The “Transforming Covenants” project of the Nebraska Conference of the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) invites congregations, pastors, and the wider church into a new relationship of ministry and mission. Our purpose is to engage in a new covenantal way of doing ministry together in which the gifts of all are utilized to upbuild the whole community of faith.
The state of Nebraska covers 76,872 square miles. In Western Nebraska the population is declining. Twenty-one counties have a population of less than 3,000 persons. Seven of the nation’s twelve poorest counties are in Nebraska. Eastern Nebraska not only is growing, but it holds most of its educational, business, medical and governmental resources. This is a context which fosters isolation and sometimes suspicion.
Our model provides a process and incentives for new patterns of relationship which honors gifts and calls forth new visions. At the heart of our proposal is the formation of covenantal learning community. Our first goal is to great eight covenantal learning groups in which members will become teachers and learners. Each group member is expected to develop an individual learning plan. The project will underwrite financial support for this plan up to $5,000 over the five year period. Subsequentlly, the pastors become teachers—sharing what they have learned with others in their small group, their congregations, and the wider church. Congregations will be awarded stipends to cover supply costs during any time a pastor is absent while pursuing a learning plan.
In support of this process, each congregation of the Conference/Region where a pastor is involved in the project will be asked to form a Pastoral Excellence Team. Their task is to participate with the pastor in the formation of the ‘learning plan’ and be supportive interpreters to the local congregation. They will also be offered resources for congregational assessment.
Finally, our project has invited Cotner College Educational Ministries, a continuing education institution linked to Nebraska Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to serve as an “innovative resource” to the Covenantal Learning Teams, the Pastoral Excellence Teams, and those who are facilitating the project.
The Nebraska Conference UCC and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Nebraska have a thirty year working relationship which has included lay education, outdoor ministry, shared youth ministry staff, and numerous offerings of continuing education for clergy.