Tres Rios Presbytery

In accordance with the Great Commission, we expect and challenge our pastors and congregations to:

1. GO INTO THE WORLD, leaving behind the shelter of the church walls, seeking and joining God’s work in the local community and with ecumenical partners throughout the world;
2. MAKE DISCIPLES, baptizing new followers of Christ, receiving into membership those who are already baptized, providing them with nurture, care, and Christian fellowship; and
3. TEACH THEM to observe the Christian faith through regular participation in worship and prayer, serious study of the Holy Scriptures, service to others, and generosity in giving, while welcoming all people.

To help our pastors and congregations pursue the Great Commission, we partner with them and provide:

1. RESPECT, listening carefully to their hopes, dreams and fears, helping them to understand their context using available data and statistical reports, helping them to set realistic ministry goals, providing honest feedback where goals and data do not align;
2. ENCOURAGEMENT, through regular correspondence and communication with sessions, the sharing of educational and material resources with churches committed to pursuing the Great Commission, and through compassionate care for churches that wish to die with dignity, and to plan for and establish new worshipping communities;
3. INSPIRATION, by casting a bold visionto help churches plan for the future, and by faithfully following the Great Commission in our own actions and allocation of resources.