As our Office of the Bishop staff recently reflected on Terri Martinson Elton’s article from Word & World, “The Future of Congregations: Cruciform Communities of Hope,” one thing stood out: the church today is uniquely positioned at a critical intersection of past legacy and future potential. Elton’s insights encourage us to see congregations not as static institutions but as living, cruciform communities of hope.

In this pivotal moment, local churches are called to shift from focusing solely on traditional programs to cultivating dynamic faith practices. Elton highlights the importance of fostering Christian identity through relationships, sacramental practices, and missional engagement. Faith, she asserts, is not confined to the church building—it must intersect with our everyday lives, whether at work, home, or in our neighborhoods.

For congregations, this means embracing practices like deep listening, storytelling, and radical hospitality, which connect us to God’s love and empower us to share that love with others. Elton’s vision invites leaders to embrace their role “in the middle,” balancing the honoring of past traditions with the bold experimentation necessary for stewarding the Christian witness into the future.

We encourage you to explore Elton’s full article, which challenges and inspires us to reimagine the church as a community of faith, deeply rooted in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Read it here: The Future of Congregations: Cruciform Communities of Hope.