Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives Economic Stress

Economic Stress Declining Attendance Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives Economic Stress Declining Attendance

Economic Stress Declining Attendance Overwhelming growth Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives Economic Stress Declining Attendance Overwhelming growth

High cost of full- time clergy Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives Economic Stress Declining Attendance Overwhelming growth High cost of full- time clergy

Adjusting to less than full-time clergy leadership Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives Economic Stress Declining Attendance Overwhelming growth High cost of F/T clergy Adjusting to less than full-time clergy leadership

Reaching children/ youth/ families Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives Economic Stress Declining Attendance Overwhelming growth High cost of F/T clergy Adjusting to less than F/T clergy leadership Reaching children/ youth/ families

Cultural & Theological change Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives Economic Stress Declining Attendance Overwhelming growth High cost of F/T clergy Adjusting to less than F/T clergy leadership Reaching children/ youth/ families Cultural & Theological change

Crisis in Anglican Identity Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives Economic Stress Declining Attendance Overwhelming growth High cost of F/T clergy Adjusting to less than F/T clergy leadership Reaching children/ youth/ families Cultural & Theological change Crisis in Anglican Identity

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives Economic Stress Declining Attendance Overwhelming growth High cost of F/T clergy Adjusting to less than F/T clergy leadership Reaching children/ youth/ families Cultural & Theological change Crisis in Anglican Identity

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives

Decline of the Roman Empire (5th C.) Good Friday and the Primitive Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives The Rennaisance (16th C.) The Great Schism (11th C.) Decline of the Roman Empire (5th C.) Good Friday and the Primitive Church (1st C.)

The Rennaisance (16th C.) The Bridge: Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives The Rennaisance (16th C.) The Bridge: The Reformers The New Future – The Protestant Reformation

The division/separation of 2 churches Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives The Rennaisance (16th C.) The Great Schism (11th C.) The Bridge: The division/separation of 2 churches

Decline of the Roman Empire (5th C.) Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives The Rennaisance (16th C.) The Great Schism (11th C.) Decline of the Roman Empire (5th C.) The Bridge: Gregory the Great - Restoration of moral, social & political order

The Bridge: The Upper Room Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives The Great Reformation (16th C.) The Great Schism (11th C.) Decline of the Roman Empire (5th C.) Good Friday and the Primitive Church (1st C.) The Bridge: The Upper Room

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives PAST BRIDGE PERIODS Predictions of the Church’s death GOD HAS PROVIDED A BRIDGE Revelations of the Church Rediscovery of mission Include more of the excluded

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives Complacency and Commitment to Status Quo Vision becomes myopic Theologically, spiritually, institutionally stagnant Mission becomes defending & preserving what it has done for 500 years

GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives BUT WHERE SIN ABOUNDED, GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND Rom. 5:20

GOD’S GRACE IS STILL UNPREDICATBLY IN THE WORLD Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives GOD’S GRACE IS STILL UNPREDICATBLY IN THE WORLD BECKONING US FORWARD

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives Bridges God has Provided Central Pennsylvania

Bridges God has Provided in Central Pennsylvania Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives Bridges God has Provided in Central Pennsylvania Diocesan Office Staff

Bridges God has Provided in Central Pennsylvania Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives Bridges God has Provided in Central Pennsylvania Volunteer Commissions and Committees

Not Just a Time of Survival Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives Not Just a Time of Survival

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives Looking with hope for the future to which God may be calling us Remembering how far God has brought us

Challenge: FULL TIME CLERGY Bridge: Supply, Retired, Part-time Clergy Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives Challenge: FULL TIME CLERGY Bridge: Supply, Retired, Part-time Clergy

Bi-vocational or Non-Stipendiary Ministry Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives Challenge: FULL TIME CLERGY Destination: clergy who can change their concept of ministry Bi-vocational or Non-Stipendiary Ministry

Challenge: FULL TIME CLERGY Destination: their concept of church Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives Challenge: FULL TIME CLERGY Destination: Congregations who change their concept of church

“The Work of the Priest” + “The Work of the People” Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives “The Work of the Priest” + “The Work of the People”

Professional Ministers ~ assume that “they must do it” Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives Professional Ministers ~ assume that “they must do it”

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives VOCATIONAL DIACONATE ~ You don’t have to be a priest to lead ~ It’s about the ministry to the world ~ It’s not about the money ~ It’s about the mission ~ I don’t have to move to be educated ~ Committed to life-long learning & spiritual development ~ Together we might serve our community in the world ~ I can’t do my job service if you don’t do yours

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives CHURCHES DON’T GROW BECAUSE OF MEMBERSHIP DRIVES

We grow when we understand that spiritual depth of growth Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives We grow when we understand that spiritual depth of growth is more important than numbers.

Congregational Development Commission Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives MY VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE Congregational Development Commission Committed to new ways for congregations to discern why God has called them to be a witness to their community Assist in identifying and equipping lay teams to do ministry and carry out mission

Congregational Development Commission Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives MY VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE Congregational Development Commission Small teams will visit congregations to: Learn about their ministry & mission Seek better ways to plan, support & equip Learn of local Episcopal, ecumenical & social partners Share with other congregations & diocesan staff

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives MY VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE The School of Christian Studies “Equipping the Lay Saints” for Ministry Leadership Greater participation and support of lay ministries

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives MY VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE The School of Christian Studies Preparation model for : Eucharistic Ministers Eucharistic Visitors Lectors

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives MY VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE The School of Christian Studies Other Licensed Lay Ministers: Catechists Lay Preachers Church School/Christian Ed. Directors Evangelism & Newcomer Directors Children & Youth Leaders Parish Administrators Parish Pastoral Care Visitors & Directors

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives “The Gifts [God gave the Church] were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. Ephesians 4: 11-12

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives Spiritually thriving Churches have strong lay ministries which are not administrative but theological, pastoral and mission oriented

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives MY VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE Diocesan Task Force to Recommend New Ways of Discerning, Educating and Forming Bi-Vocational or Non-Stipendiary Priests

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives MY VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE Discern & Seek Candidates who have A Uniquely Different CALL AND COMMITMENT ~ To serve small congregations ~ To plan and grow new congregations ~ To prepare for ministry ~ To serve in a part-time or non-stipendiary ministry ~ To find their primary financial support outside congregational life

RECOGNIZE THAT THEY HAVE A BURDEN & GIFT FOR MINISTRY Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives PERSONS WHO SEE A NEED RECOGNIZE THAT THEY HAVE A BURDEN & GIFT FOR MINISTRY FEEL THE CALL OF GOD ARE WILLING TO SUBMIT TO THE RIGOR OF SPIRITUAL AND ACADEMIC PREPARATION

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives

Archbishop Oscar Romero Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives A Future Not Our Own Archbishop Oscar Romero THE BISHOP: It helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view. THE CONVENTION: The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is beyond our vision.

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives THE BISHOP: We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work. THE CONVENTION: Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us.

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives THE BISHOP: No statement says all that could be said. No prayer fully expresses our faith. No confession brings perfection. THE CONVENTION: No pastoral visit brings wholeness. No program accomplishes the church's mission. No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives THE BISHOP: This is what we are about: We plant seeds that one day will grow. We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. THE CONVENTION: We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produces effects beyond our capabilities.

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives THE BISHOP: We cannot do everything and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something, and to do it very well. THE CONVENTION: It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for God's grace to enter and do the rest.

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives THE BISHOP: We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. THE CONVENTION: We are workers, not master builders, ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own.

Diocese of Central Pennsylvania With the Love of God on Our Lips and in Our Lives