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Thriving Congregations

The Thriving Congregations Program equips congregations in the Presbytery of Arkansas–particular small, rural congregations–to thrive in their ministries and in their communities

The purpose of this program, and its various components, is to equip congregations for thriving by helping them reclaim their theological heritage in the form of the 6 Great Ends of the Church (found in our Book of Order),

The Great Ends of the Church are:

  • The proclamation of the Gospel for the salvation of humankind.
  • The shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God.
  • The maintenance of divine worship.
  • The preservation of the truth.
  • The promotion of social righteousness.
  • The exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.

and re-imagine how to live out those Great Ends, as who they are and where they are, at this moment, and with hope for the future.

Interest Form
Lilly Endowment, Inc.

The Thriving Congregations Program is part of the Thriving Congregations Initiative of the Lilly Endowment, and is the second grant given to the University of the Ozarks. The initial grant is for 5-years.

Read more about the grant.

Our ultimate hope is for congregations to be equipped with theological language through the 6 Great Ends, to be encouraged in imagining and re-imagining how to live out the faith of that language, and to be connected to their communities and the congregations of the Presbytery of Arkansas

We want to accomplish this by offering an educational track, focused on:

  • Core Identity
  • Community
  • Connection
  • Cohort Gathering

Thriving Congregations: Exploratory Track

The Exploratory Track is being revamped, but it will remain focused on: Core Identity of your Church, Community, Connection between your church and your community and Cohort, gathering with other churches and learning and building connections together.

This track has space for 4 congregations, no more than 3 participants from each congregation.

We hope through this exploratory track you will re-discover Reformed Presbyterian concepts, learn about your church and community, and connect with your community and other Presbyterians.

This track will progress in monthly meetings, as followed:

  • Meeting 1: Introduction to the 6 great ends and deeper exploration of the concepts and their connections to scripture
  • Meeting 2: Getting to know your Church, thinking about its Core Identity--an in-depth conversation about who your church is and who you believe God has called you to be
  • Meeting 3: Initial 2 of the 6 Great Ends will be studied in terms of their connection to scripture and your church's identity--which 2 concepts are used will depend on the initial convesrations with your church participants
  • Meeting 4: Getting to know your community --an in-depth conversation about your community and the connections you have, or wish to have, with it
  • Meeting 5: 2 more of the 6 Great Ends--once again, depending on the order conceived of based on conversation with your church participants
  • Meeting 6: Final 2 of the 6 Great Ends--once again, depending on the order conceived of based on conversation with your church participants
  • Meeting 7: Gathering as a Cohort, on the University of the Ozarks campus, where we will spend time thinking about Connection with communities, and with each other, and conceiving of an idea to build those connections

This track is currently in progress with a cohort of churches. The next cohort track will begin in September 2025, with space for 4 congregations, no more than 3 participants from each congregation.

For questions, or to express your interest, please contact Rev. Sara Anne Berger, [email protected] or fill out this form.

Interest Form