Why Host Gotham

The Vision of Gotham Fellowship

The aim of Gotham is to allow churches and ministries to equip and unleash their laity to engage in the surrounding culture. We recognize that every Christian is part of the church in two significant ways. First, every Christian is part of the gathered church which typically meets on Sunday and where membership is encouraged. Second, every Christian is part of the scattered church throughout the week as witnesses of Christ in various professions, occupations, companies, and communities. Gotham seeks to equip, connect, and mobilize the scattered church through the resources and community of the gathered church, addressing a fundamental goal sought by most institutional churches—the meaningful integration of faith and work.

  • Scott Sauls, Senior Pastor, Christ Presbyterian Church, Nashville, TN

    “Gotham is neither a Bible Study nor Executive Education, but somehow it is both. It is the single best way I have seen to apply the Gospel to your work life in a disciplined fashion over a period of ten months, I watched several cohorts experience Gotham in New York City and saw first hand the change individuals experienced in both their professional and personal lives. Gotham offers Biblical truth in a close community applied to your work; it is transformational.”

  • Dr. Case Thorp, Senior Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, Leader of The Collaborative

    “The Gotham Fellowship has provided our community with well trained, deeply formed, and culturally aware Christ followers who reject the status quo. After five cycles of fellowships we have a cadre of men and women both creating and shaping culture from fields as diverse as higher education to an internet startup to stay at home parents. The churches in which they worship and serve task them for further and greater work due to their spiritual maturity. I can’t recommend enough this incredible experience enough to those eager to see the Kingdom of God built within, and built beyond.”

  • James Rathmann, Lead Pastor, Elder, Redemption Church, Denver, CO

    “Gotham might seem like too big of an undertaking while in the planting stage, but for our Church it has been essential. Through the Gotham program we have been able to build into our church a culture of faith and work integration that has taught our congregation to view Denver as their mission field. It has helped us ensure that being a church "for the city" is not just a tagline but a culture. Bruce Springsteen was right when he said, "it's hard to be a saint in the city." Unlike many other programs Gotham takes this difficulty seriously, and helps us equip disciples who are grounded in the resiliency of the gospel to pursue Christ's kingdom in their everyday lives.”

 BENEFITS TO YOUR CHURCH

Train the next generation of lay leadership in theology and spiritual practices

Cultivate a public-facing, city-positive spirit within your church community

Provide a thoughtful alternative to both progressive and individualistic faith

Develop a redemptive imagination for cultural renewal in your city

Encourage your church to think in “gathered” and “scattered” expressions

Equip your laity with a wholistic vision for discipleship

Create an environment where church leaders learn from workers

Build relationships with like-minded churches in your city

Connect with local redemptive for-profit and non-profit organizations