A recent organizational paradigm - grouping the “Member Churches” into “Clusters”, consisting of “Magnet” churches (member churches with more limited resources), “Cornerstone” churches (member churches with more resources) and “Partner” churches (non-PIUM Member LCMS churches (mainly in suburban or rural areas) which will support these “member churches” with prayers, ideas, funds, and volunteers), has its first, trial implementation called the “Alpha Cluster”. The plan is for the rest of the “member churches” to also be included into other Clusters.

These churches, as all the PIUM churches, will share their resources and support each other in their mission programs, including sharing ideas at the least, with the common mission of serving Christ to make “Disciples of all Nations”. The basic requirement for this to succeed seems to be (“1 at a time”) individuals with shared passions from these churches. Each Alpha Cluster church must be willing to commit to giving and receiving as a covenant for this to succeed.

 

A reaffirmation of unity among the Cluster churches may be implemented with focused prayer, and, perhaps, some shared Bible Study. Awareness of the Cluster needs to be created among the Cluster churches, e.g., a Sunday Bulletin insert focusing on the ministries at the fellow Cluster churches may be utilized.

 

These Cluster Churches will partner together in “projects” (to help outreach grow with prayer, sharing information, personal approach and building unity) that will either be joint-projects, which each of these churches is involved for common goals, or, supported-projects, which are primarily for the benefit of one /more of these churches with the other ones supporting it with prayers, funds, volunteers and ideas.

 

Some criteria has been determined for an “ideal project” for these Clusters, as follows:

· Reasonable length (short-term)

· Sustainable

· Requires volunteers, though with the majority not needing too many skills

· Leads to more relationships (fellowship) and enthusiasm

· Enables more outreach-ministry to grow

· Meaningful with an immediate impact

· Avoid territoriality among Cluster churches.

Alpha Cluster: This Cluster includes the following LCMS Churches: Christ, Mt. Olive, Our Redeemer, St. Johns, Timothy, and Unity (non-PIUM Member Church, located in Washington Park, Il .).More details...

Clusters

Partners In Urban Ministry (PIUM)

Mission: Our organization strives to foster partnerships among LCMS congregations and entities to accomplish God’s mission in our midst.