Part 2 - Other Important Information

A New Conversation

• The PCGN is seeking to foster a denomination-wide conversation about church growth. This conversation will continue for some, be new for others, and be improved for many.

• Congregations and new faith communities in rural, suburban, and urban contexts face diNerent challenges and opportunities that impact church growth.

Part of the PC(USA)

• The members of the PCGN are committed to the theology, polity, and values of the PC(USA)

• The PCGN will not foster any conversations that support divisiveness, schism, or departing the PC(USA)

Expanded Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement and Values

• The PCGN promotes the full inclusion of all people and seeks to be a diverse and equitable learning community.

• The PCGN seeks to support all PC(USA) congregations, new worshipping communities, and leaders.

• PCGN will encourage people to engage with and learn from authors, leaders, churches, best practice practitioners, thought leaders, and others from across the global church. We are committed to learning from people with whom we might disagree on certain theological beliefs or convictions.

• The PCGN leadership team will make every reasonable effort to share in advance if any authors, leaders, churches, best practice practitioners, thought leaders, and the like that are promoted by the PCGN have made public statements that do not align with the diversity, equity, and inclusion values of the PC(USA).

• The PCGN will respect chosen names for all people. The PCGN will use preferred pronouns for all leaders and encourage the use of preferred pronouns for all individuals involved in PCGN events and activities.

Membership and Participation

• Anyone who is an active member in good standing of a PC(USA) congregation, a PC(USA) presbytery, or other PC(USA) affiliated institutions is welcome to participate in all PCGN network activities, whether in person or online.

• The PCGN leadership team reserves the right to restrict access to in-person and online activities if any individual or group causes undue harm to others.

• The PCGN is an ecumenical effort. Leaders from other denominations, non-denominational churches, or similar entities are welcome to participate in the PCGN activities that are open to the broader church.

Platform Qualifications

• The PCGN will ordinarily only allow people to be speakers, presenters, or workshop leaders who meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • ordained ruling elders or teaching elders in the PC(USA)

  • leaders from other denominations with which the PC(USA) are in full communion

  • publicly support the diversity, equity, and inclusion values of the PC(USA)

Leadership Team Qualifications

• The PCGN leadership team members will be committed to the PC(USA) values of diversity, equity, and inclusion (BOO F 1.10403)

• The leadership team will typically consist of ordained ruling elders or PC(USA) ministers of Word and Sacrament who are in good standing with their respective local congregation or presbytery.

PCGN Leadership Team Structure

• The leadership team will be elected during the annual meeting of the PCGN

• The PCGN leadership team will consist of up to 7 voting members

• They will be organized into classes with term lengths. Terms will be 3 to 5 years in length. Renewable once. The target is three classes of leadership team members, with 2 or 3 people per class

• A moderator and secretary shall be elected. A treasurer may be elected as well.

• If the PCGN has staff in the future, the senior leader or a single executive-level staff member will be allowed to sit on the leadership team as a voting member. They may serve as moderator.

• A nominating committee will be assembled for future nominations. The PCGN nominating committee will seek to help cultivate a diverse leadership team.