BISHOP'S CHARGE - SYNOD 2001

BUILDING STRONGER PARISHES AND EQUIPPING GOD'S PEOPLE FOR HIS WORK IN THE DIOCESE

I want to begin this Charge with a profound expression of gratitude to all of you who have been in the front line in the work of God in the diocese during the past year. I am especially grateful for those who work in our Synod office, Doreen Smith, Phyllis Cathcart, Canon Fred Scott, and Archdeacon Claude Miller, for their efforts in coordinating the work of the diocese and maintaining this network of mission and ministry that unites our efforts as a diocese. As well, I am very grateful to the Territorial Archdeacons and Regional Deans, who, on the local level have supported congregations in their efforts to be the Church in their communities. But chiefly I am grateful to those who lead the Church at the local level. To our Clergy, Church Wardens, Layreaders and others who provide faithfully for divine worship, spiritual growth, fellowship, in providing outreach to their communities. As I have suggested before, "the local parish is the engine of Mission." So God bless you for all your efforts.

Last year at Synod 2000 I presented to you four areas of ministry that we all felt strongly needed our attention. They included: (1) a new emphasis on ministry to younger generations of the Church; (2) innovative programmes of education and spiritual growth to believers of all ages, (3) a fresh look at communications between the diocese and parishes, and (4) a new look at steward-ship and financial development.

As a result of your discussions and recommendations at Synod 2000 a Synod Action Committee was struck to implement our recommendations. After eight months that committee has reported their progress through their Chair Person, Peter Irish. Much of their efforts I reported to you through the video presentation earlier this year. I must offer much gratitude to Mr. Irish, the Rev. Geoffrey Hall, and other members of the committee who worked very hard throughout this past year.

Again may I review the progress we have made. First, in the area of leadership development I am happy to report the Clergy College, set for June 18-23, is ready to go with a high proportion of our clergy expected to attend. As well, last weekend a delegation of three from this diocese attended a lay development resource weekend in London, Ontario. Three people who are committed to work at organizing such an event in our diocese for June 2002.

In the area of youth development, plans are in place for a weekend event in Saint John, October 25-28. Information on this will soon be available for parish leaders. It is hoped that we can encourage many of our young people to attend.
As well, I am encouraged by the efforts at the parish level to employ youth ministers to hold youth services, and to generally be more sensitive to the spiritual needs of young people.

In the area of communications, new work continues on our diocesan web site, and the appointment of a site editor to maintain the site with current and up-to-date information.

We, the Church of Christ, in this first year of the 21st Century find ourselves in a very strange and challenging place. Old Testament Scholar Walter Bruegemaan, whom I enjoy reading very much, tells the story of visiting Boston College a year or so ago, and being walked through one of their new buildings. It was a new Economics building, state of the art, ultra- modern facility. Just inside the front door was a big beautifully carved wooden chair; on of those chairs that nobody sits in, and on its back a Latin motto in bold print. After the tour of this new world place, as Bruegemaan and his priest guide were walking by the chair again, he paused and confessing his weakness with Latin, asked his Catholic trained host what it meant. He smiled, well he said roughly translated it means "Toto we're not in Kansas anymore".

For those of you who have lived a few years and who have been close to the life of the Church, we know all too well we are not where we used to be. Like Dorothy, we are not at home anymore. We live in a new and very different reality. It seems to me that over the last thirty years we have been going through a radical and painful separation from our culture. For decades some say certainly for centuries mainline churches have enjoyed a rather cushy marriage with the ruling and cultural elite of our society. Sunday morning was observed by that culture for worship, quiet and rest. Ninety per cent of the population were at least adherent to that proposition; most people were on some church list. But by 1950 a new generation of Canadians was being born that would change all that. Eighty per cent of whom would come to see the institutional church as a relic of an oppressive past, and irrelevant to their needs. And Sunday morning lost its exclusive hold on our culture affections. In New Brunswick it is twenty-seven per cent of our population who is in church every Sunday, and that is the highest of any Province of Canada. "Toto we're not in Kansas anymore".

Walter Bruegemaan goes on to suggest that we the Church have gone into exile. That like God's people in the sixth century BC we have lost our temple, and find ourselves in a strange and alien culture. To quote Bruegemaan "we live in an exilic culture that diminishes, disregards, and derides our identity. As Jews disappeared into the woodwork of Babylon, so Christians now, as never before, disappear into the hegemony of secularism."

I find myself attracted to Bruegemaan's analysis of our present situation because it not only accounts for our loss and disconnection over the past number of decades, but also gives a hope for the future. Yes we don't have the temple of Christendom anymore; yes we are losing people to the hegemony of secularism, but God has not abandoned us, and He can use this period of exile for our good. As God said it through Jeremiah "for my plans for you are not for your destruction, but for your good to give you a future and a hope". Exile means that we're not in Kansas anymore; we're not at home anymore, but I take heart in the Epistle to the Hebrews ascribing the giants of the faith "they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth; people who say such things show that they are looking for a country; not the country they have left, but instead longing for a better country, a heavenly one". And so as we pursue ministry in these exilic and exciting times; what is it exactly that God is calling us to do specifically for our diocese? I suggest four areas of great need.

1. CONCERN FOR YOUTH

It is clear that a concern for youth in the Church continues to be a high priority. In order to move forward on this serious need I propose a fall consultation on youth, involving all those participating in youth work throughout the diocese. The purpose of this would be to plan a long- term strategy for youth in the diocese. It is clear from discussions in the last year that there are no easy, quick solutions here, and that only a coordinated and planned process will have any success. God is clearly leading us in this area, and I believe it will mean a major new investment in our camp facilities, as well as new positions of leadership for youth in the diocese.

As well as what the diocese can initiate I also propose that parish leadership put the issue of youth on the agenda of their vestries to both explore ways of including young people in Sunday worship, as well as resourcing, where possible, youth ministry. As well as this, I charge parishes to explore ways of cooperating with neighbouring parishes, on a local or deanery level, by providing regular youth services, perhaps monthly or bi-monthly, as well as exploring the possibility of several parishes employing a youth minister together.

2. Lay Education and Spiritual Growth

The second proposal I make to you, under the umbrella of building stronger parishes, is in the area of lay education and spiritual growth. It is clear that a strong Church means a more informed, equipped, biblically literate laity. I am grateful for the blessing that Cursillo and Alpha and other spiritual programmes have been to our people. I am also grateful for the ministry of the Rev. Patricia Drummond in her effort to support and encourage our Sunday School teachers. As well, I look forward to the new lay leadership development weekend planned for next year. This event will be both inspirational and instructive as we seek to develop and support lay ministry at the local level.

To this end I propose that the diocese develop a library of "faith-building resources", including video programmes, curriculums, Bible Study resource material designed for lay education to be used at the parish or deanery level. This would make available to the clergy much needed support in their efforts to provide programmes of spiritual growth to their people.
As well, I propose to each parish or deanery that they endeavour to set aside two terms of faith-development education each year, one in the fall and the other in Lent, once appropriate resources are available. I realize that many parishes do this now, but I would love to see this expanded. This may mean the appointment of an education or spiritual growth committee in each parish to assist the rector in these endeavours.

3. Stewardship and Financial Development

The third area of continuing concern is the difficulty surrounding the issues of stewardship and financial development. It is clear, that if parishes are to continue to meet the continuing and rising costs of leadership, building maintenance, as well as faith development and parish outreach, we will need support and know-how in how to challenge our people to their commitment to the support of this work. As well, if the diocese is to provide education resources for youth and adult programming, as well as major investment in our camp facilities, this will need a new plan for financial support.

To this end I propose two things. First that a major stewardship conference be held this November, gathering representatives from each parish to begin the process of stewardship education. Secondly, I propose that the diocese consider seriously the appointment of a Parish Development Officer to provide stewardship education at the deanery and parish level. I propose that this appointment be for a two to three year contract term. Other dioceses across Canada that have made such an appointment speak of the benefits of such an appointment, and although positive results are only seen in the long term the work has to begin before it grows.

As well as these proposals I announce a series of budget meetings to be held this September on an archdeaconry level, to give lay delegates, church wardens and clergy, an opportunity to examine and to have input into the budget proposals for 2002. This will give grass roots input to the budget before it goes to the Board of Finance and Diocesan Council for final ratification later in the fall.
I propose to each parish that they commit themselves to be involved in this process, and that they send at least one delegate, along with their rector, to the stewardship conference in November, and that if, and when, a parish development officer be appointed they will take advantage of that ministry

4. Parishes Struggling to Survive

The fourth area highlighted in your response, and an area which I am deeply concerned with, is the whole area of parishes who presently struggle to survive, and whose leadership of both clergy and laity are seeking some relief from the care of aging and costly buildings, as well as increased leadership costs, and are doing this with diminishing resources, and diminishing membership.
In response to this serious need on the part of some of our parishes I am proposing a programme of new partnerships for ministry. We are happy to report that throughout the last two years we have succeeded in building stronger parishes by realigning congregations in such a way as to make them viable and self-supporting, by building new partnerships. Examples of this include the Parish of Richmond and Houlton, Maine. The Parish of Hillsborough & Riverside and St. Andrews, Moncton. As well as this the Parishes of Westmorland and Kent, Cambridge & Waterborough and Campobello are now served by clergy on a part-time basis, reducing their financial pressures, and encouraging lay ministry from within the parish.

Discussions are continuing in other parts of the diocese where parishes can no longer go it alone, and seeking new partnerships with neighbouring parishes in the hope of building stronger centres for mission and ministry, and insuring the long-term presence of our Church in these areas. In some of these situations proposals are being made for the replacement of aging and non-viable facilities with new churches and halls, so that our ministry to our children and grandchildren will be possible.

The diocese will continue to support and advise any parish, or collection of parishes, who wish to pursue discussions of this nature. Our policy is not to close churches, but to rather ensure that a viable strong Anglican presence is maintained and strengthened for every area of our diocese. We believe that in many cases this can be accomplished through new creative partnerships for ministry.
During your discussions tomorrow morning I urge you to consider these four areas of concern, under the general heading of Building Stronger Parishes throughout our diocese. This will only be accomplished through much prayer and seeking God's grace and guidance. "Unless the Lord build the house our labour is in vain that build it."

A copy of this Charge will be made available to each of you after the service, and I ask that you read it prayerfully in preparation for your discussions tomorrow morning.

May God bless us as we seek to build His house together.

In Christ,

+William