EPs (executive presbyters), moderators (of presbyteries and presbytery councils), elders, and other representatives of presbyteries, synods and the GAC (General Assembly Council) met in Albuquerque last week to begin to talk about what the Presbyterian Church (USA) stucture and purpose might look like in the future. Gil Rendle, consultant at the Alban Institute, led us in thinking about new ways to learn and connect with one another and how we might create communities of practice. Our communites of practice will create a space for us to explore, examine, question and discern with others in similar contexts. Over 5 sessions we considered the following:

1. a fresh look at our changing environment and what our context of ministry is likely to look like in the future

2. exploring the kind of leadership we need or desire from middle governing bodies

3. addressing how much conformity we expect and how much flexibility we can tolerate

4. conversation about the shape and core values of middle governing bodies

5. conversation leading to changes in the Book of Order

6. a sense of what needs to happen for PC(USA) to become a covenant community in which visionary leadership can occur

What are your thoughts? If you are in a congregation, what do you need from a MGB? What purpose does a MGB serve in your ministry context