MISSION STATEMENT

 As the Presbytery of Southern New England, we will

•  Glorify and enjoy God together;

•  Love and care for one another as individuals and congregations;

•  Empower congregations and individuals to share the good news of Jesus Christ at home and throughout the world.

 VISION STATEMENT

    We believe both that each of these mandates is important in its own right and that each is intimately connected with the other two in the manner Jesus indicated in his prayer: “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.  As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:20-21 NRSV).  We also believe, as Presbyterians, that our presbytery can fulfill this trinitarian calling through carrying out the responsibilities required by the Book of Order (G-11.0103).  However, at this time of crisis when much of our life as a presbytery reveals both the deep divisions within our culture and the determination of many of its members to find a way to deal with those divisions together in a genuinely Christian way; when there are high levels of distrust and indifference towards governing bodies above the local church session, and yet highly gifted people who are willing to serve God through this presbytery; when the presbytery is facing a financial crisis serious enough to force us to rethink our mission, our life and work together,  we believe that it is necessary for the Presbytery of Southern New England to give special emphasis to certain strategic priorities in the years ahead if it is to fulfill its Trinitarian calling faithfully at this juncture.

 Glorify and enjoy God together;

 + By gathering in worship as a covenant community in creative, high-quality worship services, which can also serve as models for congregational use.

 + By celebrating the unity God gives the Church and seeking to reflect that unity in our worship and common life.

 + By keeping this, our true end, ever before us as we seek to be faithful in the substance and process of making decisions.                     

Love and care for one another as individuals and congregations;

 + By treating one another with respect, compassion and love, sharing one another’s joys and struggles.

 + By taking time to build relationships deliberately between both individuals and congregations.

 + By developing partnerships between member congregations for shared nurture and mission.

 + By deepening understanding of, identification with, and joy in our Presbyterian heritage as well as our ties with the work of Synod and General Assembly.

Empower congregations and individuals to share the good news of Jesus Christ at home and throughout the world. 

+ By having at least one ongoing “mission project” of the Presbytery as a whole at all times.

 + By providing resources (e.g., application of new technology) for equipping individuals and congregations for ministry and mission.

 + By encouraging good stewardship towards the Presbytery’s mission and communicating that mission in such a way that members can see the difference their gifts are making.

 + By focusing the energy of the Presbytery’s leadership and administration upon this empowerment aspect of the Presbytery’s mission.

 “The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one.  I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:22-23 NRSV).

 Adopted by Presbytery 5/4/02