Daring to Share: Multi-Denominational Congregations in the United States and Canada

Multi-denominational congregations offer rich soil for new interpretations of what it means to be a church. These parishes have chosen to covenant together for worship, service, ministry, mission, and nurturing of faith across two or more denominational traditions. Daring to Share tells their stories, investigates their practices, and proposes a fresh vision of church for the twenty-first century. This book equips ordained and lay leaders for the formation and flourishing of such ministries. It describes five models of partnership, analyzes the parish life cycle, interprets how worship works, addresses constitutional and governance issues, and reflects theologically on the intersection of diversity and unity. What can we learn from these congregations? Studying their particular witness, struggles, and promise for the future fills a gap in both congregational studies and contemporary ecclesiology. Multi-denominational parishes are more than a convenient way to revitalize congregational ministry. They present new opportunities and approaches for sharing the gospel. Ecumenical convergence meets demographic realities to suggest a mission strategy that will transform local practice and, perhaps, the church itself. By daring to share, these churches challenge a fractured world. ""The work of Beardsall, Budde, and McDonald casts a valuable spotlight on imaginative Christian congregations and provides a welcome update to the literature of a bold ecumenical enterprise on the ground. It is a practical guide for people who want to try the experiment of multiple denominational churches, a critique of some of the real difficulties, and an inspiration through stories."" –Alyson Barnett-Cowan, President, Canadian Council of Churches ""Throughout church history, Christians have been creative in ministering to the needs of people. . . . In Daring to Share, the authors–Beardsall, Budde, and McDonald–advocate on behalf of a growing trend among Christians, namely, churches sharing in ministry. . . . The authors draw upon interviews with church leaders about real-life experiences of congregations sharing resources for ministry."" –Don Thorsen, Azusa Pacific University Seminary Sandra Beardsall is Professor of Church History and Ecumenics at St. Andrew's College in Saskatoon, Canada. She is a member of the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches. Mitzi J. Budde is Head Librarian and Professor at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. She is co-editor of Thinking Theologically about Mass Incarceration (2017). William P. McDonald is Professor of Religion and Department Chair at Tennessee Wesleyan University in Athens, Tennessee. He is the author of Christian Catechetical Texts (2011).