Case Study

Building vitality in lay-led congregations
Trinity Church, Gladstone, MI
Tell us about your congregation and its mission, including how long you’ve been without a priest.

Our congregation has embraced mutual ministry for the last 35 years.

We have gone through discernment and called members of our congregation for ministries-presider, preacher, deacon, worship coordinator, education coordinator, ecumenical coordinator and more.

Describe your congregation’s leadership.

We have currently three local priests and one seminary priest who partners with our congregation. We have one active Deacon.

We are able to celebrate the Eucharist each Sunday. We are engaged by four preachers on Sunday mornings.

We have not "raised up" a few to be our leaders. We have affirmed the leadership of many, and we respect the gifts that all our members bring to our community.

After the discernment process those who have accepted their call come together as a Covenant Group and meet for a period of three years. They study together, learn about one another, face conflict, and practice shared leadership. In this process people are empowered to do what they do best. They are using and sharing the gifts they were given.

How are your leaders handling day-to-day congregational life (e.g., formation, worship decisions, pastoral care, budgeting, discretionary fund)?

From the Covenant group process the group is commissioned and become part of the Ministry Support Team. They meet monthly and develop and support the ministry of everyone in the congregation. The MST also engages in continuing education.

How does your congregation set its mission and outreach strategy?

There is no one person in charge. We follow "circular leadership and make decisions together."

Before each church season we hold a seasonal planning session to plan together worship, learning, mutual care/fellowship, outreach for that season of the church.

What are the biggest challenges of operating without a priest as leader?

Our congregation is functioning very well without one priest in charge. We have all the gifts to do ministry and be disciples out in the world.

What is your dream for your congregation’s future?

Our model of mutual ministry embodies the idea of what it means to be the church.