ÿWPC®  èo‘át*>ê Š>Pò¶ûÁŸÇ2…ØNŠ}ÕZê Šì+Å1Μχ¿Sp°¸èP› 5Åonèoï[ñÈtÒû`.•9äŠ"Ðò<ºKŸµIÝcqT1*Žÿ *< ùý@žsi¶ó&ËóUkM‹6LÕ8òú€¶=:ß<>&ZÏ?Z?o1îm>·¶(ªcE]¾ƒ>;ø±„B ­£"?$þç3ö¬ˆ±Ô6m£ š@iÛ`É̬1_ï¶œXPjçð{´0 ðk™>2/J[×›§Õo«4Õq ¥à.RiDÈ2|Íž ;­0…Zõ¤ûÜoäqÀÒЛýØ3•üû;' #±ÓU·¢,êûC!„Ûƒ´Ë+güžÎÔW#!ÂUNã %1 0(78_^ —w@£4ã÷ m E UN! U Ho o N· U D¹ :ý 0P7 :‡ :Á :û :5 5 :o :© :ã ã :    :W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W B‘ ˜Epson Stylus COLOR 500”ÌÌ”0(  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ BrookwoodPosterskigi×(‰ Ù Ú £Û DÜ DÝ Þ Uß £à á £â D½º(3|xâ  ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ/’¸} ‹6Baskerville Bold Italic+¥Tj  ‹0Times New Roman Bold"’¸}Z‹,Baskerville Italic 0Ñ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ ° ÑÑ ° Ñ((3/Q$««Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÔ d Ô 0Ñ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ ° ÑÑ ° Ñ 0Ñ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ ° ÑÑ ° Ñ 0Ñ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ ° ÑÑ ° Ñ 0Ñ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ ° ÑÑ ° Ñ 0Ñ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ ° ÑÑ ° Ñ 0Ñ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ ° ÑÑ ° Ñ 0Ñ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ ° ÑÑ ° Ñ 0Ñ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ ° ÑÑ ° Ñ 0Ñ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ ° ÑÑ ° Ñ dÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÓ=€rXÐXdÐd=ÓÑ€|yÑÑ€!|y ÑÑ€|y ÑÑ€|yÑÑ€|yÑÑ€|yÑÑ€|yÑÑ€|yÑÑ€|yÑÑ€|yÑÓÓÓ  ÓÑ  Ñ€BISHOPððS€CHARGE€„€SYNOD€2000à0 @À àà0@À(#À(#àà0@p(#(#àà0@Èp(#p(#àÌÓ  ÓIn€the€name€of€God€Amen.€ÌÔ€XáXXXÔà  àÔ€XrXXXáÔFirst€I€wish€to€thank€the€Clergy,€Church€Wardens,€Lay€Delegates€and€members€ofÐ d´ ÐVestries€for€their€participation€in€preparing€for€this€important€Synod.€€Over€90%€of€parishesÏthroughout€our€province€and€diocese€took€the€opportunity€to€be€a€part€of€the€process€and€struggleÏwith€the€troubling€issues€facing€the€Church€today.€€Ìà  àThe€results€of€your€responses€make€it€clear€that€there€is€throughout€our€diocese€aÏprofound€concern€for€the€loss€of€younger€generations€from€the€Church,€and€the€resulting€declineÏin€attendance,€and€thus€aging€congregations.€€Although€there€are€many€happy€exceptions,€mainlyÏin€urban€and€suburban€areas,€70%€of€parishes€identify€this€loss€as€a€number€one€issue€that€mustÏbe€addressed.Ìà  àCertainly€this€situation€is€no€surprise.€€What€is€new€is€that€for€the€first€time€we€areÏnaming€it€and€addressing€it€collectively€as€a€Church,€rather€than€through€a€few€isolated€voices.€ÏNo€longer€can€we€pretend€that€this€issue€is€somebody€elseððs.€€Having€named€it€we€are€bound€nowÏto€address€it.Ìà  àI€am€also€grateful€that€many€of€you€took€the€time€to€suggest€to€me€that€these€troublingÏtrends€are€symptoms€of€a€deeper€malaise.€€The€loss€of€our€children€and€grandchildren€to€the€lifeÏof€the€Church€is€both€a€cultural€and€spiritual€phenomena€that€cannot€be€corrected€without€aÏdeeper€look€into€things€like€loss€of€vision€and€loss€of€spirituality.€€€Ìà  àAny€attempt€at€reversing€current€trends€will€involve€a€serious€look€at€the€nature€of€theÏChurch€itself.€€We€must€answer€important€questions:€Why€God€has€placed€us€here?€€What€is€ourÏmessage,€our€mission,€our€place€of€influence€in€a€post„Christendom€world?€€Ìà  àThroughout€all€your€responses,€although€seldom€named,€there€is€both€a€deepÐ l-¼(, ÐÑ|yÑâ âÑÑÑ  ÑѰ°ÑѰ°Ñâ âÑ  ÑÓ  Ó„€2€„ÌÓ  Ódissatisfaction€with€the€status€quo€and€a€deep€ßA€ )¾°dE¾°Aßdesire€to€reverse€current€trends€€Ìà  àNothing€would€thrill€us€more€than€to€see€our€churches€attracting€two,€three,€even€fourÏgenerations€of€people€worshipping€God€together€and€living€that€faith€out€in€our€homes€andÏcommunities.€€If€this€is€to€come€about€it€will€mean€change€„€change€in€vision,€change€inÏattitudes,€change€in€peopleððs€hearts€and€souls.€€As€Bishop€Medley€said€in€a€Synod€of€1871€ð ðIf€theÏChurch€is€to€make€progress€and€to€show€such€signs€of€life€as€to€make€it€worthwhile€for€anyÏperson€to€join€her€òòshe€must€meet€the€want€of€the€present€generation.€€Let€me€repeat€that€„€sheÐ ¦ö  Ðmust€meet€the€want€of€the€present€generationóó,€not€be€proclaiming€old€stereotype€formulas€andÐ €Ð Ðnegative€propositions,€but€by€presenting€all€scriptural€and€Catholic€truth€to€òòthe€minds€of€theÐ Zª Ðyoung€in€a€way€that€can€interest€and€attract€themóó.ððòòÐ 4„ Ðñâ ñóóòòñâ ñóóà  àIn€the€weeks€following€Easter€many€of€the€readings€from€the€lectionary€are€from€the€ActsÐ ^ Ðof€the€Apostles.€€It€is€the€story€of€the€first€century€Church,€its€first€weeks€and€years.€€What€IÏnoticed€most€of€all€is€how€the€Church€struggled€with€change,€how€it€moved€from€being€a€smallÏJewish€sect€to€a€faith€fit€for€its€world€mission.€€How€it€became€attractive€to€people€of€every€race,Ïage€and€gender.€€Some€of€the€things€I€have€noticed€in€the€readings€are€that€it€was€a€ChurchÏcertain€of€Godððs€mandate€and€mission,€clear€in€its€message€to€proclaim€Christ€crucified€andÏrisen,€dependent€on€the€Holy€Spirit€and€had€a€willingness€to€suffer€to€make€all€this€happen.€ÏThese€ecclesial€activities,€although€obvious,€are€essential€to€the€well€being€of€the€Church€notÏonly€in€the€first€century€but€in€the€21òòstóó.Ð Þ'.#& Ðà  àThere€was€a€time€scarcely€forty€years€ago€when€the€culture€around€us€was€sympathetic,Ïindeed€supportive,€to€Christian€belief.€€òòóóThe€public€school€system€supported€it,€CanadianÐ ’+â&* ÐBroadcasting€Corporation€supported€it,€but€because€of€this€interdependence€with€our€culture€the€Ð l-¼(, ÐÑ|yÑâ âÑÑÑ  ÑѰ°ÑѰ°Ñâ âÑ  ÑÓ  Ó„€3€„ÌÓ  ÓChurch€perhaps€lost€its€distinctive€and€redemptive€edge.€But€those€days€are€gone.€€In€the€21òòstóóÐ ŠÚ Ðcentury€the€Church€that€shows€ð ðsuch€signs€of€life€as€to€attract€a€new€generationðð€will€be€aÏgrowing€church€„€clear€about€why€it€exists,€clear€about€its€message,€clear€about€its€energy€source,Ìclear€about€its€willingness€to€change€and€willing€to€pay€the€cost€of€that€change.Ìà  àWhat€then€is€our€strategy?€€Given€what€the€people€have€said€to€us,€what€must€we€do€to€beÏthe€Church€in€the€21òòstóó€century?€€I€am€suggesting€to€you€a€four€point€plan€for€discussion.€€òòÔ€ XÃ[XXXrÔÐ Ì  Ðà  àÔ€XrXX XÃ[Ôò òFIRSTó óóó,Ô€XáXXXrÔ€òòò òÔ€XrXXXáÔwe€must€build€up€and€strengthen€the€Church€as€it€now€existsó óóó.€€Before€we€canÐ ¦ö  Ðinvite€younger€generations€to€return€to€the€Church€we,€the€Church€of€today,€must€be€clear€aboutÏwhat€we€offer€them,€clear€about€our€mission€to€our€world,€clear€about€what€we€believe€and€theÏdifference€it€makes€in€our€lives.€€Ìà  àòòÔ€ XÃ[XXXrÔÔ‡XrXX XÃ[Ôò òSECONDó óÔ#† XÃ[XXXr#Ôóó,Ô€XáXX XÃ[Ô€Ô€XrXXXáÔhaving€got€our€own€spiritual€house€in€some€order€ò òòòwe€must€actively€engageÐ j Ðpeople€of€all€ages€in€our€communitiesóóó ó,€beginning€perhaps€with€those€in€our€own€families,Ð P Ðespecially€our€own€young€people.€€We€can€do€this€by€learning€to€share€our€faith€story,€by€usingÏmusic€appropriate€to€their€culture,€by€worshipping€in€ways€that€both€maintain€our€rich€heritageÏas€well€as€relate€to€their€needs€and€passions,€and€by€opening€the€doors€of€our€churches€toÏwelcome€them€with€a€message€that€brings€redemption€and€acceptance.€€Ìà  àòòò òTHIRDLYó óóó,€we€must€give€ourselves€the€resources€we€need€to€accomplish€thisÐ H$˜" Ðmission.€€One€of€deficits€of€the€Church€is€the€lack€of€relevant€resources€we€offer€our€people,Ïresources€that€build€up€their€faith€and€prayer€life.€€The€training€of€resource€leaders€at€the€local€Ìlevel€will€be€essential€if€the€Church€is€to€grow€and€develop.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìà  àòòò òFOURTHó óóóÔ‡X'\XXXrÔÔ#†XrXXX'\#ÔÔ‡XáXXXrÔ€Ô#†XrXXXáH#ÔÔ‡X'\XXXrÔÔ#†XrXXX'\‹#Ôwe€must€be€able€to€finance€thisenergetic€and€ambitious€programme.€€WhetherÐ ¶+'* Ðit€is€for€training€or€educational€resources,€money€will€be€needed€to€make€it€happen.€€At€theÐ œ-ì(, ÐÑ|yÑâ âÑÑÑ  ÑѰ°ÑѰ°Ñâ âÑ  ÑÑ|yÑâ âÑÑÑ  ÑѰ°ÑѰ°Ñâ âÑ  ÑÑ|yÑâ âÑÑÑ  ÑѰ°ÑѰ°Ñâ âÑ  ÑÓ  Ó„€4€„ÌÓ  Ó€present€moment€the€diocese€finds€itself€incurring€regular€deficits,€and€many€parishes€are€onlyÏable€to€maintain€their€buildings€and€pay€their€clergy,€leaving€nothing€for€new€initiatives.€€ThisÏserious€situation€must€be€addressed€as€soon€as€possible€with€a€plan€of€stewardship€and€financialÏdevelopment€that€is€relevant€and€appropriate€for€our€local€situations.€€Ìà  àI€return€then€to€òòò òPRIORITYó ó€ò òNUMBER€ONEó óóóÔ€XáXXXrÔ€€Ô€XrXXXáÔThe€building€up€of€our€present€Church.€€IÐ ò B  Ðwant€to€say€at€the€outset€that€as€I€journey€around€our€diocese€and€visit€you€in€your€parishes€I€doÏnot€find€hopelessness.€€In€fact€I€find€a€profound€sense€of€faith€and€hope.€€Although€our€churchesÏare€smaller,€they€are€more€committed€and€deeper€in€Spirit,€and€I€rejoice€in€that.€€But€as€I€saidÏearlier€we€cannot€attract€younger€generations€until€we€have€clarity€as€to€who€we€are€as€a€Church,Ïand€what€our€role€is.€€In€his€interesting€book€ð ðWhere€is€a€Good€Churchðð€Dr.€Don€PosterskiÏsuggests€four€life€signs€that€he€notices€that€are€common€to€growing€and€living€churches€in€everyÏregion€of€Canada.€€These€qualities€are€„€orthodoxy,€relevance,€community,€and€outreach,€and€weÏneed€to€understand€and€embrace€these€four€themes.€€Ìà  àòòò òFIRSTó óóó€then,€churches€that€are€alive€and€growing€are€rooted€and€grounded€in€the€faith€ofÐ ¨ø Ðscripture,€the€Creeds€and€the€continuing€tradition€of€the€Church.€€But€they€are€also€churches€thatÏspend€effort€in€teaching€that€faith,€that€encourage€their€members€to€a€life€of€private€prayer€andÏstudy€as€well€as€group€Bible€Study.€€Any€survey€of€our€membership€would€reveal€a€dangerous€Ìmajority€of€Anglicans€who€do€none€of€the€above.€€Knowledge€of€the€scriptures€is€essential€to€anyÏrenewal.€€Until€we€ourselves€are€built€up€in€the€faith€we€will€have€little€to€say€to€others.€€ÌòòÔ‡ XÃ[XXXrÔà  àÔ#†XrXX XÃ[(#Ôò òSECONDó óóó,Ô‡XáXXXrÔ€Ô#†XrXXXá.)#Ôchurches€that€are€alive€and€growing€are€those€who€seek€to€make€their€faithÐ Ê)%( Ðrelevant€to€the€daily€lives€of€its€members.€€This€includes€relevance€in€preaching,€worship€andÏmusic,€and€mid„week€learning€programmes.€€It€also€includes€programmes€and€support€systemsÐ Š-Ú(, ÐÑ|yÑâ âÑÑÑ  ÑѰ°ÑѰ°Ñâ âÑ  ÑÓ  Ó„€5€„ÌÓ  Ó€that€reach€people€in€their€brokenness€and€pain.à  àà p àà È àà  àà x àà Ð àÐ ŠÚ Ðà  àòòò òTHIRDLYó óóó,Ô€XáXXXrÔ€Ô€XrXXXáÔchurches€that€are€alive€and€growing€are€those€who€work€at€beingÐ d´ Ðcommunities.€€A€member€of€Vestry€in€one€of€our€rural€parishes€wrote€me€expressing€pain€overÏthe€divisions€in€her€parish.€€She€said€ð ðpeople€need€to€feel€parts€of€the€whole€instead€of€justÏpiecesðð.€€I€find€that€statement€very€profound.€€Churches€where€members€and€potential€membersÏare€warmly€welcomed€and€where€you€feel€that€ð ðthey€know€your€name€and€are€glad€you€cameððÏare€well€on€the€road€to€spiritual€health.€Ìà  àòòò òFOURTHLYó óóó,Ô€XáXXXrÔ€Ô€XrXXXáÔPosterski€says€churches€that€are€alive€and€growing€have€a€ministry€ofÐ ŒÜ Ðoutreach€to€their€communities.€€Seeing€a€crying€need,€whether€it€be€for€a€Day€Care€facility€or€aÏFood€Bank,€a€Drop„In€Centre€for€youth€the€Church€must€respond€in€service€and€love€for€thoseÏoutside€itself.€€Ìà  àCertainly€these€four€vital€signs€and€activities€are€not€all€we€need€to€be,€but€it€is€a€modelÏthat€can€be€used€to€test€the€vital€life€signs€in€our€parishððs€life.€€I€will€be€asking€the€Board€ofÏProgramme€to€see€this€portion€of€my€Charge€as€their€mandate€for€months€to€come.€€ButÏimplementation€will€only€happen€by€the€initiative€of€local€and€parish€leadership.€Although€Ìresources€and€training€can€be€available€we€depend€on€the€Clergy,€Wardens€and€Vestries€to€makeÏit€happen.ÌÓ °X°œXÓà  àòòÔ€X XXXrÔTHE€SECOND€PARTóóÔ€XáXXX Ô€Ô€XrXXXáÔof€our€plan€has€to€do€with€the€òòÔ€X XXXrÔREACHING€OUTÔ€XáXXX Ôóó€Ô€XrXXXáÔto€those€whoÐ &l!$ Ðare€not€yet€part€of€our€Church,€but€could€be€if€we€can€meet€their€needs.€€Vital€to€this€enterprise€isÏlearning€how€to€communicate€our€faith€to€a€younger€generation.€€This€not€only€includes€teens€ofÏcourse€but€their€parentððs€generation€as€well,€those€between€35€and€55.€€The€key€players€in€thisÏenterprise€are€parents,€grandparents,€clergy,€Sunday€School€teachers,€and€frankly,€every€member€Ð -à(, ÐÑ|yÑâ âÑÑÑ  ÑѰ°ÑѰ°Ñâ âÑ  ÑÓ  Ó„€6€„ÌÓ  Óof€the€existing€church.€€In€the€Baptism€service€the€congregation€is€asked€ð ðWill€you€who€witnessÏthese€vows€do€all€in€your€power€to€support€these€persons€in€their€life€in€Christ?ðð€€And€althoughÏwe€all€say€Yes€to€it,€few€of€us€know€how€to€do€it!!€€I€believe€we€must€learn€how,€and€then€weÏmust€do€it.òòÐ  h Ðà  àò òTo€do€so,€I€suggest€five€directions:ó óÐ ò B  Ðóóò òà  àTHE€FIRSTó ó€has€to€do€with€the€life€and€attitude€of€each€congregation.€€Each€one€of€usÐ Ê  Ðmust€work€hard€at€being€a€warm,€welcoming€community€of€people.€€The€old€saying€goes€ð ðtheyððllÏknow€we€are€Christians€by€our€love.ðð€In€short€we€must€relearn€the€New€Testament€gift€ofÏhospitality,€that€spirit€of€gracious€generosity€and€openness€where€the€seeker€of€God€encountersÏacceptance,€care€and€attention€from€us.€€As€St.€Paul€wrote€ð ðbe€devoted€to€one€another,€be€joyfulÏin€hope,€patient€in€affliction,€share€with€Godððs€people€who€are€in€need,€live€in€harmony€withÏeach€other,€practice€hospitality.ðð€€Ìà  àIn€a€culture€where€community€has€been€reduced€by€self€interest€to€a€collection€of€selfÏinterest€groups,€fighting€to€get€their€own€way,€we,€the€Church,€must€offer€the€clear€alternative€ofÏthe€Body€of€Christ€„€although€many€and€different€One€in€Jesus€Christ.Ìà  àòòÔ€X XXXrÔSECOóóNDLY€Ô€XrXXX Ôwe€must€develop€a€new€focus€on€the€Christian€home.€€By€far€the€greatestÐ T"¤  Ðlegacy€we€can€give€our€children€and€grandchildren€is€our€Christian€faith.€€To€that€end€parentsÏmust€be€equipped€with€training€and€resources€to€enable€them€to€articulate€their€own€faith€to€theirÏchildren.€€Simple€attractive€printed€Grace€held€between€the€salt€and€the€pepper€on€every€familyÏtable€would€be€a€beginning!€€Ìà  àNo€longer€will€our€children€learn€their€faith€in€school€or€from€their€friends€in€the€street.€ÏThey€will€find€it€only€at€home€and€in€Church.€€Parents€especially€must€learn€to€articulate€their€Ð v-Æ(, ÐÑ|yÑâ âÑÑÑ  ÑѰ°ÑѰ°Ñâ âÑ  ÑÓ  Ó„€7€„ÌÓ  Óown€personal€faith€to€their€children.€€Through€all€of€this€we€must€learn€in€a€broader€sense€newÏmethods,€new€strategies€to€communicate€our€faith€to€a€younger€generation,€beginning€with€theÏfamily€in€a€Christian€home.Ìà  àÔ€X XXXrÔTHIRD€€€Ô€XrXXX ÔWe€must€learn€new€ways€of€engaging€the€culture€around€us.€€We€need€toÐ  h Ðengage€it,€but€never€marry€it€again.€€We€must€be€aware€of€its€emptiness,€critical€of€its€values,Ïresponsive€to€its€needs.€€We€must€be€in€a€position€to€offer€people€in€our€communities€a€clearÏchoice,€a€life€of€meaning€over€one€of€despair,€a€life€of€giving€over€a€life€of€taking,€a€life€of€graceÏover€a€life€of€self.€€Ìà  àÔ€X XXXrÔFOUR€€€Ô€XrXXX ÔWe€must€listen€to€the€voices€of€our€young€people.€€These€are€those,€our€childrenÐ `° Ðand€grandchildren€who€in€a€broken€and€confused€€world€hunger€for€a€relationship€with€God,€andÏyet€too€often€regard€the€Church€as€foreign€territory.€€We€must€listen€to€their€repeated€cries€forÏmeaning€for€worship,€inspiring€music€and€a€clear€and€articulate€proclamation€of€Godððs€Word.€€Ìà  àThe€last€thing€young€people€are€asking€for€is€a€watered€down€version€of€the€Christian€Ìfaith.€€They€just€want€the€truth€of€Christ€in€the€language€they€can€understand.€€To€this€end€weÏneed€to€support€programmes€for€young€people,€of€summer€camps,€Teens€Encounter€Christ€asÏwell€as€clusters€of€parishes,€where€practical,€should€consider€a€joint€ministry€to€youth,€sharingÏthe€cost€of€leadership€and€resources.€€Ìà  àI€would€also€suggest€a€Youth€Synod€to€be€held€in€the€Fall€of€2001€for€the€double€purposeÏof€encouraging€the€youth€of€the€diocese€as€well€as€giving€diocesan€leadership€an€opportunity€toÏlisten€to€their€concerns.€€ÌÔ‡ XÃ[XXXrÔà  àÔ#†XrXX XÃ[oI#ÔÔ€X XXXrÔòòFive€„€The€music€of€the€Churchóó.€€Ô€XrXXX ÔAnglicans€have€a€rich€heritage€of€music.€€Part€of€theÐ ž+î&* Ðtradition€of€common€prayer€and€the€nature€of€our€worship€is€participation.€€Music€both€provides€Ð ~-Î(, ÐÑ|yÑâ âÑÑÑ  ÑѰ°ÑѰ°Ñâ âÑ  ÑÓ  Ó„€8€„ÌÓ  Óthis€essential€participation€and€also€lifts€the€soul€as€we€experience€Godððs€power€and€presence€inÏworship.€€But€music€is€never€a€static€endeavour,€it€changes€and€responds€to€the€culture€of€theÏtimes.€€A€century€and€a€half€ago€Bishop€Medley€wrote€a€series€of€hymns€to€make€worship€moreÏcontemporary€and€to€offer€an€alternative€to€Methodist€choruses.€€So€in€our€time€music€in€theÏChurch€must€meet€the€want€ð ðof€the€present€generationðð€by€texts€that€are€faithful€to€scripture€andÏwritten€in€melodies€that€reflect€our€contemporary€times.€€I€am€not€suggesting€that€we€loose€theÏgood€old€hymns.€€They€are€indispensable€to€our€future,€but€we€must€be€open€to€the€new€as€well.Ìà  àIn€all€of€this€God€is€calling€only€to€be€His€Church,€the€Body€of€His€Son€on€earth.€€NoÏlonger€a€majority€institution€with€privilege€and€power,€but€rather€that€New€Testament€Church,€aÏminority€movement€clear€about€its€mission,€clear€about€its€message,€clear€about€its€powerÏsource,€and€also€clear€about€the€brokenness€and€lostness€of€peopleððs€lives€and€their€desperateÏneed€for€Godððs€grace.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìà  àòòóóÔ€X XXXrÔTHE€THIRD€PART€òòóóOF€OUR€STRATEGY€Ô€XrXXX Ôis€equipping€the€Church€with€the€rightÐ Â Ðresources€to€accomplish€our€task.€€Let€me€speak€of€our€spiritual€resources,€human€resources€andÏwritten€and€manufactured€resources.€à À àÐ | Ì Ðà  àòòóóÔ€X XXXrÔFIRSTÔ€XáXXX Ôòòóó€€€Ô€XrXXXáÔIt€must€be€said,€that€the€work€of€renewal€is€always€the€work€of€the€Holy€Spirit.€Ð V"¦  Ðð ðUnless€the€Lord€build€the€house€their€labour€is€in€vain€that€built€itðð.€€All€our€efforts,€therefore,Ïmust€be€motivated€and€encouraged€by€our€will€to€be€in€line€with€Godððs€will.€€Nothing€long€termÏor€too€significant€can€happen€unless€we,€the€leadership€of€the€Church,€are€dependent€upon€GodððsÏSpirit€and€Grace€for€growth.€€Therefore,€it€is€central€to€the€process€that€we,€the€Church,€pray€forÏa€spirit€of€openness€and€receptiveness€so€that€Godððs€transforming€power€can€work€among€us.€ÏWe€must€pray€ð ðthat€things€that€have€been€cast€down€will€be€raised€up,€that€things€which€have€Ð ~-Î(, ÐÑ|y Ñâ âÑÑÑ  ÑѰ°ÑѰ°Ñâ âÑ  ÑÓ  Ó„€9€„ÌÓ  Ógrown€old€will€me€made€new,€and€that€all€things€maybe€brought€to€their€perfection€in€Christðð.€€Ìà  àòòóóÔ€X XXXrÔSECOND€€Ô€XáXXX Ô€Ô€XrXXXáÔAòòóó€rich€resource€in€our€diocese€rests€in€our€people.€€As€I€travel€from€church€toÐ d´ Ðchurch€I€am€always€encouraged€by€the€gifts€that€God€has€given€His€people.€€I€also€sense€theseÏgifts€need€to€be€encouraged€and€put€to€work€on€the€local€level.€€Training€and€continuingÏeducation€will€be€a€necessary€part€of€the€future€of€the€Church.€€We€have€already€made€severalÏbeginnings€at€this€through€our€Layreader€Training€Programme,€the€new€Christian€EducationÏConsultant,€and€Christ€and€His€Family€weekend.€€Many€clergy€in€the€diocese€have€expressed€theÏneed€for€continuing€education,€and€I€will€be€suggesting€an€annual€clergy€school€to€meet€theseÏneeds.€€As€well€as€our€leadership€needs,€the€deep€pool€of€talent€€in€our€lay€membership€needs€toÏbe€encouraged,€equipped€and€empowered.€€Ìà  àò òThirdly€„€ó óWe€will€need€to€discover€and€invest€in€written€and€technical€resources€so€thatÐ j Ðwe€can€communicate€the€message€of€Christ€to€our€present€Church,€as€well€as€new€members€asÏthey€come€to€us.€€Creative€resources€for€worship,€education,€and€outreach€are€essential.€€TheseÏresources€are€available,€but€we€must€find€them€and€use€them.€€The€Alpha€programme€has€offeredÏthe€Church€a€good€beginning€in€this€direction.€€But€there€is€more,€much€more.€€Ìà  àòòóóÔ€X XXXrÔTHE€FOURTH€AND€FINAL€PART€OF€OUR€STRATEGY€òòóóÔ€XáXXX Ô€Ô€XrXXXáÔhas€to€do€with€theÐ b"²  Ðfinancial€resources€of€the€Church.€€The€subject€of€money€in€church€is€often€treated€like€a€ð ðburpÏat€a€banquetðð.€€Over€the€past€few€years,€although€income€to€our€parishes€has€been€level,€expensesÏhave€increased€causing€deficit€positions€for€some€parishes€as€well€as€for€the€diocese.Ìà  àWe€need€new€resources€and€training,€but€how€can€we€afford€it€if€we€canððtÌmeet€our€annual€income€targets?€€Too€often€the€maintenance€of€beautiful€but€tired€buildings,Ïtogether€with€the€cost€of€clergy€and€other€staff,€consumes€all€our€resources€leaving€little€for€Ð Š-Ú(, ÐÑ!|y Ñâ !âÑÑÑ  ÑѰ°ÑѰ°Ñâ !âÑ  ÑÓ  ÓñÙ ñ„€10€„ÌñÙ ññÚ ñÓ  ÓñÚ ññÛ ññ× ñÌñ× ññÛ ñanything€new€or€creative.€€To€make€renewal€and€strengthening€of€our€Church€possible,Ïprogrammes€of€stewardship€and€financial€development€must€be€given€a€much€higher€priority€andÏprofile.€€Ìà  àPeople€invest€in€what€they€really€believe€in.€€A€problem€for€many€of€our€people€is€that€theÏcredibility€of€the€Church€has€taken€a€beating€in€the€last€number€of€years.€€The€institutionalÏchurch€with€all€its€problems€is€probably€not€regarded€as€a€great€investment.€€€But€the€renewal€ofÏpeople€and€congregations€will€bring€a€change€to€this€so€that€as€people€see€things€that€wereÏbroken€are€being€put€right,€and€things€old€made€new,€they€will€respond.€€Ìà  àA€few€months€ago€I€was€driving€through€the€country€with€one€of€our€priests.€€Up€on€a€hillÏI€caught€sight€of€a€new€church€gleaming€in€the€sun.€€Whatððs€that?€I€asked.€€Oh,€he€said,€that€is€aÏnew€independent€church.€€Five€families€mortgaged€their€homes€to€make€it€possible€„€Wow.€ÏThose€five€families€must€have€really€believed€their€church€was€a€good€investment.Ìà  àA€programme€of€stewardship€and€financial€development€must€be€part€of€our€creativeÏfuture.€€Here€the€diocese€must€take€initiative.€€It€will€mean€finding€the€rightñÜ ñÌñÜ ññÝ ñ€ñÝ ññÜ ñ„€15€„ÌñÜ ññÚ ñÓ  ÓñÚ ñresources€andÏleadership,€and€possibly€the€employment€of€a€consultant€for€a€short€time.€€And€then€parishes€willÏbe€equipped€and€confident€in€their€stewardship€initiatives.Ìà  àSo,€as€I€conclude,€let€me€summarize€the€four€main€points€of€my€Charge:Ìò òòòFIRSTóóó 󀄀we€must€build€up€and€strengthen€the€Church€as€it€now€exists.Ð &T!$ Ðò òòòSECONDóóó 󀄀we€must€reach€out€to€those€who€are€not€yet€part€of€our€Church€but€could€be.Ð ä'4#& Ðò òòòTHIRDóóó 󀀄€we€must€equip€ourselves€with€the€resources€to€do€these€two€things,€and€Ð Ä)%( Ðò òòòFOURTHóóó 󀀄€we€must€give€stewardship€and€financial€development€a€higher€priority€and€profileÐ ¤+ô&* Ðà  àIt€must€be€clear€that€although€the€Bishop€and€Synod€can€initiate€programmes€and€ñÞ ñÐ „-Ô(, ÐÑ|y Ñâ âÑÑÑ  ÑѰ°ÑѰ°Ñâ âÑ  ÑñÞ ññß ñÓ  Óñß ññÞ ññÞ ññà ñ„€11€„Ìñà ññá ñÓ  Óñá ññÞ ññÞ ññâ ññÞ ñÌñÞ ññâ ñdirections,€implementation€will€only€come€by€the€will€and€effort€of€each€parish.€€If€there€is€to€beÏa€change€in€direction,€in€attitude€and€spirit,€it€will€be€at€the€will€of€each€Parish€Corporation€andÏVestry.€€As€I€have€said€before,€the€parish€is€the€engine€of€Mission€in€this€diocese.€€The€dioceseÏexists€to€lead,€to€support€and€to€unite€our€efforts.Ìà  àI€now€commend€this€Charge€to€you,€members€of€this€Synod.€€I€ask€you€to€read€it€„€in€yourÏown€time€before€morning€and€sincerely€pray€for€the€Holy€Spirit€to€guide€your€sharing€andÏdiscussion€tomorrow,€so€that€we,€as€the€Church€in€this€diocese,€might€fulfil€the€mind€of€Him€whoÏloves€the€Church€and€gave€His€life€for€it€„€Jesus€Christ€our€Lord!€„€Amen