What Is A Discipleship Church?

The Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church is a community of Chirsitans who "continue to explore what it means to be disciples of Jesus Christ in this time and in and through this congregation.  We are a people who want to make a difference in the world and who want to make life better for those in need" (Art Sundstrom, Pastor).  In becoming a discipleship church, CCPC is intentionally exploring what this means in our individual and collective lives.

What Distinguishes A Discipleship Church?

It is a church where the congregation is energized to engage in God's ministry.  It helps us identify, claim, and exercise our gifts so that discipleship and service set us free rather than weight us down, enabling us to find meaning, satisfaction, purpose, and joy in serving the church.  An important way to make this happen is to encourage each person to identify those giftst that God calls us to use at this time.

Is This Talk about "Gifts" Just A New Word For Talents or Interests?

Certainly our talents can point us towards God's gifts.  The excitement that people feel when they let go of responsibilities that drain them and follow what they believe is the call of the Holy Spirit, however, goes beyond a match between interests and opportunities.  For this reason, discerning those spiritual gifts that God may Want us to develop ususually involves a longer process shared with Christians.

What Kinds of Gifts Are Included?

God has given us a wide variety of gifts to use in transforming the world into a more just and caring place.  Administering an activity, counceling and encouraging others, communicating our faith, healing, leadership, teaching are som examples.  We may offer our gifts within an existing or new church activity, through our vocation, in the wider community, in activities to expand justice for all.  We may use them in many arenas:  computers, music, health services, volunteer activities, political activities, care for a family member, hospital visits, tutoring, the legal profession, lobbying, to name a few examples.  Our gifts will develop and change over time as we are called to use different gifts at differing times in our lives.  The only constants are that our gifts allow us to invest ourselves, to focus on spiritual formation, and to serve God's purposes of increasing peace and justice in the world.

How Do We Identify Our Gifts?

We can do this in serveral ways.  Small groups, particularly those that engage in prayer and spiritual reflection, can help us clarify our gifts and provide much needed support.  Some may come to understand their gifts by sharing and reflecting together on a mission opportunity.  Worship can help us to reflect on God's call and connect our gifts to the church's ministry.  Prayer and study and conversations with others can also guide our search.

How Does This Emphasis on Discipleship Fit With Our Church's Existing Ministry?

A discipleship approach joins two concerns:  the programs we want our church to offer and the gifts and passions of the members.  It encourages everyone to pursue those that are life giving and that expand God's mission for the world.

What If I Like CCPC Just Fine And See No Reason To Change?

The notion of discipleship invites us to expect that God will open us to new experiences and enable us to grow in our faith.  Hopefully each will find an occasion to grow emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, and theologically.  Because discipleship affirms the unique gifts of each person, such growth in discipleship will build on the strengths of each and take many different forms.