They Call it Partnership Place – and it is!
A successful collaboration between UCC and PCUSA congregations!
Don’t tell us Michigan is not one of Simon Sinek’s early adopters! Absolutely committed to their progressive presence and similarities in social justice foci, St. John’s United Church of Christ and Westminster Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Michigan are joining together in a joint witness agreement* to augment their presence in Jackson, in service to their city.
Jackson has an interesting demographic. Their potential area of growth in engagement** is in the 40 – 50 age bracket: the SBNRs. (Spiritual But Not Religious) (Writer’s note: in fact, check out the growth demographics in Michigan, in general). This provides these progressive, justice-oriented congregations an opportunity to encourage engagement, following their social justice commitment towards helping the underserved.
These two congregations, one dwindling in numbers (but not conviction) and located on the outskirts of the city, and the other, right in the more under resourced section of downtown, recognized an opportunity to come together – creating a testimony to the statement “the whole is greater than the sum of the parts it’s made of.”
* Presbyterian terminology for the specific and comprehensive MOU that collaborating/consolidating faith communities sign.
** Acknowledging that there has been a growing phenomenon of people not affiliating with religious institutions, but who seek to be involved in local initiatives that are time-bound, measured, and make a positive impact.
