More About DOOR
(Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection)
- Philosophy of Ministry
- Mission
- Purposes
- Common Faith Perspective
- DOOR in the news
- Background/History
- Founding Partners
Philosophy of Ministry
DOOR exists to challenge individuals to consider ministry and service an essential, daily part of living out their authentic Christian faith. By meeting, learning from and working with diverse urban people, participants give and receive the love that God has for each person. Through these relationships they will explore together how to be faithful to Christ's call to be "salt" and "light" in today's turbulent world. DOOR seeks to provide ministry opportunities that will be both helpful to local people and lead to a deepened understanding of faith and ministry.
Participants will explore the strengths as well as the needs of urban people and communities and will participate in various approaches to ministry in the city. The goal is that participants will have a new awareness of the city and its people, a new sense of God's presence in the city and a new desire to be actively involved in ministry and service. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on their experiences and to explore ways in which new insights gained can be applied to their situation at home and future ministry. In this way DOOR seeks to motivate the church to be actively involved in bringing to reality the Kingdom of God in the world.
Mission
The DOOR Network exists to provide opportunities which help inform, educate, challenge, and motivate individuals to respond to the issues and concerns facing an increasingly urban world.
Purposes
Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection is a network of urban programs designed to help participants to "see the face of God in the City". DOOR is not a physical place, but it is an experience in which the participants will come to know God in a new way.
DOOR informs people by exposing them in a direct way to the city. Participants will spend from one day to one year living in an urban context, working with the various helping agencies, churches and ministries already present in the community.
DOOR educates people by spending time reflecting on the strengths as well as the needs of urban people and the communities in which they live. Participants will be asked to think about their lives and lifestyles. They will also talk about how Christians can appropriately respond to poverty, racism, and injustice within an urban context.
DOOR challenges people to consider Biblical responses to the issues facing the city, developing in them an awareness of the multiple ministry opportunities available both in the city and in their home town. DOOR motivates people to act in constructive, appropriate and loving ways both now and in the future, challenging individuals to consider ministry and service an essential daily part of living out their authentic Christian faith.
Common Faith Perspective
We at DOOR are committed to an Anabaptist/Mennonite faith. We consider Jesus as our model for living for God and the answer to human need, hostility, and violence; God commands us to respect life, love all people (even our enemies), reconcile broken relationships, and pursue justice. Our bond with other followers of Jesus transcends all racial, social, economic and national barriers. We also view the Bible as our primary guide for faith and life.
DOOR in the News
Glenn Balzer's Workshop at PCUSA World Mission Celebration
Miami Dweller Tony Baurichter has a weightlifting club to reach youth
Background/History
In the late 1990's, conversations began between Mennonite Board of Missions (MBM) and Denver Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection (DOOR) about working collaboratively with other local groups to develop a system for urban pastoral development. What follows is a short history of the current partners:
MBM- In 1996 two departments at MBM (Evangelism and Church Development and the Short-Term Mission Department) began dreaming about ways of inviting urban Mennonites to be involved in leadership/pastoral development without having to leave their communities to receive training. Two years later, the Urban Leadership Quest pilot was started with Buffalo, NY as its first location. Since those early days, MBM has looked to partner with various cities and agencies to move this vision forward.
DOOR began coordinating short-term urban educational experiences in Denver 1986 under the auspices of Mennonite Central Committee and Mennonite Urban Ministries, becoming an independent not for profit 501(c)-3 corporation in 1995. In our first year we saw 296 participants, growing to 1,200 participants in 2001. These young people represent over 20 denominations and have come from across the United States and Canada. In the past 16 years, DOOR has developed relationships with 35 plus helping agencies and many urban church and community leaders in the Denver metro area.
Chicago Opportunities for Peace in Action (COPA) began as an initiative of the MCC Great Lakes board in 1994 in conjunction with Illinois Mennonite Conference (MC) and Central District (GC). COPA's mission is to provide short-term awareness-raising/service experiences in the city for youth from the MCC Great Lakes region and beyond in a way that challenges participants to reflect on systemic injustices and responsibility as people of faith. In 2000 the COPA board decided to join with DOOR (Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection) for increased efficiency in operation and publicity.
Associated Mennonite Ministries of Miami, Florida (AMM) began conversations with Mennonite Board of Missions and DOOR in 1995 to discuss the possibility of starting a "DOOR" type of program in South Florida. In the fall of 2000 the AMM board in consultation with DOOR and MBM, hired a city director for this new initiative.
After much discussion between the various boards (DOOR, COPA, AMM) and MBM the DOOR network was born, and the "D" in DOOR was changed from "Denver" to "Discovering" to appropriately reflect this network. DOOR officially became "Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection" in 2001.
The idea for DOOR Atlanta started out of conversations that surrounded the 2003 Mennonite Church USA Convention in Atlanta, GA. Through connections made during the planning stages of the Convention, a local group of Christians began meeting together with the DOOR program to discuss bringing DOOR the Atlanta. In the summer of 2002 the National Board of the DOOR program approved Atlanta's entrance into the DOOR network.
Door San Antonio started in 1993 as the SALSA Program (Service and Learning in San Antonio). SALSA was brought to light after the local Mennonite Voluntary Service unit left their long time home (La Casa de Maria y Marta) San Antonio Mennonite Church then formed the SALSA program to fill the void left by the MVS program. In Jan 2004 the SALSA board saw that DOOR and SALSA were doing identical work, so the board decided to merge with the DOOR program.
DOOR currently is comprised of five cities: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Miami and San Antonio. If you think your city would be a good candidate for the DOOR program, contact us at door@DOORnetwork.org for more information.
Founding Partners
These partners represent those organizations prepared to commit themselves to this network as it is formed. We anticipate the inclusion of additional partners as the network grows and changes over time.
Mennonite Mission Network |
AMM-Miami |
DOOR-Denver |
This covenant represents the joint commitment of Mennonite Mission Network (MMN), Chicago Opportunities for Peace in Action (COPA), Denver Opportunity for Outreach and Reflection (DOOR), and Associated Mennonite Ministries - Miami (AMM) to participate in a collaboration for the purpose of providing urban ministry experiences that challenge individuals to consider ministry and service as an essential daily part of living out their authentic Christian faith. We enter into this covenant under the common Lordship of Jesus Christ and commit ourselves to working out our common vision with love, forgiveness, and honesty.
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