Greetings, Friends!
Waking up to snowy roads on Sunday morning, I was disappointed. Sure it was beautiful outside but the roads were a mess here in Hillsdale and I really wanted to make it safely to church because we were going to celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ! I find the opportunities to reaffirm our own Baptismal Covenant very meaningful each time we have the chance. Repeating the promises we’ve made before serves as a fresh start for me if I’ve lost a bit of focus during the demands of the holidays. On Sunday, as I responded to the questions, I thought about how the Resolution Review Committee and this blog can help us live into these promises especially as I considered the final five questions:
Celebrant Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and
fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever
you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you proclaim by word and example the Good
News of God in Christ?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving
your neighbor as yourself?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you strive for justice and peace among all
people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
People I will, with God’s help.
The work done at General Convention, Diocesan Convention, and Diocesan Council is all about helping us live as the people of God – just as these questions require of us. As I replied, “I will, with God’s help,” I found a renewed enthusiasm to tackle the many resolutions we have so that the Resolution Review Committee might provide the information and tools you need to make these resolutions yours, too.
In the last few months, we’ve had so many current issues that needed addressing, we didn’t focus on too many resolutions. There certainly is much in the news that I’d love to talk about but I think it’s time that we come back to the work from General Convention. One of the resolutions that all dioceses are expected to act upon is A144: Diocesan Missional Review which reads:
Resolved, That the 79th General Convention finds it to be in the best interests of The Episcopal Church that all dioceses and other jurisdictions of the Church engage in the process of a missional review periodically but no less often than prior to engaging in an episcopal search process; and be it further
Resolved, That the missional review will seek to look thoroughly into the vitality and viability of the congregations and ministries of the diocese, seeking at all times to ask the deep discernment question “what is God calling us to be and do at this time and in this place.”
Topics for the missional review include but are not limited to
– Worship and spiritual life;
– Formation for all ages;
– Engagement with the wider community, concern for neighbors and stranger, care for creation;
– Stewardship of financial resources, property, and people;
– Care for clergy and lay staff, policies and practices which seek equality and justice, recognizing the dignity and inherent worth of every human being;
– Fellowship and collegiality among and between congregations, clergy, and ministries;
– Areas of, and possibilities for, collaboration and networking, including with other dioceses and communion partners;
– Opportunities for new communities of faith and redevelopment work;
– Hopes, fears, and dreams.
A thorough review will seek examples of robust engagement and creative expressions in the various foci of review as well those places where increased time and attention must be paid in order to be become more vital, dynamic and sustainable; and be it further
Resolved, That the diocese undertaking the missional review shall seek assistance from the Office of Pastoral Development for the process of review and possibilities for consultants.
While I realize that this is for a “diocesan” missional review, I also know that we are the diocese. If we aren’t paying attention to these issues in our churches, the diocese can’t possibly meet the goal to fulfill them. As a diocese involved in the search process, I assume that those on the Search and Nomination Committee did consider these topics. With annual meetings coming up, perhaps addressing them in our congregations might be a way of focusing our attention in this new year.
I also decided that I would write the list in my journal so I can periodically assess how I am doing in my missional work. For example, am I personally engaging with the wider community? Am I seeking out my neighbor or, more especially, the strangers in my community? Have I gotten lazy with my care of creation: recycling, unplugging my charger when not in use, etc.? Am I reaching out to other clergy and congregations in my community? Might there be opportunities for collaboration that I have overlooked? I’m not someone who writes New Year’s resolutions generally but these seem like the kind of issues I can hold onto with periodic review.
I always want to offer some resources to make our work on these resolutions easier if I can. As I was considering this, I was drawn back to The Way of Love that was introduced by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry last summer at General Convention. “Turn, Learn, Pray, Worship, Bless, Go, Rest” all seem like attitudes and actions that will help us live into the intentions of this resolution. You can find many helpful resources on The Way of Love website.
There is so much anxiety and confusion in our society right now with the government shutdown. Even though we might not have solutions, as disciples of Jesus, perhaps we can be a steady, calming presence for those around us. To do that we will need to be grounded and focused in our lives. Let’s take this call to missional living seriously so that we might be a witness of what God can do for others. Won’t you please join me?!
Let us pray –
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on
the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within
the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit
that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those
who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for
the honor of your Name. Amen.
~ The Rev. Judith Schellhammer, chair, Resolution Review Committee, Diocesan Council
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