The theological principle undergirding this study maintains that Christians live out their discipleship in the context of the community of faith, and that clergy must be in community with each other in order to fulfill their calling as ministers in the church of Jesus Christ and to meet their mutual needs for care, support and development. The challenge facing John Knox Presbytery is to develop a community of mutually caring and supportive clergy among its now loosely associated minister members. This study examines the need for clergy to be in community with each other in order to meet their mutual needs for care, support and development, and to fulfill their calling as ministers in the church of Jesus Christ. This study goes on to examine John Knox Presbytery, (a presbytery of 64 churches and 105 resident ministers located in the upper Midwest region along a stretch of the Mississippi River involving portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa), in which attempts are being made to develop a community of mutually caring and supportive clergy through gatherings of clergy for worship, education, development and support.
