On
at least two previous occasions, conversations within St. Paulís and with
Diocesan leadership had arrived at the consensus that St. Paulís as a
congregation was not ready to enter the Mutual Ministry process.
The
current effort had its beginnings with a proposal that Mark Engle presented to
the Vestry at its August 16, 2001 meeting.
Mark proposed a series of four parish forums that would explore only two
ministry roles: preachers and
deacons. The forums were held in
September and October. The Vestry
discussed feedback from the forums at its November 15 meeting.
The forums brought the congregation forward in terms of its consideration
and understanding of expanded ministry, but there was not a consensus to proceed
at that time.
The
next serious discussion occurred at the first Vestry meeting (July 18, 2002)
following Markís return from sabbatical (Feb. through June).
There was high enthusiasm among the Vestry regarding keeping the momentum
going. Vestry members reported
hearing enthusiastic comments from the broad membership of St. Paulís about
the wide variety of ministry gifts experienced during the sabbatical.
Mark reported that he had already gathered the preachers together to
explore their continuing as a group. Though
no formal action was taken by the Vestry at that meeting, there was a consensus
that explorations should continue.
Based
on discussion (mostly by e-mail over a period of a few weeks) with several in
the parish who had interest in expanded ministry (Carrigan, Payant, Railey,
Reed), Mark put together a ministry development plan (modified from that used in
smaller congregations throughout the diocese) which was presented to the
Diocesan Commission on Ministry at its August 10 meeting and to the Vestry at it
August 15 meeting. It was announced
in ìVestry Highlightsî on Sunday and in the September Messenger that this
would be an action item at the September 19 Vestry meeting.
The
ìMinistry Developmentî plan was unanimously approved by the Vestry September
19 (reported in the October Messenger). The
ìDesign Teamî that had worked up the plan was commissioned as the ìSurvey
Teamî. The Survey Team asked to
add three members (Dunham, Franz & Susan) which the Vestry approved at its
October 17 meeting.
Throughout
the Survey process (late October through mid-February), the Team kept the Vestry
and Parish informed of the progress and results.
Survey meetings (with parish organizations and for ìat largeî
members) and their purpose were publicized in bulletin and Messenger
announcements/articles. Written
reports were submitted to the Vestry at its Dec. 19 and Feb. 20 meetings; oral
reports were submitted at the Nov. 21 and Jan. 16 meetings, the latter including
notification that the Survey Team expected to present its list of Ministry Roles
for approval at the Feb. 20 meeting. Written
reports to the congregation were published in each Messenger from December
through February; written summaries of Survey meetings were prepared for
distribution at monthly parish feed-back forums from November through January.
Outcomes
of the presentation of ìFinal List of Ministry Rolesî to the various
meetings for approval:
St.
Paulís Vestry (Feb. 20): Approval
without modification. The Vestry
decided to reserve for itself the task of appointing the Discernment Team, but
it will solicit nominations from the congregation.
Diocesan
Commission on Ministry (Feb. 22): Approval
without modification. COM strongly
recommended a Discernment Team of at least 12 (for a congregation the size of
St. Paulís). They recommended our
early involvement in selecting the curriculum for the Ministry Team (from a
variety of sources that the Diocese has been working with and studying).
St.
Paulís Annual Meeting (Feb. 23): Approval
without modification.