Meet the DLTs: The Cornerstone DLT

June 19, 2019 / By Rev. Dr. Sherri Rood

The Cornerstone District Leadership Team (DLT) takes the L3 model of loving, learning, and leading seriously. We have become a trusting, praying, and supportive team. We have rediscovered the power of sharing a simple meal together. We talk, laugh, cry, and pray together. Sometimes we disagree, and we are okay with that. We have created a safe space where all are loved and valued as companions on the Way. Our desire is to share what we have experienced with the pastors and churches of the Cornerstone District so that they too may know the gift of a deeply committed, Christ-centered community of faith.

We continue to work on a comprehensive plan for 2019-2020. Conversation and feedback indicate most churches don’t understand the need for an intentional discipleship plan. The DLT wants to help congregations remember why they exist so that they may create an intentional discipleship plan. To facilitate that conversation:

• The Shepherding groups (pastors divided into geographical small groups) will read ,"Know your Why" and discuss ways congregations can rediscover their calling to introduce people to Jesus, welcome them into the community of faith and help them grow in their discipleship.

• The DLT will create a process for working with congregations (at their invitation) to discern their “why.” (It's based on work done by Rev. Dr. Aaron Bouwens, Susan Hardy, and Dawn Quesenberry.) There is energy in the DLT to be an active resource within local congregations.

• The DLT will produce a brochure about themselves as a vehicle to build relationships with the congregations on the District.

• The 2019 Fall Pastors’ Gathering will focus on “knowing your why as a leader and congregation” and will engage pastors in writing their own personal mission statement.

• A retreat for pastors and lay leaders will be offered to help partner knowing your why and visioning in the local congregation.

• The 2020 District Learning Day for Clergy and Laity will focus on how churches can know their “why,” so they may develop and deploy an intentional discipleship pathway.