Support centre
local churches

The tasks of the Local Churches Support Centre are:

• supporting (small) congregations and classis with specific expertise to advise church councils and provide scenarios. Support is provided at the request of the congregation and/or classis concerned;
• Together with all relevant deputations and committees, make proposals for adjusted and/or new policies where necessary;
• Provide general education within our church body.

Questions about the future

Smaller municipalities may run into issues and questions that make survival vulnerable. For example, a congregation may not have sufficient manpower and finances in the future. But it may also concern the question: how to serve as a congregation in God's mission for this world? Topics that may come along for a local congregation include:

• establishing a vision for the future;
• filling the posts;
• need for a pastor;
• transition to a missionary congregation;
• cooperation within CGK context or beyond.

Support with knowledge and advice

We can imagine that, as a (small) congregation or classis, you may from time to time need support with questions that arise with you. The general synod 2019-2022 has therefore set up a national support centre that supports small municipalities and classes with specific knowledge, advice and/or possible scenarios if requested.

Networking

The support centre for local churches (SPK) consists of delegates from deputies evangelisation, diaconate, church order and church law, mutual assistance and advice and of the committee reorientation of church affiliation.

The support point set up is a central hub where questions come in from the municipalities and/or classes. The support centre performs an initial intake and, based on this intake, gives advice for a possible follow-up trajectory. The support centre has a network that can be called upon to support, guide and advise church councils and/or classes on their specific questions.