A horizon full of clouds of witnesses
New manager for 1001 New Worshiping Communities describes the future of the movement and a new grant process
ESTES PARK, Colorado — Cumulus clouds swept the extensive horizon of Rocky Mountain National Park as leaders of the 1001 New Worshiping Communities movement gathered in Hyde Chapel for a week of worship, learning and discernment. As the voluminous vapors crept across the mountain landscape and reflected the vibrant rays of sunshine, the Rev. Michael Gehrling, who was recently named the third manager of 1001 New Worshiping Communities, invited participants to see those misty forms of all shapes and sizes through the lens of Hebrews 12:1, which describes communities that comprise the church as “a great cloud of witnesses.”
“I’ve been thinking a lot about clouds,” Gehrling told the approximately 70 leaders gathered on Oct. 14. “This cloud of witnesses is a miraculous cloud because it doesn’t obscure our vision. It doesn't block our vision, but it clarifies our vision.”
Drawing on the gathering’s biblical theme, Gehrling said the movement itself functions as a cloud of witnesses, helping people “fix our eyes on Jesus” and better understand Christ’s call. Reflecting on his years with 1001, he described the movement as part of his “spiritual meadow,” where each new worshiping community reveals another facet of God’s work. “Every one of these new worshiping communities that you all have started ... has helped me to understand who Jesus is, what the church is,” he said.
Gehrling succeeds the Rev. Vera White, who helped launch the movement in 2012, and the Rev. Nikki Collins, who most recently served as manager. His remarks combined gratitude for the movement’s history with a vision for its future, particularly through a redesigned grant process intended to better serve the diverse communities now connected with 1001.
The changes come after a year marked by challenges and transition. Gehrling acknowledged the difficulties faced by immigrant worshiping communities, staff and fundraising efforts. He noted that participants in the Spanish-language Discerning Missional Leadership Assessment opted to gather in Los Angeles rather than fly because some were concerned about air travel and immigration-related scrutiny.
At the same time, the leaner staff carried on core programs while undertaking significant new work. Following the departure of former manager Collins and the loss of administrative specialist Eva Slayton, the team continued grant administration, coaching, assessments and leadership development while redesigning grants, rewriting the discernment guide and completing grant applications for nearly $5 million. “This team has done amazing generative work to keep building the movement,” Gehrling said.
A major focus of the address was the introduction of a new grant structure. The current process, developed in 2012 and responsible for helping to launch more than 900 communities, has served the movement well, Gehrling said. Yet experience has shown that “one size does not fit all.”
Many newer immigrant communities, for example, are not startups. Some have worshiped together for years before exploring a relationship with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). “The question for them isn't how do we become sustainable,” Gehrling explained. “The question is: Is the PC(USA) the right fit for us?”
Research on resilience work or start-up communities also revealed that the existing process moves too quickly. “The on-ramp with this funding to get started is just too short,” Gehrling said, noting that leaders who have sustained communities for five years or longer consistently reported needing more support in the early stages.
The revised model introduces two pathways. The Flourishing Path, expected in 2027, will support communities starting from scratch. The Covenant Path, planned for 2028, will serve communities that have existed for at least five years and are discerning affiliation with the PC(USA). Each pathway will include five grant opportunities, beginning with early funding for discernment, demographic research, leadership development and engagement with presbyteries or local ministry ecosystems.
The changes also raise expectations for applicants. Gehrling said experience has shown that sustainable communities require strong leadership teams, funding plans and healthy relationships with mid councils and ministry partners from the outset. “The bar for eligibility, especially for that seed grant, is actually too low,” he said.
To help leaders navigate the process, 1001 has developed a revised discernment guide that aligns with each stage of the grant pathway and prepares applicants for future funding requests.
Even with financial constraints and a competitive grant environment, Gehrling ended on a hopeful note, reminding participants that the movement’s future rests not on resources alone but on God’s call. Looking around the room, he said, “I believe that you all are the cloud of witnesses that is going to bring greater clarity to who Jesus is.”
Register to attend a “Ask Me Anything” webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 1 p.m. Eastern time or Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7 pm Eastern Time. Hosted by 1001 NWC staff, the webinars will explain the new grant process and how to apply in 2027.
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