Excerpt from Spiritual Vitality through Cooperative Ministry

by Diana A. Stephen

Copyright 2008 by the Small Church and Community Ministry Office, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Cascades Presbytery, Synod of the Pacific

The Presbyterian Urban Network (PUN) of Portland, OR, envisioned in 2003 by Cascades Presbytery, began to evolve in 2005.  It is an association of eight smaller membership churches on the east side of Portland:  Calvary, Colonial Heights, Eastminster, Grace, Kenilworth, Laurelhurst, Northminister, and Piedmont.  The geographical area covered by this network is approximately 8.5 miles north to south and 10.6 miles east to west.  Membership in these churches ranges from 34 to 128.  Together the congregations represent nearly 700 years of Presbyterian witness in Portland.

While the churches represent a broad spectrum of theological and political positions, PUN has intentionally chosen to focus on the practical and pragmatic, rather than areas that highlight divisiveness.

The congregations are served by Ministers of the Word and Sacrament:  five serving full-time and three serving part-time.

PUN came into being as a result of the distress experienced by the presbytery and its pastors over the closing of two smaller membership churches.  Several pastors met to explore the possibility of a network—what it could be and what it might do to strengthen the smaller congregations.  The pastors of these eight churches saw potential in such a network and agreed to gather on a regular basis to continue this discussion and exploration.

Subsequently, the pastors of these eight churches entered into a collaborative agreement to share opportunities for pastoral collegial support and leadership development for both pastors and lay leaders. 

One of PUN’s goals is to intentionally witness to the Presbyterian connectional system—demonstrating among the pastors and congregations that Presbyterians are meant to support one another in ministry and mission during both good and challenging times.  The network emphasizes relationships rather than a formal organization designed to implement a particular strategy. 

This model is unique because the participating congregations choose whether or not to participate in specific cooperative ministry opportunities that arise from PUN.  At the same time, PUN has been able to attract resources, such as financial grants, consultants and in-kind donations, to a greater degree than any one of the congregations would have been able to.

Pastoral peer support is PUN’s priority, recognizing that small church pastors tend to experience isolation as well as high levels of stress and burnout.  Pastoral peer support, in the long run, will contribute to the health and vitality of the ministry and mission of the congregations.  The pastors of these eight churches meet regularly twice a month for lunch, worship, sharing, and educational opportunities.  Welcoming new people, neighborhood connections, and health care concerns are examples of topics discussed during these educational times.  The pastors have also engaged in book conversation particularly related to church transformation that is unique to their context of ministry in the northwest.

Out of the pastors’ gatherings, several cooperative opportunities have emerged.

•Getting to know your neighborhood included picnics, involving the eight congregations, in the neighborhoods of east Portland where PUN churches are located.  The goal of these gatherings was to provide an opportunity for church members to get to know one another and to learn about the particular neighborhood where the church is located.  In addition, each church was challenged to rediscover its neighborhood and ways in which they might reconnect with it.  To support these efforts, every church was given a printed resource that would assist them in learning about their neighborhood.  In addition, each church received $200 from PUN to use in the congregation’s efforts to connect in new ways with its neighborhood.  One church used its gift to connect with the neighborhood artistic community, another participated in an end-of-summer neighborhood event that included a plant swap and a meal, and others used their gift to support the Network’s parish nursing program.

•PUN feasts on a Sunday evening allow congregations to gather for a meal, fellowship and an educational program such as a neighborhood engagement.  These events rotate around the various PUN congregations.

•Leadership Development events.  For example, one such event, “Ministries of Healing, Health and Wholeness” provided an opportunity to consider the question, “What are a congregation’s healing ministries?” that covered a variety of topics including health education and outreach to the community.

From the pastors’ discussions of health care concerns and community needs, a parish nurse program, sponsored by PUN, was initiated.  This program, though new, is enhancing relationships among the congregations as well as providing opportunities for connections with the community.

Financial support for the parish nurse program came from:  a larger church in the presbytery, the synod, General Assembly and the PUN congregations that chose to participate.

A nurse was identified who had the experience, knowledge and credentials to design and lead this program.  At the time, she was discerning her professional future and her interest in the integration of physical and spiritual well-being.  Before entering the program, she chose first to take the parish nurse training to hone her skills for this particular call to ministry.

To start, the parish nurse visited each of the eight churches to worship with them and introduce the program.  Soon after she surveyed the churches’ needs, analyzed the data, and designed a program that matched their needs with her particular skills.  In six out of the eight churches, there is a twice monthly clinic tailored for each congregation’s need.  For example, blood pressures are checked, questions about medications are discussed as well as health concerns, and assistance is provided in locating available health services.  Home visits to house-bound members have begun.  Health forums are emerging with a particular focus, such as caregivers and depression.

During Lent, an intergenerational program, Walk to Jerusalem, was offered to all church members to encourage healthy eating and increased daily exercise.  There was an amazing response.  About 150 members from 7 of the 8 churches participated.

The nurse is a member of the twice monthly gatherings of the PUN pastors.

The parish nurse envisions additional community connections through blood drives, community food banks, and engagement with parents of pre-schoolers.  She currently belongs to a community nurse group and the Northwest Parish Nurse Network.

While PUN continues to be an informal network or association of congregations, the pastors, especially, have benefitted from two particular opportunities that offered a broader picture of ministry in east Portland.  Early in its life, PUN engaged the assistance of a seminary student intern.  During the summer that he was with PUN, the seminarian visited seven of the eight congregations.  He had an opportunity to preach, talk with small groups, “look at” the congregations, and provide an overview of the congregations to the pastors.  Currently, the parish nurse provides similar assistance.

Recognizing that mission and community engagement are essential to the vitality of its congregations, the PUN team will continue to envision new mission opportunities that respond to community needs, and the individual congregations will continue to have the opportunity to choose to work together as they witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ.