On Good Friday, Jesus died.
Congregations die, too.
Congregational death raises questions:
What if resurrection doesn’t come in the form we want it to?
What if the longed-for transformation and revitalization fail to appear?
What do we do when what we have been working for never comes to fruition?
How do we worship when our stories reflect Good Friday more than Easter morning?
Is it possible to hold steady as we walk towards the cross?
Can we witness to the resurrection even as we face death?
Let’s hold our questions together.
Good Friday Collaborative is your partner in the sacred work of congregational endings.
We walked that lonesome valley of ending ministries. Each collaborator has closed or merged congregations. We have stories to share! And now, through our experience, training, skills, and expertise, we companion with communities in discernment and faithful action. We work with pastors, local church leaders, whole congregations, and larger organizations.
In our coaching and consulting, we won’t tell you what to do. We will share our resources and hard-won wisdom.
We will collaborate with you as you discern how God is calling.
We believe that each community and individual brings wisdom to the table. Every experience of ministry and congregational endings is different. The history, culture, and communal hopes, along with the individual gifts, voices, and service of community members create a unique expression of church in the world.
It is within your specific context that God says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Resurrection is coming.
The Good Friday Collaborative proclaims the paradox of death and resurrection. We believe that Christ rose from the dead. We trust in new life — even though our beloved congregations will never open their doors again.
This is our legacy of faith. The Easter story has been passed down from generation to generation, despite the fact that individual congregations did not survive.
In the grief of Good Friday, we prepare our Easter shout:
“Christ is risen!”