Proponents Rachel Linderoth (right) and Michael Wildeman (left), standing here with the treasurer of the congregation, Mr Bertie Retief.
From 6 to 8 July, two of our URCSA Cape proponents visited URC Sutherland to assist Rev. Stephen Pedro of Congregational Witness with the accompaniment process in order to guide congregations in the transformation process of their missional calling, so that church members’ outreach, service and witness within the congregation and in the community may come more into its own.
Proponents Rachel Linderoth and Michael Wildeman assisted with the etnographic research, which forms part of the assessment phase of the accompaniment.
The purpose of the ethnographic research is to enable the facilitators and church council of congregations to have a deeper understanding of the identity, culture and missional calling of the congregation. This will direct the process to meet the congregations on the point of their needs and where they are on their missional journey and to facilitate workshops that will be focusing on specific needs and contexts of specific Congregations.
The two proponents had interviews over the three days, with 24 members from the different groupings (age, gender, etc) of the congregation. From here Rev. Pedro will analyze the data and compile a, what we call, cultural report and together with the church council they will decide what needs to be addressed during the next workshop.
This visit will be the first of many and ‘vacant’ congregations are invited to utilize this research process to get a deeper picture and understanding of what they really are as a congregation, a community of believers.
Rev. Stephen Pedro can be reached at stephen@kaapkerk.co.za or 067 770 5986