structure of Public Narrative (as outlined in the following pages) was developed as a critical component of teaching leadership skills in order to create change in the world through commitment to shared action. This guide was developed in the Diocese of California specifically for churches and teaches narrative skills widely used by organizers and those working in diverse communities.

Read more about the Vitality Practice of

COMMUNITY EMBEDDEDNESS

  • OPERATION BACKYARD - Tennessee youth group finds a pandemic-safe mission repairing homes in their own backyard. This article and video is a great example of connecting to the needs of the community without being in charge.

    Operation Backyard

  • GOD IS MY HELPER - This article from Episcopal Church Foundation shares how a church found new life for their parish hall . As you read, notice the deep spiritual practices that led to this new and unexpected connection to the community.

    God is my Helper

  • DISCOVER NEW MINISTRIES - This Video Series from the Episcopal Church interviews mission developers who have started new ministries. Learn from their process of connecting to their communities and listening to their neighbors.

    Discover New Ministries

  • COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AS COMMUNITY INVESTMENT - This article from the Presbyterian Outlook describes the spiritual dimension of community organizing and connecting with neighbors. A great introduction to the process.

    Connection through Organizing