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
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
DOOR receives Mader Award - 11/30/2006
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.
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Mennonite Mission Network |
AMM-Miami |
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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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