Mission
The Council of Churches of Greater Springfield (the Council)
shall be the vehicle that will bring local congregations and
community together in the spirit of unity. In living out the gospel,
the Council shall be a prophetic voice for Christians and
non-Christians alike, addressing issues of social and economic
justice, consumerism, education, and political and social
responsibility. In doing so, we profess three goals:
1. To bring local congregations and the community together in the
spirit of unity by providing information and serving as a
clearinghouse and center for community outreach, and by educating
churches and community organizations in the greater Springfield area
of the mission and work of the Council.
2. To serve as a bridge builder among people of different faiths,
cultures, and classes by providing and promoting opportunities to
work collaboratively through service and social action, and by
providing spiritual opportunities for healing, forgiveness, and
agape.
3. To remove barriers that separate us from other churches whose
form of worship may be different or nontraditional by sponsoring
events which promote ecumenism and positive interfaith
relationships, creating opportunities which promote cooperation and
ownership in learning, action, and fellowship among all people of
faith, and by expanding the membership of the Council.
History
The Council has existed since 1936. It consists of Protestant
congregations committed to working together in mission and ministry
to our communities. The Council is made up of churches serving
Agawam, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Hampden, Longmeadow, Ludlow,
Monson, Springfield, Westfield, West Springfield, and Wilbraham. In
short, you and the members of your congregation, through stewardship
of time, talents and resources, make up the Council.
Everyone in the Greater Springfield area benefits, directly or
indirectly, from the ministry of the Council. The Council has
advocated and mediated a number of social issues such as violence
prevention, substance abuse, racism, AIDS awareness, and police and
community relations. More specifically, elderly people and families
receive emergency fuel assistance, youths receive summer camp
scholarships, new mothers receive baby layettes, and children
receive mittens and scarves. In addition, countless people, many of
whom are in extremely critical situations, call the Council and
receive our support and help in connecting them with appropriate
community organizations.
The Council is an ecumenical organization made up of area
churches which are followers of Jesus Christ and believe Him to be
our Divine Lord and Savior. These churches manifest their unity
through prayer, worship, social action, mission, and service. The
Council involves volunteers in a mission of commitment to the human
and spiritual needs of people through services such as hospital and
nursing home chaplaincy, interfaith dialogue, peace and justice
issues, a monthly newsletter, and collaboration with community
organizations. We rely almost totally on church pledges, donations
from religious organizations, and individual contributions.
The Council maintains sensitivity to different faith traditions
and encourages these diverse faith communities to work in
partnership with us as we minister to all who are in need. To that
end, the Council has an Ecumenical and Interfaith Division and is a
member of the Western Massachusetts Interfaith Council. The Council
also maintains fellowship and cooperation with other Councils of
Churches, The Massachusetts Council of Churches, The National
Council of Churches, and the World Council of Churches.
Divisions
Ecumenical & Interfaith
The Ecumenical & Interfaith Division strives to increase
understanding and cooperation between member churches and other
faith communities through such events as the Week of Prayer for
Christian Unity, Holy Week worship services, interfaith
Thanksgiving worship, The Springfield Ecumenical School of
Theology, and other educational dialogues and events.
Community Ministry
The Community Ministry Division seeks to make “faith active
in love” by addressing community-identified needs through public
advocacy, lobbying, and education. This division coordinates the
availability of specific services to the Greater Springfield
community. It encourages and engages in study and action
regarding issues of peace and justice.
Pastoral Services
The Pastoral Services Division plans, develops, and
implements pastoral care and chaplaincy services to public and
private institutions, and works to ensure that professional
pastoral counseling is available to all.
Business & Finance
The Business & Finance Division develops and supervises a
program for financial support of the Council. It prepares the
annual budget and supervises budgetary operations.
Public Relations
The Public Relations Division promotes and creates a better
understanding by the general public of the cooperative work of
the Council. It develops public relations programs; and it is
responsible for publishing the Council newsletter and press
releases for media distribution.
Personnel & Search
The Personnel & Search Division is responsible for hiring the
Council’s Executive Director and is called upon for the
resolution of any personnel issues that may arise within the
Council staff.
Denominations
Member churches of the Council come from a variety of histories
and denominations. Currently, our membership comes from African
Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, Armenian,
Baptist, Community, Episcopal, Evangelical, Federated, Independent,
Lutheran, Methodist, Orthodox, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Salvation
Army, and United Church of Christ churches. We are also seeking a
broader participation and voice from our larger family of church
denominations.
Logo
The logo of the Council of Churches of Greater Springfield is a
ship on a storm-tossed sea. The word “OIKOUMENE” comes from the
Greek word “oikos,” meaning house or dwelling, and refers to the
inhabited world. It is an image of the Christian faith’s global
inclusiveness which calls us away from narrow and provincial
concerns.
The logo reminds us that we are in the same boat traveling
through troubled waters under the cruciform mast of Christ. We bear
a message of unified faith and commitment to Jesus’ prayer that we
might finally be one in spirit and ministry.
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