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This is one of those situations where it’s probably helpful to make a dis- tinction between a “ministry of the congregation” that may focus on one aspect or ministry need and the “congregation as a whole.” Some minis- tries will come and go, depending on opportunity, leadership, and available resources. Think of it as a continuum, with “congregation as a whole” on one end, representing the defining features, DNA, and beating heart of a partic- ular congregation. On the other end of the continuum is a gathering of con- gregation members who are focused on a specific need or a specific group of people, like a welcoming team or a youth ministry. In this Peer-led Ministry model, it’s important to clarify the goal and the vision. Is the goal, for example, to have a peer-led minister who can tell re- turning citizens, “There’s a special place for us in this congregation”? Is it to get to the point where that leader can say, “This whole congregation is by and for returning citizens”? Or is it somewhere in between? If so, where are the boundaries? Peer-led reentry ministry can take many forms. It may incorporate a sep- arate time and style of worship as well as semi-autonomous fellowship and service opportunities for returning citizens. Or it may be focused less on a predetermined, programmatic strategy and more on the personality of the individual peer leader. The key is to have the peer leader working from their strengths and responding to needs and opportunities as they arise. In some few cases, the reentry ministry and the congregation are one and the same: a reentry congregation. This kind of stand-alone, all-in reentry congregation can be powerfully authentic and effective, but it can be difficult to sustain
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