Mission
The purpose of the Great Commission Network is to provide a peer learning environment for people leading groups of congregations (judicatories and associations) to embrace systemic transformation, in order to embrace whole heartedly the Great Commission. GCN is a place to help such people stimulate and formulate ideas for systemic change, while encouraging those members who seek to implement new and radical plans for change.

Vision
To foster a grass roots movement of transformational change in denominations and associations of congregations.

Values
LEADERSHIP: We value leadership. We believe God has given leaders to His Church to lead groups of believers (congregations and groups of congregations) to follow them in accomplishing God’s mission for the Church which is to make disciples for Jesus Christ. Leaders accomplish this task by recruiting, training and mobilizing followers to use their gifts to serve the Body in seeing God’s mission for the Church accomplished.

MISSIONAL CONGREGATIONS: We value missional congregations. We believe the ultimate reason for local congregations to exist is to fulfill Jesus’ mandate for His Church which is have it grow so the “Gates of Hell” will not prevail. Congregations failing to make new disciples for Jesus Christ on a regular and consistent basis are not only ineffective in achieving God’s purpose for His Church, they are disobedient to God’s very purpose for establishing His Church.

RISK TAKIKNG: We value leaders who take risks. Risk taking means living by faith. Major systemic changes will not occur in congregations, judicatories, or associations of congregations without those leading such entities willing to risk their very positions and reputations in order to see the Great Commission embraced and implemented consistently.

BEYOND THE BOX THINKING: We value beyond the box thinking. Denominational and most congregational structure and behaviors reflect paradigms that are both temporal and aged. These paradigms must not only be challenged but discarded. Incremental change is too late and ineffective. Leaders must think in paradigms that are still new to most, if not all denominational life.

SYSTEMIC CHANGE: We value systemic change. Denominations and most congregations are so irrelevant to the culture that incremental change will only slow to a few degrees the eventual death of such entities. Therefore we must embrace systemic change that attacks the essential mission and vision and resulting behaviors of denominations and congregations.

ACCOUNTABILITY: We value accountability. Leaders are both willing to be held accountability for their behaviors (including risks) and to hold other accountable. Without accountability no meaningful changes remain in place.

Brief History
In December of 2006 Dr. Paul Borden called together over thirty different judicatory and associational congregational leaders for a meeting at the Crystal Cathedral, hosted by Bruce Bugbee leader of the Western Synod of the RCA. These thirty some leaders representing over twenty different denominational groups agreed to create a network for the purpose of helping those in the network lead systemic change in their respective ministries.

The next event was held in conjunction with Growing Healthy Churches, Hit the Bullseye conference in May of 2007. The mission and vision statement were confirmed as reflecting the understanding and intent of those that saw themselves as part of the network.

It was decided at this meeting that the network would be just that, a network. There is no formal membership. The network is open to those working with congregations in keeping with the mission and vision. Events will be announced and any such leaders that want to attend may do so. It is understood that for now Paul Borden is the leader and the facilitator. His job is to help the network stay on task and create events that are in keeping with the mission, vision and values.

How the Network Functions
GCN is an open group, inviting like-minded multi-congregational leaders who are interested in attending, learning, and benefiting from their association with those that comprise the group. There are no dues. Fees to cover the costs are charged for each event so that those who attend pay the cost.

Confession of Faith Statement / Brochure