Better Together: Exploring Partnership for the Church’s Future

As congregations across the Grand Canyon Synod navigate aging membership, older buildings, tighter budgets, and fewer available pastors, faithful leaders are asking honest questions: How will we be church into the future? How do we steward what we have for the sake of God’s mission? And how might God be calling us to work together rather than alone.

Pastor David Pavesic invites pastors and congregational leaders into this important conversation through our online book study, Better Together: Making Church Mergers Work by Jim Tomberlin and Warren Bird. While the February sessions have already begun, it is not too late to join. We encourage you to register now and step into the remaining conversations.

To support those joining midstream, we are sharing slides from the first session (view as PDF or view as slideshow at the end of this post), along with “cliff notes” summaries to help participants engage fully.

This Study Is Not Only About Mergers. It Is About Mission.

Many congregations live with quiet tension—hoping things will return to the way they once were, while quietly fearing that nothing can change. Hope matters deeply. But repeating the same patterns while expecting different results rarely leads to renewal.

As Lutherans, we trust that the Holy Spirit is always reforming the church. We may not be able to face today’s realities alone—but we are not alone. Christ calls us into community, into shared ministry, and into courage for the sake of the gospel.

What We Are Exploring

Across four sessions, participants will:

Take an honest look at the current realities shaping congregational life
Explore how mission can be grown, strengthened, and broadened through collaboration
Consider practical models for partnership and shared ministry
Reflect on how God may be calling congregations to new forms of faithfulness together

The fourth session will serve as a wrap-up and integration conversation. Each session focuses on a section of the book, with participants reading in advance. Cliff notes are provided to support discussion.

This book study also connects to the developing framework known as The Church Next Door: New Possibilities in Partnership, which explores models for shared ministry and collaboration across congregations.

Who Should Participate?

This study is designed for pastors, council members, lay leaders, and anyone willing to name present realities while imagining a mission-centered future. If you care about your congregation’s long-term vitality and faithfulness, this conversation is for you.

Two Ways to Participate

To make participation accessible, the study is offered in two identical Zoom-based groups—one daytime and one evening. If you need to miss your regular group, you are welcome to attend the other.

Tuesday Mornings – 11:00 a.m. (Arizona time)

Dates: February 17, March 3, March 17, March 31

Thursday Evenings – 6:30 p.m. (Arizona time)

Dates: February 19, March 5, March 19, April 2

Please register for your first session; additional Zoom links will follow.