We Value the Community
We value not only the persons of a community but the community itself, a place of refuge and grace for many. Structures that are efficient and just are gifts of common grace for all. We see that healthy persons develop from healthy families, and healthy families benefit from healthy communities, where people are nurtured and cared for. We are committed to a theology that is both creative and redemptive, for persons as well as places, and so we seek the spiritual renewal of persons and the social renewal of places.

We Value the Vulnerable
We care about the successful and the powerful in our communities, but in the Bible we also notice God's unrelenting concern for those who are poor, widowed, migrant, sick, in prison, alien, homeless or otherwise victimized. Communities have become the catch basin of those at-risk. Central Community Ministries commits itself to the leadership of the community but always in partnership with the vulnerable who are "equally sinful but more often sinned against."

We Value Reconciliation
We strongly affirm this beautiful, old theological term, and are committed to partnership and networks in ministry. We believe it takes the whole family of God to embrace the whole faith of God, and are scandalized by separations, bigotry, elitism, and destructive competition. The Cross transcends race, gender, denominations, and the power of the Gospel is in linking arms rather than pointing fingers. And so we will engage people of Faith to work with people of good will for the well being of the community.

We may be called to stand with those with whom we may only partially agree on matters of faith so as to effect a Christian presence in society. Central Community Ministries will work to bring together urban and suburban, protestant and catholic, mainline and evangelical as well as Anglos and non-Anglos.

We Value Risk
The exploding impact of the phenomenon of urbanization will require creative vision and bold initiative from individuals, churches, and other institutions if renewal of persons and communities is to take place. We are not impressed by or committed to the status quo but believe that church leadership must engage in serious R&D in order to discover more effective means of having Christ's presence seen and felt in the community. This will take courage and an innovative spirit, as we seek the priority of the Kingdom of God over institutionalism.