OPEN seeks to make visible what is often invisible - the progressive Evangelical expression of faith in the United States; to resource the groundswell of churches, leaders, organizations and people who are expressing a just and generous expression of Christian faith; to create pathways of connection and belonging among existing and emerging churches, individuals, organizations and networks of those who represent Progressive Evangelicals, Post-Evangelicals, Non-denominational and Free-church traditions and all who wish to live in progressive Christian ways.

Why Now?

A number of innovative leaders have emerged over recent decades. They have taken big risks and made big sacrifices. Around them, Progressive, Emergence, and Missional networks have taken shape. These leaders and networks now share a vision for a movement-building collaborative. They recognize a shared ethos that is emerging among them. They have demonstrated the desire to work together in building a healthy ecosystem across their spheres of influence. They have built trust through many shared projects. What remains is to develop a sustainable organizational structure that can serve as a hub to support and extend the momentum that is building and seize this moment of opportunity. 

Desired Outcomes

As a collaborative network OPEN does not try to dictate its own pre-established agenda. Rather, it elicits from participants shared values and priorities, leading to defined desired outcomes. The current list of outcomes has been generated in just such a way and will be adjusted and adapted as new needs and opportunities arise. The role of OPEN is not to replace the work being done by any other group or to compete with them for resources for its own benefit. Rather, OPEN seeks to identify and organize around the big goals that can only be achieved together, shared goals that will benefit all participants in accomplishing their unique goals and mission. 

Three Centers of Focus

OPEN centers its work in three areas to support the people movement that is a Progressive Evangelical expression of Just and Generous Christian faith among : 
• Churches
• Leaders and Spokespeople
• Organizations

OPEN will organize staff and resources around each of the areas recognizing the particular and diverse skills needed to create meaningful connection and action.

Working in these three areas, OPEN seeks in 2015/2016 to:

  • Create viable networks of churches, leaders, and organizations who will support the underlying people movement of a Just and Generous Progressive Evangelical Expression of Christianity.
  • Articulate in the public arena a robust Progressive Evangelical Christian ethos that integrates spiritual vibrancy, theological depth, and holistic mission.
  • Provide 'a sharing economy of resources' for Churches and Christian communities to sharpen and harness best practices.
  • Establish a Christian media partnership to promote spokespersons for Progressive Evangelical Christianity, using both social and mass media.
  • Launch a collaborative branding/messaging strategy.
  • Create a church-locator/organization-locator/ministry-locator tool to help people migrate toward vibrant Progressive Evangelical churches, and to find outlets for activism and engagement in national and regional efforts.
  • Establish a online/App based news aggregator linked to action.
  • Facilitate ongoing training and equipping for a new generation of transformative leaders via Seminary alliance, collaborative programs, identification of summer events for training, relationship building.
  • Organize regional connectivity via face-to-face gatherings to bring together new groups of people in sharing, solidarity, and collaboration.
  • Develop and strengthen key alliances for action.
OPEN is an initiative of our friends at Convergence.