Home Resources Affordable Housing 2008 Friday Session for Pastors
Session for Pastors
Special Session for Pastors & Christian Social Service Executives

Christians of all ages and theological persuasions are seeking more and more an integrated spirituality of "head, heart and hands." In the confusing currents of postmodern culture, what is happening to the boundaries between "church" and "parachurch"? How can local churches and parachurch social service agencies work together as the one Body of Christ - guiding individual parishioners and entire congregations deeper into God's heart and into closer companionship with the poor and vulnerable? In what ways might joint action on best practice affordable housing be an avenue for such holistic mission?

Panel List
Tim Dickau: Grandview Calvary Baptist Church
Jorge Hoajaca: First United Mennonite Church, Spanish Congregation
Ric Matthews: First United Church Mission
Elsie Quick: Partners in Hope
Jack Taylor: Faith Fellowship Baptist Church

Podcast Audio Recording of Panel
Pastors & Christian Social Service Executives Forum (1:10hrs, 33Mb)

Breakout Group Questions
A recent survey of pastors in Metro Vancouver revealed that their churches would be more likely to partner with the government to construct affordable housing than with a Christian non-profit agency or another church.

  1. Would this be true for your church or agency?
  2. What could account for this
  3. Does this preference regarding housing partnerships reflect a deeper gulf between Christian ministries in our city region?
  4. What could be the most practical steps for fostering collaboration between your church/agency and others in your neighbourhood, city or region?

Breakout Group Reports

Group 1

 

1. No go to either for money and resources.

2. Money

 - district of government

 - need for long term management and people resources

4. Unionization of the agency restricts local church involvement

 - pastors communicating

 - form partnerships with groups in your area "neighbourhood"

 

Group 2

 

- A mindset that is willing to recognise and accept that others may have resources / expertise that we don't

- Be willing to be changed - be vulnerable

- Be less focused on "my Own Congregation" but be willing to cooperate and partner with others and other denominations.

- Be willing to work with non Christian or non faith based agencies who are doing kingdom work

- A "registry" where we can share what each other is doing

 

Group 3

 

- Churches say they are more likely to partner with government to provide housing than a christian non-profit

- Would this be true for your church?

  - No

    - Don't believe it is true for their communities

    - Bias would be to work with other churches "North Shore"

 

- What could account for this?

  - Not aware of agencies in the area

  - Scarcity mentality for the churches (government has more resources)

  - Churches are been approached by government for partnerships. (more sustainable for government).

 

Group 4

 

1. Strategic approaches to churches by "parachurch groups working co-operatively"

  - Anglican approach "Church Depot" days that brings together churches and parachurch organisations

  - ministry fellowships and ministerials

 

2. Need to discern at local church level who/which parachurch organisation to contact and seek help from

 - what is our "particular" local church contribution and need "prayer based"

 - what is "our mission" in this community?

 

Group 5

 

- Value of local, clarity, philosophy of place

- Gift of art / healing to transfer vision/partnership through caring / empathy/evangelising/sharing of heart

- Blurring boundaries through relationship building, asset mapping, consistent communication "abundance in place of fear"

- Creative housing options (congregation home sharing) and social networking / looking beyond your nook/neighbourhood

- Nested ecology (church ... neighbourhood ... municipality region ... global)

  - Recognition of interconnectivity (environment/spirit/social/physical/economics) and collaboration through working groups.

  -> (working in clusters)

    -> lexicon of action to bridge funding, technical, secular, interdenominational gaps.

 

Group 6

 

1. Not true

 - want trade record - don't care too much who.

 - till lately church/private agency lack $

 - new government - getting so restrictive people turning more to church

 - assets of churches now (established ones)

 - more awareness of need to work together being raised amongst churches

 

... What steps could we do

 

Neighbourhood (each school catchment area)

Coquitlam (and tri cities) open each night / January

basement - one clearly each month takes charge, meal / bed / lunch pack

some = non church volunteers

Make more sustainable by connecting and others learning (joy) to expand

"Wanting permanent solution"

Homelessness task force

 

City and Regions open further discussions.