A Time for New Models

Contributed By The Rev. Maggie Monroe-Cassel
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CLAREMONT
CLAREMONT, NH — Churches across the nation are facing new opportunities for ministry. First Congregational Church of Claremont has been involved in a deep envisioning process since February 2023. The retirement of the pastor of 10 years and COVID combined to make the perfect opportunity to think outside the box.

“The future needs the future; No looking back for ideas at this point,” the Rev. Maggie Monroe-Cassel, one of two pastoral leaders for the congregation in this transitional time, said. “An Envisioning Council was created in February. It is comprised of some of the members who have been part of the church for many years, as well as some of the members who started participating this year.”

The seeds of the process began in the fall 2022 when the church leadership faced three viable options for the future.

One was to consider selling the assets, closing the church, and donating proceeds to approved missions or another non-profit or church.

Another option was to spend down what savings the church had until it was gone and then sell the property. The savings would last about three years.

A final option was to adopt a concept they call the “Birthing Center.” The Birthing Center concept means that they are open to using the church in new ways that would support the expenses of the building. There is space to rent on a long-term or short-term basis.

The leadership is in conversation with the City of Claremont about what uses would be acceptable. Any ideas and possible renters are welcome to contact the church for more details.

The Birthing Center concept also means thinking outside the box in terms of what is traditional pastoral leadership. The Rev Karen Lipinczyk, the spiritual team leader, is leading a search to fulfill a new kind of model for Sunday morning services.

“The old model of one person meeting the preaching needs, the pastoral needs, and the administrative needs of a congregation is past,” she said. “We are looking now to create a cohesive team of Sunday morning speakers who understand the past but are ready to help the church embrace the future. A team of different voices can lend a depth to the spiritual life of the church that one leader cannot always do.”

The congregation is putting out to a call to anyone who has experience in speaking in Sunday services, may or may not be ordained by a denomination, or who has a dream to use their gifts of public speaking to share the leadership of Sunday services with others.

Among the skills the congregation is seeking are people who have a passion for delivering a theologically- and biblically-grounded message relevant to the journey of an evolving progressive Protestant congregation with historic roots in the greater Claremont area.

Churh leaders are seeking four to five lay or ordained leaders to be part of a team that meets monthly, virtually or in person, to plan Sunday services based on the common lectionary. They are seeking vibrant, creative, engaging, articulate individuals who are seeking to be part of creating a renewed church experience and who understand the commitment and talents of lay leadership. Such a person may be a retired pastor, a non-parish minister (such as a hospital or prison chaplain), or someone who was trained in ministry but chose a secular profession.

The congregation is excited to practice a new form of leadership that is happening in other churches, as well. In addition to the pastoral team, the congregation invites to its mission all individuals interested in re-inventing the model of Christian ministry that serves its diverse community and brings value and meaning to those it serves.

For more information or to submit interest in helping with the new preaching model, please email the church at [email protected].

— The Rev. Maggie Monroe-Cassel is co-pastor of the First Congregational Church in Claremont, NH.