South of Market Area Ministry

Area Ministry is a mission strategy for organizing ministries of the Diocese of California into more vital and creative agents of transformation. Through careful discernment and outreach, Area Ministry teams identify neighborhood challenges and seek innovative contemporary solutions. Building on the ancient catholic understanding of “parish” as a geographic designation, Area Ministry leverages resources by bringing churches, institutions, and people together. Area Ministry leads spiritual growth and fresh expressions of mission and ministry, both inside and outside the church. Area Ministry is mission directed outward.

The heart of Area Ministry is a life-giving movement from maintenance to mission. The fresh expressions of church that emerge help shape a new, renewed, and re-imagined Diocese of California. Area Ministry is outwardly directed, especially toward young adults and others underrepresented in the church. By including all people as active participants in the community, embodying justice for all, rooting spirituality in worship and education, developing leadership, and revitalizing churches, Area Ministry leads us toward the Beloved Community.

The South of Market Area Ministry is a collaboration of Church of the Advent, St. John’s, St. Gergory’s, St. Aidan’s, and Holy Innocents working in collaboration with the sisters of the Community of St. Francis the brothers of the Society of St. Francis and Episcopal Community Services.

From time to time there are training events to help form this new effort on collaborative ministry and there are outreach and social collaborations. The next training event will be at St. John’s on Thursday, April 15, 6:30 - 8:30 PM. There will also be Stations of the Cross as a collaborative effort on Good Friday beginning at noon in Dolores Park.

Contact person: Fr. Bertie Pearson (bertiep@diocal.org)

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