Mission Statement of the Tres Rios Area of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest

We are the Tres Rios Area  of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest, a part of Christ’s one body.  We are a People called by God to work in our various communities to carry forward the work of the Church, holding the one faith, cherishing the one hope and motivated by our love for Jesus Christ and for one another.

We confess that at times we feel lost in a wilderness, separated by powerful forces from one another and from our God.

We claim the reconciling power of prayer and the Gospel, and Holy Spirit, to fulfill Christ’s Great Commission.

We desire a fuller understanding of the necessary tension between freedom and discipline in order to say who we are as Christian and as Disciples.

We seek to do the work of Christ, uniting our efforts to fulfill more fully those objectives which are difficult for a single congregation to do.

WE ARE PEOPLE CALLED BY GOD:
To be responsible stewards of all of life, honoring and treasuring God’s creation, being accountable for our personal resources and embracing a simplified lifestyle by sharing our time, our talents and our treasure to forward God’s plan for creation.

WE ARE PEOPLE CALLED BY GOD:
To prayerfully nurture commitment and spiritual growth in order to empower and equip individuals (lay and clergy), local churches and constituent groups for more faithful participation in mission and ministry.

WE ARE PEOPLE CALLED BY GOD:
To celebrate and use the gifts of our diversity by actively seeking and receiving gifts and graces from the local and global community so that we may create understanding and reconciliation among all persons and faiths.

WE ARE PEOPLE CAELLED BY GOD:
To hear the cries of the oppressed and to lead out in a ministry of Shalom (healing, peace, justice and love) to a hungry and hurting world.

WE ARE PEOPLE CALLED BY GOD:
To unite in Christ to facilitate and strengthen covenants of mutual communication, interaction and concern for the sake of our congregations’ shared ministry and common witness to Christ’s inclusive love.

WE ARE PEOPLE CALLED BY GOD:
To joyfully proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to unchurched persons so that existing congregations will be spiritually and numerically renewed, and that new congregations will be born and flourish.

PRIORITIES OF THE TRES RIOS AREA
OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)
IN THE SOUTHWEST

It will be a priority of our Tres Rios Area to:
(not in order of priority/importance)

. . . increase faith development through expanded programs of theological education;

. . . expand global consciousness and social awareness through resourcing our congregations and providing opportunities for active engagement in peace and justice ministries.

. . . promote stewardship as a Christian lifestyle and congregational commitment to a firm financial foundation to undergird area ministry and provide new or improved facilities, expanded resources and area programming.

. . . increase active communication between congregations and the area so that commitment to each other is enhanced.

. . . demonstrate an active ministry of evangelism, reconciliation, appreciation and the protection of diverse gifts and cultures within our geographical context.

. . . give dynamic leadership to conversation, study and programs with the ecumenical community.

. . . strengthen new or existing congregations by supporting them in their unique challenges.

. . . encourage the area and local congregations to participate in planning and evaluation at least every 2 years.