1360 W Main Street · Decatur, Illinois 62522 Office: (217) 423-1396 · Fax: (217) 423-2868

Mission Statement for PSEI

The Great ends of the Church are the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; the preservation of the truth; the promotion of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.
Book of Order, G-1.0200

Recognizing the Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois is an essential part of the Church universal and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), we have been called by God as ambassadors of Jesus Christ, looking to him for our identity as we seek to give the congregations and people of Southeastern Illinois a glimpse of life under God's rule.

Recognizing that we are a gathering of diverse individuals and congregations, separated by distance, theology, and lifestyle, we covenant together to discern a vision of what God is calling us to be and do as we enter the twenty-first century. Trusting in the creative power of God and experiencing the fresh winds of the Spirit blowing in the ever-changing framework of communities of faith and the secular community, we hear the challenge to find new ways of accomplishing God's purpose through our member congregations and through our presbytery.

Recognizing that the great ends of the Church are primarily accomplished through the life and work of congregations, wherein Christians are gathered as a community of faith and dispersed into the world to speak the good news and to be the good news, we acknowledge and affirm that the role of the presbytery is to strengthen and encourage the missions of congregations within its bounds, to engage its congregations in shared ministries of proclamation and service, and to enlarge and strengthen the community of faith, in obedience to Jesus Christ, who has called upon us to "make disciples of all nations."

Therefore, the Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois, seeking to be faithful to our calling as followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, hoping to grow in grace and wisdom as a church reformed and ever reforming, affirms and adopts the following goals:

• to encourage and provide resources for each of our congregations and their servant leaders as the live out God's calling in their particular setting;
• to support and encourage the ministers and other church professionals as they lead our congregations and presbytery in faithful ministry;
• to become a community of faith which gives tangible witness to the grace and justice of Jesus Christ in our world; and
• to participate responsibly in the life and work of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Church universal as together we anticipate the coming of the true reign of God.