The majority of small churches of every time and place have been challenged with how to equip their membership in order to witness to the love of Christ in the world given the restraints of limited human and financial resources. This challenge is increasingly becoming the reality of more and more Protestant churches in the United States. This three year study examines how collaboration in preaching called forth the latent gifts in the members and friends of Kanapaha Presbyterian Church, a small PC(USA) church located in Gainesville, Florida, increasing their ability to witness to love and issue the invitation of Christ in the world. This collaboration, informed by the relational theology of the Trinity and the ministry of Jesus Christ, and well as the Apostle Paul’s theology of the Body of Christ, invited members and friends of the church to participate in opportunities to be opened to the Word. These openings occurred before, during and after the sermon event and created occasions for growth in discipleship through daily engagement with the Word. Collaboration in preaching at Kanapaha Church has shaped an environment which (1) supports the pastor in her primary call as teaching elder; (2) empowers other leaders in the church to claim their unique functioning in the body of Christ; and (3) fosters relationships among members of the church. A deepening of discipleship and investment in congregational life has been the result. This thesis has been written not only for preachers who might initiate the process in their own churches, but also for church members who might wish to engage the practice.
