Dear friends in Christ,
As this message goes out, the Forward Movement board is finishing its semi-annual meeting in Cincinnati. Our board meets twice each year in person, and our meetings are steeped in prayer, rooted in scripture, and sustained by faith. Of course, the board does all the things they need to do in an oversight function: monitor finances, ensure policy compliance, review staff performance, and so on. But that’s not the key work of the board.
At our meetings, we talk about the current and future work of Forward Movement as we carry out our mission to inspire disciples and empower evangelists. That requires us at times to step back and look at the needs and hopes of the world and the church. Made up of excellent clergy and lay leaders across the church, our board offers a diversity of perspectives, but we shared one central passion at our meeting: we can do a better job of making disciples. The Gospel demands it and the world needs it.
This is not an impossible task! There are thriving churches of all shapes and sizes. We can look and see what’s working now, and we can work to fill resource gaps where they exist. It’s actually encouraging to get clear-eyed about our challenges and opportunities as a church.
As our meeting wraps up, I am hopeful for our work and grateful for leadership and support from our board. We are working to provide resources to help you and your church grow in number and in depth. And we are always mindful of our loving God, who gives all the growth.
I ask you to pray for our whole church and for the Forward Movement. Here is a prayer from the 1930s that has been adapted for modern use:
O God, we ask your guidance and blessing for the Forward Movement of your church. Use it, we pray, to open our eyes to your glory and to the opportunities that lie before the church to reach people everywhere with the good news of Christ. Grant that the leaders of Forward Movement may be both wise and daring disciples and stir up in us the will to share joyfully in this work with our prayers and gifts. Let not our purpose grow slack, that the nations of this world may become one holy people under the kingship of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ. This we ask in His name. Amen.
Yours faithfully,
Scott Gunn
Executive Director
P.S. For a closer look at our ministry over the last year, check out the Forward Movement Annual Report.
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