The Collaboration Pillar fosters sustainability, innovation, and vitality among presbyteries within the Synod of the Northeast.
The Collaboration Pillar fosters sustainability, innovation, and vitality among presbyteries within the Synod of the Northeast. By encouraging shared resources, nurturing innovative partnerships, and, where appropriate, supporting presbytery mergers, this ministry area seeks to revitalize presbyteries, strengthen bonds across mid councils, and cultivate a thriving, inclusive, mission-oriented church structure. Intentional collaboration provides a pathway for presbyteries to adapt to changing contexts while maintaining faithful witness and mission.
The Collaboration Pillar is designed to resource presbyteries and mid councils committed to innovation, mission-focused partnerships, and sustainability. It is particularly targeted toward declining or under-resourced presbyteries seeking new pathways to sustainability, mid councils aiming to strengthen connections and collective mission within the Synod, and leadership structures exploring collaboration, mergers, or shared resource models.
This pillar will operate through an independent commission within the Synod’s governance framework. This nine-member body will include representatives from the Council, the pillar leadership, the Synod Leader, Assembly members, and at-large teaching or ruling elders. Membership will reflect the Synod’s commitments to diversity and inclusion, ensuring a broad perspective in guiding collaborative initiatives.
To realize the vision of vibrant, connected presbyteries, the Collaboration Pillar will focus on six interrelated strategies:
Through virtual and in-person gatherings, presbyteries will have opportunities to deepen social, ecclesial, and missional bonds. These gatherings will provide spaces for shared learning, collective reflection, and coordinated action, strengthening the Synod’s common witness and fostering a culture of mutual support.
Investing in gatherings that cultivate trust, shared values, and strong partnerships supports sustained collaboration. These intentionally designed experiences will encourage meaningful participation, mutual accountability, and lasting relationships among presbyteries, laying the foundation for ongoing cooperative work.
Innovative leadership models, including joint staffing and resource-sharing, will be promoted across presbyteries. Strategic support from the Synod—financial, leadership, and advisory—will enable these models to develop sustainably, creating long-term capacity for collaboration and shared mission.
The pillar will celebrate and share successes across presbyteries, highlighting collaborative initiatives through Synod communications and events. Presbytery participants will be supported in translating discernment into action, with clear timelines for implementing shared ministries within 9-12 months, reinforcing a culture of learning and practical impact.
The pillar will inspire and support initiatives that advance presbytery collaboration, innovation, and measurable impact. Proposals will be encouraged to clearly articulate goals, anticipated outcomes, and alignment with the Synod’s strategic vision. Transparency, shared learning, and accountability will guide the grant process, ensuring that resources are effectively leveraged to strengthen collective ministry.
Collaboration members will receive training in organizational models, mergers, mediation, and conflict transformation. The Synod Leader and Stated Clerk will provide ongoing guidance, coaching, and transitional support to ensure presbyteries have the tools and confidence to engage in sustainable collaborative work.
Through these strategies, the Collaboration Pillar anticipates transformative outcomes for the Synod and its presbyteries, including stronger bonds across presbyteries, sustainable models of shared leadership and resource management, greater innovation in under-resourced presbyteries, and a more cohesive Synod structure.
Success will be measured through both qualitative and quantitative indicators and collaboration support grants will be re-evaluated in 2028. The pillar group will make a report and recommendations to the October 2028 Synod Assembly.