We are thrilled to announce the members in Cohort A of the Thriving Congregations Initiative. Over the next three years, twenty-one congregations from four conferences (listed below) will address the changing context of congregational life and develop clear values and mission unique to their assets and community needs.
“I’m thankful for these 21 congregations and look forward to the learning process that will take place over the next three years,” says Jennifer Lancaster, Thriving Congregations program director. “As these congregations examine their values, mission, and community need, they can better create spaces that are both relevant to congregants and their communities.”
Participants in Cohort A include:
- Amherst Community BIC, Great Lakes
- Christ Community Etc, Great Lakes
- East Dayton Fellowship, Great Lakes
- Eshcol BIC, Susquehanna
- Fairview BIC (Englewood, OH), Great Lakes
- Fairview BIC (New Cumberland, PA), Susquehanna
- Grace Community BIC of Vineland, Atlantic
- Holy District BIC – Gilbert, Ariz., Atlantic
- Lakeside Fellowship of Micro Churches, Great Lakes
- Lakeview Community BIC, Great Lakes
- Millerfield BIC Church, Great Lakes
- Millersville BIC, Atlantic
- Mount Pleasant BIC Church, Atlantic
- New Life Believers BIC, Allegheny
- New Vision BIC, Great Lakes
- Open Door Church, Great Lakes
- Parker Ford Church, Atlantic
- Pathway Community BIC of York, Susquehanna
- Saville BIC, Susquehanna
- Valley Chapel BIC, Great Lakes
- Western Hills BIC, Great Lakes
Each participating congregation has formed a team of 3-6 people, known as the Congregational Learning Community (CLC), who will lead their congregations in applying the material learned through this program. Together, they will complete a series of modules aimed at examining church health and community engagement.
To effectively use our resources, Cohort A has been divided into two sub-cohorts by geographical region: the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic. The Thriving Congregations Initiative will run for a total of five years, with three cohorts:
- Cohort A, 2024-2026
- Cohort B, 2025-2027
- Cohort C, 2026-2028.
Applications for Cohort B will open in late 2024; all BIC U.S. congregations are welcome and encouraged to apply.
