Church of the Covenant
5-Year Missional Plan 2025-2030
BRAIDING JUBILEE: Church of the Covenant’s 5-Year Missional Plan 2025-2030
A cord braided of three strands is not easily torn apart. ~ Ecclesiastes 4:12
Jesus, unfurling the scroll of Isaiah, amplified and embodied what is written, “The Spirit is upon me to bring the good news to earth of centering the marginalized, bringing liberation and repair, and providing God’s joyful new vision.” ~Luke 4:16-21, paraphrased
The Jubilee of Jesus is a vision for liberation, repair, restoration, and joy.
Motivated by braiding this vision into our life together and inspired by the past five years of our Climate Jubilee ministry, Church of the Covenant commits to the following goals, with the Spirit’s help, as we continue to strive to love God, neighbor, and earth through the second half of these “Soaring 20’s”:
Summarized Goals: (yes, they rhyme, to help us remember) “Jubilee. It’s as easy as 123, ABC…”
Aware. We will be aware of our calling and our capacity.
Bear. We will bear witness.
Care. We will care for and love one another.
Dare. We will dare to try new things.
Declare. We will declare our story and God’s love through innovative outreach.
Prayer. We will pray together, and stay together, as a vital congregation, centered on God.
Prepare. In this climate changing world, we will prepare for jubilee action and joy.
Repair. We will tell the truth in love to help repair others and ourselves.
Share. We will share the spiritual wisdom in our tradition with future and current generations.
Expanded Goals:
A. Calling & Capacity --> AWARE
We will be aware of God’s presence in the world. We will also be aware of our calling and our capacity. In our living into these goals, we will remember that we can’t do it all, but we can do something. We are limited by time, resources, and people. The jubilee practice of sabbath rest must be faithfully practiced. We are also created in the very image of God and given spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12) for such a time as this (Esther 4:14).
B. Grounded Public Witness --> BEAR Stand Firm. ~ Ephesians 6:10-14
C. Culture of Compassion & Caring --> CARE Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God. ~1 John 4:7
D. Creative Income Generation --> DARE For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ~Matthew 6:21
E. Innovative Outreach --> DECLARE Go out into the world and be about the gospel. ~Mark 16:15
F. Congregational Vitality --> PRAYER Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good ~Romans 12:9-21
Ensure our life together is inspired, challenged, comforted, educated, equipped, and transformed in the ways of faith in Christ to live and act in love. Keep and deepen our longstanding tradition of emphasizing both contemplation and action – the inward life that inspires solidarity. Develop the congregation through vital worship, engaging community opportunities, spiritual practices, spiritual education, scripture studies, communal prayer, faith formation, embodied social justice, and Christ-like discipleship and service.
G. Climate Jubilee Team --> PREPARE The floods are roaring. More awesome…soaring on high is God! ~Psalm 93
H. Generative Truth Telling --> REPAIR And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. ~John 8:32
I. Christian Spiritual Formation --> SHARE Let the children come to me… ~ Luke 18:16
A cord braided of three strands is not easily torn apart. ~ Ecclesiastes 4:12
Jesus, unfurling the scroll of Isaiah, amplified and embodied what is written, “The Spirit is upon me to bring the good news to earth of centering the marginalized, bringing liberation and repair, and providing God’s joyful new vision.” ~Luke 4:16-21, paraphrased
The Jubilee of Jesus is a vision for liberation, repair, restoration, and joy.
Motivated by braiding this vision into our life together and inspired by the past five years of our Climate Jubilee ministry, Church of the Covenant commits to the following goals, with the Spirit’s help, as we continue to strive to love God, neighbor, and earth through the second half of these “Soaring 20’s”:
Summarized Goals: (yes, they rhyme, to help us remember) “Jubilee. It’s as easy as 123, ABC…”
Aware. We will be aware of our calling and our capacity.
Bear. We will bear witness.
Care. We will care for and love one another.
Dare. We will dare to try new things.
Declare. We will declare our story and God’s love through innovative outreach.
Prayer. We will pray together, and stay together, as a vital congregation, centered on God.
Prepare. In this climate changing world, we will prepare for jubilee action and joy.
Repair. We will tell the truth in love to help repair others and ourselves.
Share. We will share the spiritual wisdom in our tradition with future and current generations.
Expanded Goals:
A. Calling & Capacity --> AWARE
We will be aware of God’s presence in the world. We will also be aware of our calling and our capacity. In our living into these goals, we will remember that we can’t do it all, but we can do something. We are limited by time, resources, and people. The jubilee practice of sabbath rest must be faithfully practiced. We are also created in the very image of God and given spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12) for such a time as this (Esther 4:14).
B. Grounded Public Witness --> BEAR Stand Firm. ~ Ephesians 6:10-14
- In facing the rising injustices, Christian white fascist nationalism, and hatred in our country and world, we will remain grounded in the gospel of Jesus and the truths of the love of God, neighbor, and earth.
- Motivated by the beauty of this love, we will enter the public square through advocacy, creative embodied witness, courageous banner displays, strategic organizing, and digital ministry to speak truth to power.
- We will continue our deep investment in and public witness through GBIO.
- We will worship publicly “in the streets” at least annually (i.e., Winter Walk, Pride Parade, and Climate Justice).
- We will center full transgender (and LGBTQ) affirmation in our witness and life together.
C. Culture of Compassion & Caring --> CARE Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God. ~1 John 4:7
- In all that we do together, embody the compassion and caring of Jesus.
- Ensure that our community (members plus all who a part of our parish-watershed) is well pastorally cared for by our pastors, leaders, and through the vital ministry of our Deacons (increasing focus on elderly care).
D. Creative Income Generation --> DARE For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ~Matthew 6:21
- Empower our Generosity Generators to continue to inspire generous giving within our membership and reach beyond our membership to seek and pursue new and creative sources of revenue.
- Keep our faith and mission central in the stewardship of our historic building/architectural treasures, and the maintenance of relationships with partners who share our space.
- Keep awareness of changes that climate will bring to Boston central in our long-term building plans, while investigating new ways our building/architecture can generate income for our jubilee-centered ministry.
E. Innovative Outreach --> DECLARE Go out into the world and be about the gospel. ~Mark 16:15
- Pursue innovative outreach efforts for young families with children and youth.
- Ensure staff, pastors, and committee position descriptions include outreach in their scope.
- Dedicate each 5th Sunday morning worship slot for a new innovative approach to worship and organizing.
- Utilize and build up our digital ministry to help grow the congregation and strengthen our witness.
F. Congregational Vitality --> PRAYER Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good ~Romans 12:9-21
Ensure our life together is inspired, challenged, comforted, educated, equipped, and transformed in the ways of faith in Christ to live and act in love. Keep and deepen our longstanding tradition of emphasizing both contemplation and action – the inward life that inspires solidarity. Develop the congregation through vital worship, engaging community opportunities, spiritual practices, spiritual education, scripture studies, communal prayer, faith formation, embodied social justice, and Christ-like discipleship and service.
- Spiritually Centered. Everything begins with and flows out from our center – faith in Jesus our Liberator who teaches us to love God, Neighbor, and Earth. In grace, we will strive to help realize the Reign of God.
- Community Based. Our cherished life together will both inform our decision-making and infuse our care for one another. We will provide spaces to engage that are both in person and online (i.e., weekly Bible Study and Evening Prayers). In grace, we will strive to build the Beloved Community.
- Worship Infused. Maintain and enhance regular “divine worship” in creative, innovative, intergenerational, and relevant ways that is responsive to our times, keeps Word & Sacrament central and contributes to spiritual growth. Ensure use of creative and alternative forms of liturgy and music that expand horizons. Ensure our worship spaces are well organized, clean, accessible, safe, and reflect diversity, our theology, and values – making regular use of digital means to increase accessibility and outreach.
G. Climate Jubilee Team --> PREPARE The floods are roaring. More awesome…soaring on high is God! ~Psalm 93
- Maintain and grow a team that began in 2020 to carry out “a sacred movement of liberation for racial and eco-justice” for our church, city, and planet.
- Empower this team to infuse climate jubilee into the wider life of our congregation including worship, spiritual formation, outreach, building and land stewardship, through developing annual actionable objectives.
- Explore and strengthen creative/sacred partnerships beyond our congregation.
- Investigate how digital ministry and the arts can deepen our impact and outreach.
H. Generative Truth Telling --> REPAIR And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. ~John 8:32
- Inspired by the gospel, utilize spiritual education slots, worship, and book and Bible studies to uncover deeper truths about our world, our congregation, and ourselves and move us toward repair.
- Braid together the core COTC concerns of climate, racial, economic, gender, housing, and immigrant justice on an ongoing basis to inspire our congregation and surrounding communities toward action.
- Building off the racial justice component of climate jubilee, integrate and amplify our Sacred Reckonings truth telling and repair process to inform and guide our Reframe the Light sanctuary art initiative and inform how we fund and use our 1619 Reparations line item.
- Integrate and amplify a newly defined focus on Building Bridges for Economic Justice.
- Integrate and listen to the ongoing relational solidarity work of our Nicaragua Companions.
I. Christian Spiritual Formation --> SHARE Let the children come to me… ~ Luke 18:16
- Christian Formation for Children and Youth (CFCY). Create and sustain a vital curriculum and program for our children and youth, and carry out pastoral care for young families (parents and children). Conduct intentional outreach efforts to grow our CYCE community to ensure critical mass and fellowship.
- Spiritual Formation for All. Inspired by Popular Education, utilize Spiritual Education sessions, Bible Studies, Evening Prayers, Life Alive ministry, Climate Jubilee Equinox and Solstice Evensongs, special liturgical seasons and more to center and ground us in spiritual practices that inspire and inform our faith and life.
Church of the Covenant 2025-2030 Missional Plan
Measurable Goals based on Braiding Jubilee Vision
Measurable Goals based on Braiding Jubilee Vision
- 1. Receive and be led by annual measurable goals of our Climate Jubilee Team.
- 2. Receive and be led by annual measurable goals from our Sacred Reckonings initiative, with a culmination of a congregational reparatory act by 2030.
- 3. Enact the Reframe the Light project – as guided by the braiding together of Sacred Reckonings and Climate Jubilee. Maintain an equal focus on the process itself and the final art installation and be open to how this may lead us into new innovations and relationships.
- 4. Collate annually the outreach initiatives we engage with around building a vital Children and Youth ministry.
- 5. Engage in a congregation wide discernment process of Spirit-listening that examines our shared calling of being followers of Jesus our liberator connected to a historic sanctuary.
- 6. Dedicate each 5th Sunday morning worship slot for a new innovative approach to worship and community organizing.
The Soaring 20’s at Church of the Covenant: 5-Year Missional Plan 2020-2025
Soar high in the skies, O God! Cover the whole earth with your glory! And for the sake of the ones you love so much, help us - answer us! ~Psalm 108:5-6
As we engage in this renewed vision as a church, and in order to best soar in our love of God and neighbor in this next decade, let us commit to the following 5 “C” Goals:
1. Congregational Vitality
3. Creative Income Generation
4. Christian Formation for Children and Youth (CFCY)
5. Climate Jubilee Centered Innovative Outreach
Soar high in the skies, O God! Cover the whole earth with your glory! And for the sake of the ones you love so much, help us - answer us! ~Psalm 108:5-6
As we engage in this renewed vision as a church, and in order to best soar in our love of God and neighbor in this next decade, let us commit to the following 5 “C” Goals:
1. Congregational Vitality
- Ensure our life together is inspired, challenged, comforted, educated, equipped and transformed in the ways of faith to live and act in love. Keep and deepen our longstanding tradition of emphasizing both contemplation and action
- Maintain and enhance regular “divine worship” in creative, innovative and relevant ways that is responsive to our times, keeps Word & Sacrament central and contributes to spiritual growth. Ensure our worship spaces are well organized, clean, accessible, safe, and reflect diversity, our theology and commitments to peace and justice
- Develop the congregation through vital worship, engaging community opportunities, spiritual practices, faith formation, embodied social justice and Christ-like discipleship and service
- We trust such vitality as described above will lead to congregational growth
- In our life together, embody the compassion and caring of Jesus
- Ensure that our membership and all who visit our parish-watershed are well pastorally cared for by our pastors and through the ministry of our Deacons
- Ensuring that all those connected to our community are invited to investigate, engage and use their Spirit-given gifts to help build our community and the wider Beloved Community of God
3. Creative Income Generation
- Continue to inspire generous giving within our membership & reach beyond our membership through fundraisers & appeals
- Investigate new uses of our building that can generate income for our ministry that are in line with our eco-faith ethic (valuations on steeple or Parish Building housing, new office spaces, Holy Grounds Café, artwork, parking spot rentals, renting sanctuary out to other congregations, etc.)
4. Christian Formation for Children and Youth (CFCY)
- Create and sustain a vital curriculum and program for our children, youth and families
- Set up staffing structures that avoid burning out key volunteers (5-10 hours/ week for staff or pastor)
- Carry out pastoral care for young families/ (parents & children)
5. Climate Jubilee Centered Innovative Outreach
- Create a COTC Climate Jubilee Team to help guide this vision and develop annual actionable objectives (see Appendix for range of suggestions)
- Building on previous years of COTC’s innovative outreach and deep roots in justice spirituality, develop effective outreach opportunities and/or programs focused primarily on new groups of people (including students, artists and under-housed neighbors) in collaboration with pastors, staff and volunteer leadership in the ongoing work of growing our congregation’s vitality, impact, and sense of mission and purpose – while embodying the gospel of Jesus in creative ways
- Contemplation: Use our spiritual traditions, sacred spaces, and pastoral gifts to care for those experiencing climate anxiety, grief, displacement and fear. Action: show up visually as representatives of our faith in the public arena as a witness to activists, decision makers, and the wider community
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