06/08/2024
Brief History of New Creation Community Presbyterian Church
Following the tradition of the Church of the Saviour in Washington, D.C., Mark Sills, a Methodist pastor, stood and sounded a Call in March of 1985, at the behest of Frank Dew, who was interested in starting an alternative Presbyterian congregation in Greensboro. Ten to twelve people responded to the Call and began meeting with Frank weekly, even semi-weekly, to seek God's Will as they talked about a new vision of church. With the support of Z Holler, pastor of Presbyterian Church of the Covenant in Greensboro, we began as a new church development of Orange Presbytery, and later Salem Presbytery.
Seeking to be patterned after Church of the Saviour and deeply influenced by Cursillo, a lay renewal movement, our community began to take shape with great discernment and
intentionality. Many of the core values that have guided our lives together took root in these early discussions. For instance, our decision to not encumber ourselves with a building was a natural outcome of our shared commitment to mission and outreach; thus we have gathered for worship in two sister churches over the course of our history. A characteristic of our worship that has shaped our identity was our decision to provide the Sacrament of Communion every Sunday as a time when God's Spirit binds us in community and strengthens us for our inward and outward journey in the week ahead. Our Mission Statement, shared at the beginning of this document, grew out of these early experiences. And as we met regularly in members' homes, talking and listening to one another, we discerned the name of our church, based on 2 Corinthians 5: 17
'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has passed away, behold, the new has come."
We were new, we were "in Christ" and had been created by Christ, we were community, and we were Presbyterian. We clearly felt that the old had passed away.
From this beginning in response to God's Call, the New Creation Community was asked to take seriously all that it means to be the church of Jesus Christ. The Covenant of Membership that is renewed annually was signed for the first time by members in late November, 1985. This annual covenant states:
"We, who experience God's grace and Christ's salvation, covenant with
Christ and one another as members of this community to live under the
following commitments:
• Pray daily.
• Worship weekly.
• Study and fellowship together.
• Care for one another.
• Teach our children (this is not now relevant as we have no children).
• Give generously (the goal being 10% or more) to God's work.
• Share our gifts in service to others.
With God's help and the help of my brothers and sisters in this community,
I make this commitment in response to God's call to witness in the world.
Each year since, members are asked to renew their Covenant with God and with one another.
As a mission-focused church, New Creation members have always been concerned about people here and around the world, their issues and concerns, and how they could be helped. One of our greatest "watershed" challenges was discerning how our LGBTQ members might be called to leadership roles in our congregation at a time when the Presbyterian Church USA was not comfortable with such a question. Although we lost six active members of our congregation in the process, feeling acutely the cost of discipleship, our decision to fully embrace the gifts for ministry from all our members, regardless of sexual orientation, confirmed our core value of being an inclusive community. We currently are a More Light Presbyterian Church and support the work of Guilford Green.
Our commitment to hunger ministries (our most consistent advocacy effort) began with
supporting Bread for the World as a covenant church in our first year and soon extended to sharing breakfast and worship at Weaver House, the night shelter for Greensboro Urban Ministry {GUM}. We served breakfast regularly at GUM for over 30 years, ending in late 2019. We continue to provide support for GUM and Pennies for Hunger. Another example of supporting hunger ministries was that, at one point, we packaged 18,000 pounds of sweet potatoes and provided them to Guilford County and several surrounding counties at no cost, except to our backs.
Our involvement in public witness began early in the life of the congregation, opposing the Contra war in Nicaragua, apartheid in South Africa, the death penalty in North Carolina and in the nation (Frank was arrested on the steps of the Supreme Court), the passage of CAFTA (Central America Free Trade Agreement), the involvement of U.S. officials in Nicaraguan elections, and the war in Iraq. We participated in the Jubilee campaign for international debt relief. Some of our members were arrested for supporting K-Mart workers in their strike for workers' rights. We wrote letters, made telephone calls, and lobbied for children's health care in North Carolina. More recently, some of our members have participated in Moral Monday rallies and other aspects of the Poor People’s Campaign. A new ministry in which we were involved in 2023 was the “Guns to Gardens” movement, a program designed to work toward ending gun violence. We regularly contribute funds to Bread for the World, the PCUSA Office of Public Witness, the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship and the Poor People’s Campaign.
International connections also began early in the life of the church with mission trips to Mexico followed by a mission trip to South Africa after providing financial and housing support for young Black South African college students during a four-year course of study here in Greensboro. Our opposition to the Contra war led to our support for PCUSA mission co-workers in Nicaragua that then led to our first mission trip to Nicaragua. A desire to continue that connection resulted in the formation of our sister church relationship with a Catholic Christian Base Community, San Pablo Apostol, in Managua that has been assisted by CEPAD, the Council of Protestant Churches in Nicaragua, for more than 30 years through their Nehemiah program. Numerous visits have been made to Nicaragua and they have visited us. New Creation supports mission co-workers who work with CEPAD as well as supporting the development work done by CEPAD. We also support the work done by the Center for Development in Central America.
In the past but not currently, we have also been enriched by our international connections in Greensboro, supporting the work of Faith Action International, and working with refugees from Kosovo, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. We have also welcomed international visitors from Colombia, the Congo, South Africa, and Mexico.
Over the years, New Creation has provided money, land and person power for Habitat, Mary's House (a halfway house for mothers in recovery and their children), Peacehaven Farm (a sustainable farm and community for people living with disabilities), People to People in the Congo and Greensboro Urban Ministry toward housing homeless and low income people. In the past, we conducted educational programs and summer camp opportunities for low income children, and provided financial support and scholarships to members of New Creation Community, seminary students, Presbyterian Campus Ministry, and Nicaraguan students.
The Demographic context for our ministry
A deeply shared value of the New Creation Community is the commitment to 'pack lightly' for our journey together. Without the encumbrance of a building or debt, we are not limited to a particular geographic area. Rather, we are freed and challenged to go out and invite people to the welcome table.
"Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town
and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame."
And the slave said, "Sir, what you ordered has been done,
and there is still room." Then the master said to the slave,
"Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come
in, so that my house may be filled." Luke 14:21-23
Thus striving to follow Jesus, we are committed to reaching out across divisions of race, economic class, gender, age, sexual orientation, and any other perceived differences; together taking bold steps toward justice and wholeness.
Congregation Survey
Five features have been identified that describe New Creation as a congregation.
• Sense of community
• Inward spiritual journey
• Outward missional journey
• Small groups (including elder groups)
• Active lay leadership
The first and one of the most obvious is the sense of community that has been expressed by members through use of the following words: caring, supportive, inclusive, open, accepting of diversity, welcoming, and non-judgmental. Our favorite expression was you can truly "come as you are." The enthusiasm with which members share the peace of Christ with one another during the service is a demonstration of the depth of caring within the community. The monthly fellowship meal that takes place during worship invites all to participate in sharing a meal together "with glad and generous hearts" (Acts 2:46). One of the most important signs is the transportation provided by members of the congregation for those who have no means of transport. When conflicts arise in the life of the congregation, they are discussed by the community as a whole and resolved by consensus.
The question "Who is Jesus?" is what has guided New Creation on its inward journey. As we learn about Jesus, we grow in our love of God, self, and others. Members are encouraged to follow Jesus and center their lives on Jesus' teachings. Members believe that weekly worship and study are necessary to strengthen them spiritually and teach them what it means to follow Jesus in a "real" way. Communion each week is understood as another way of strengthening one's faith and demonstrating the relationship between God and ourselves, and with one another.
Following Jesus in a "real" way means living out what we believe in a way that helps mend some part of the world. This outward journey encourages members to actually "do" church by focusing on urgent local and global problems through public witness and mission. A major focus for New Creation since the beginning has been hunger, with participation in Bread for the World activities (letter writing, phone calls, emails). Other hunger ministries are described in the section on history. International connections have been an important part of the life of the church throughout its history from Mexico to Africa and currently Nicaragua. The conviction expressed from our beginnings, that not having church property would allow us to provide more financial support for mission outreach, continues to be celebrated as an important part of our identity today. Our commitment to those on the margins is central to our outward journey both within our community and in our many areas of witness.
Currently we have small groups within our congregation that focus on Nicaragua, Bread for the World, and the monthly fellowship supper preparation. The church is also organized around elder groups. Each elder maintains contact with those in their group. The strengths of this small group structure are in the possibility of relationships that are nurtured and sustained by shared call and service. Each person's presence and participation are vital to the whole.
New Creation Community is characterized by active lay leadership. Elders and other members of the congregation work in partnership with the pastor. Members often assume the leadership role in caring for those in our congregation who are sick or in crisis. Members as a whole are encouraged to explore and implement ideas with the consent of the Session.
Statistical Markers
Currently, 21 members and friends actively attend New Creation Community. Many of our attenders have attended for over 20 years. Regular participation in worship is high, with 56% of us attending almost every week and another 22% attending 2-3 times a month. And those same percentages describe our level of participation as remaining steady during the last two years. We are a community that enjoys one another's company!
New Creation welcomes and celebrates diversity, believing that we most authentically embody the Kingdom of God in our embrace of ALL God's people. The diversity of our community is reflected most in categories of socio-economic status and special needs, both physical and mental; with approximately 22% of our congregation living at or below the poverty level and 26% living with physical needs, addictions, or mental illness. Regarding our racial diversity, 87% of us are 'white' and 13% are 'people of color'. 70% of us are over the age of 60.
Narrative Budget History
• Year end Net Assets for 2022 were _____.
• New Creation carries no financial debt.
• We have received estate gifts throughout the years, of land and money, which we've turned around and given away to help the the most vulnerable in our society.
o Gift of land was given to Habitat.
o Large financial gift was given to help start Mary's House, a halfway house for mothers in recovery and their children.
• New Creation has averaged $____ income per year for the past four years.
• Expenses have averaged $____ per year for the past four years.
• New Creation does not pledge, believing 'if we're doing God's work, the money will come.'
• New Creation has been a committed supporter of Presbytery and the PC(USA)
throughout our history.
• Allocation of Budget
___% Mission
-supports local, national, and global ministries of both compassion and
justice
-An important asset of our congregation is that we are not encumbered
with a building which has freed us to seek out and serve those in need.
____% - Administration
____%- Personnel
Challenges for the Future
• Racial Diversity
• Socio-economic Diversity
• Age Diversity
• Leadership Diversity
Although a small and imperfect church confessing Jesus Christ as Lord, we believe we are called to continue our ministry in this broken world, being faithful to God's call to bring about God's Kingdom. In order to do this as effectively as possible, we face some challenges.
The composition of the U.S. is clearly becoming more racially diverse and, although it has been the desire of New Creation through the years to include more racial diversity, we have not been as successful as we had hoped. About 13% of the congregation is non-white.
As stated previously, New Creation is an open, welcoming community but the challenge is exploring ways to identify and attract those who would share and expand our vision and who would add racial diversity to our congregation. Socio-economic diversity would also be helpful in terms of providing additional resources and energy to the life of the church.
As is true of so many congregations within the denomination, ours is an aging congregation. Thus, another challenge is expanding the age range within the church and encouraging young adults (maybe from the college community in the Greensboro area) and families with young children to join us in our vision. More effective use of social media and better follow-up with visitors are possible places to start.
A continued focus on leadership development would also help strengthen the congregation. As the congregation becomes more diverse, finding ways to encourage all members to participate will be important. Further, learning together how to celebrate and utilize the variety of gifts inherent in our diverse body will not only broaden our capacity for service but will also bear witness to the transforming power of the church in the world.
Hope for the Future Pastor
New Creation has been blessed in its 30+ year journey with the leadership of our organizing pastor, Frank Dew, and with the leadership of two other pastors whose commitment to the Way of Jesus has helped to shape our vision and community. And we believe that God's Spirit is at work in the heart of the person who will discern the call to serve alongside us in the coming years.
In many ways the characteristics that we seek in our next pastor reflect the characteristics of our congregation.
Just as we long for openness, authenticity, and hospitality from our pastor, so also will we offer the same to them. Just as we celebrate ALL of God's people so also will we see the Christ in our next pastor, regardless of age, race, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other perceived difference. Just as we hope our next pastor will be forgiving so also will we be ready to offer forgiveness. The New Creation Community genuinely cares for one another and is passionate about loving God's world. In so doing, we recognize both the pastoral and the prophetic nature of our calling as Christians and will support that calling in our pastor.
We believe God's Spirit will lead us to the person who recognizes our hearts and resonates with us.
.. what does the Lord require of you,
but to do justice, and to love kindness
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8
