Countryside Cooperative Ministry

We have a new web address, http://www.countrysidecoop.org/!

Our mission is to proclaim the good news of God's love in word and deed as individual congregations and as a Cooperative Ministry.

Who are we?

Countryside Cooperative Ministry is an ecumenical cooperative ministry comprised of six congregations: 4 ELCA, 1 Presbyterian Church USA and 1 United Church of Christ. Our congregations range in size from 26 to 600+ members.

The majority of our members live in an area that is approximately 70 miles from north to south and 25 miles from east to west. It is approximately 40 miles between our most distant congregations. Our parish encompasses many communities. Communities in which we have congregations include: Barnum, Roelyn, Moorland, Gowrie, Harcourt and Boxholm.

Most of us were born and raised in this area. We are all intimately connected to the land. We wear many different hats; however, we are linked by a love for rural life.

We value tradition; however, we are also open to innovation. We are aware that the future of God's mission in this area depends upon a willingness to listen to what God is calling us to be and do.

Our Cooperative Ministry is a result of listening to God's call.

How did the Cooperative develop?

The departure of a pastor from Zion Lutheran Church, Gowrie, in 1999, left the congregation asking themselves what they were going to do next. A pastor and intern had served Zion for 15 years but they believed they needed a staffing pattern that provided more continuity. This led to a series of conversations with Faith Lutheran Church in Harcourt that resulted in a decision to form a Cooperative Ministry and call two pastors to serve the two congregations. This relationship began in November of 2000.

The announcement of the upcoming retirement of Pastor John Jones from Our Saviour's, Callender led to the next step in the development of the Cooperative.

In the mid 1990's, a number of area congregations began to meet and look for ways they could do ministry together. Pastors Norman Frerking, John Jones and Marlin Snyder led these meetings. Initially, the congregations participated in occasional joint worship services and youth events. The announcement of Pastor Jones' retirement led Pastor Snyder and Frerking to express concern regarding what would happen to the congregations they served when they retired. At the time, Pastor Snyder was 66 and Pastor Frerking was 85.

This led to a conversation between seven congregations regarding the possibility of doing cooperative ministry on a wider basis. Those present returned to their respective boards and inquired as to whether there was interest in having conversations of this nature. There was interest so the conversation continued in June of 2001.

The question that guided our conversations was, "How can we most effectively accomplish our mission in light of the changes we are experiencing in rural America?"

We began the conversation by asking the following questions:

Why do our congregations exist?
What is our mission?
How would things change if we ceased to exist?

Through these conversations, we affirmed that each congregation is unique; however, we share a common mission in striving to help others to experience the love of Christ in word and deed and offering hope to individuals and communities.

We discussed the demographic and economic challenges facing our congregations, including the challenge of finding clergy willing to serve in rural ministry.

We talked about other forms of ministry and concerns associated with them.

Finally, we returned to the question that guided our conversation: "How can we most effectively accomplish our mission in light of the changes we are experiencing in rural America?"

We spent the summer months of 2001 developing a "Proposal for a Cooperative Ministry Agreement" to present to our boards and congregations. We borrowed heavily from Tri-County Ministry in Cooperstown, North Dakota along with models for shared ministry in Northeast Iowa. Rev. Darrell Gerrietts, Assistant to the Bishop in Northeast Iowa, was an invaluable resource.

Councils approved the "Proposal for a Cooperative Ministry Agreement" and informational meetings were held in each of the congregations.

Congregations voted in October and November of 2001 on whether they wanted to participate in the Cooperative Ministry. The vote was unanimous. Trinity, Boxholm joined the Cooperative Ministry in November of 2001 and Calvary, Fulton and the UCC/Congregational joined in February of 2002.

What are the ongoing challenges?

We have an average worship attendance of approximately 400 in our Cooperative congregations. For congregations to thrive, there should be approximately one program staff for every 100 people in worship. Our Cooperative Ministry should have four program staff. We currently have two. Challenges to additional staffing include: vision, economics and availability.

The Cooperative Council voted in February 2003 to move to a lay-based model for ministry instead of a traditional staff-based model. This transition will require a change of attitudes and additional staff. We will be filling two part-time positions that will oversee youth ministry and pastoral care. These positions will be responsible for sharing vision, recruiting, training and supporting those who will be involved in specific ministries. Worship needs will continue to be provided by staff, people involved in the Western Iowa Lay School of Ministry and the Presbyterian Lay Academy and gifted lay leaders.

The greatest challenge is the vision necessary for cooperative ministry. It is very difficult for staff and members to envision a ministry that is not staff-based. It is a constant struggle to be reminded that we are all called to be involved in the ministry of the church, not just the pastor and staff.

What are the joys and successes?

The greatest joy has been the increased cooperation that has developed between the Cooperative congregations. There is growing appreciation of the unique gifts of each of the congregations and the opportunities for others to benefit from those gifts. Attitudes toward Cooperative ministry are slowly changing from seeing it as a necessity to seeing it as an opportunity.

Members of the congregations continue to take greater ownership of the mission and ministry of the church and develop innovative approaches to ministry. People are being empowered to develop and implement new visions for ministry.

We currently have two Cooperative worship services a year. These are incredible experiences to gather to celebrate our shared faith in Jesus Christ and be renewed for the ministry we share.

Cooperative ministry is providing us with a renewed sense of hope as together we face the challenges of doing ministry in a changing rural environment.