Response to the Bishop's Charge to the
128th Session of Diocesan Synod
02-04 June 2005

Summary of responses to the following questions in seven areas of discussion: 1. What are the 3 most important things we would like the Bishop to be aware of concerning his charge in the area of ministry that we are discussing? 2. What 3 recommendations do we want to make to the Bishop and the Diocesan Council that would guide them as we move forward in the area of ministry that we are discussing? 3. What 3 recommendations do we want to make to our Parishes that would guide them as we work with the Bishop and Council in the area of ministry that we are discussing?

Administration

Question 1:
•    Do not spend time creating new positions, new administrations.  Too focused on survival. Seek to provide voluntary positions. Reconsideration of hiring Stewardship and Parish Development Officer
•    Heavy handedness campaign. Although ministry is necessary
•    Bishop to visit any vestry requesting during his deanery visit over eighteen month period

Question 2:
•    Stewardship: diocese to be more proactive at parish level especially developing spiritual aspects of stewardship
•    Diocese take more in depth study of communities where churches may close re economics.
•    If resources are required for diocese, it means less emphasis on parish needs.

Question 3:
•    Parishes should be resolute in developing local mission and style of ministry.
•    Encourage at parish level enchanced giving - stewardship
•    Clergy need to be educated on stewardship and teach it at parish level.

Episcopal

Question 1:
•    Residential schools- repentance and forgiveness is needed in the church.
•    Need for timely response from bishop to parish communications.
•    How will we pay for new ministries.
•    Bishop must recognize and value Church Army & Taylor College.
•    Matrimonial Commission should be revised concerning “sensitivity issue.”
•    Need clearly articulated view concerning same-sex and other divisive issues.
•    Recruitment of clergy must be a priority.
•    Layreader training should be a priority.
•    Unity of  the church is vital, and bishop must promote across diocese.
•    Better use of executive assistant.
•    Why is there an intentional shift to promote ast? Stand for christ and his word, not he politics of the world. Consistent attention should be given to discipoline and accountability at all levels.

Question 2:
•    Council should work toward maintaining unity.
•    Better time management of bishop’s schedule.
•    Llove is blssed but union is not “marriage.”
•    Need revision of matrimonial commission.

Question 3:
•    Parish should report by personal reflection the various episcopal ministries
•    Parish should reflect and celebrate the diversity of “mission.”
•    Parishes should provide welcome and ministry to gays and lesbians without compromising scripture.
•    Bishop should visit deaneries for 24-hour missions.
•    Common prayer should be celebrated and strengthened.
•    Parish priest should be trained in regard to matrimonial commission revision.

Mission Outreach

Question 1:
•    Increase awareness of youth, regardless of any Church affiliation.  More youth involvement in ministry and adequate funding.
•    Mission needs a balance between local and overseas projects; 9 of 14 ministries within the Diocese Mission needs to be clearly defined – what is it?  Diocese needs a clear Mission Statement.
•    Need to support our Companion Diocese.  The Church grows as it looks outward rather than inward – need to share this with parishes.

Question 2:
•    Communication needs to be improved.  Rectors need to use discernment as to what to support in his/her parish.
•    Bishop could appoint a refugee coordinator.
•    Have inter-generational projects for all ages.
•    Have companion parishes within Diocese.
•    Encourage the Bishop to develop projects to reach the poor in our communities.

Question 3:
•    We ought to engage in missions now and not wait until things get better.
•    Seek more amalgamations to develop more shared ministry.
•    Rectors to encourage laity to develop their gifts for ministry and provide means to put them into use.
•    To identify key people for leadership roles.

Stewardship and Financial Development

Question 1:
•    Thankful for work done by s & f comm. Encourage rectors and parishes to make use of the information available.
•    Give more information and promote “letting down the nets” initiative
•    Narrative budget is an important step.
•    Bishop to urge high attendance at stewardship workshops and encourage training teams in each parish.
•    Affirm that good stewardship is a result of good relationship with god
•    Give good reasons for giving money, time and talent. However, people are concerned about costs involved in hiring full-time persons
•    Promote good stewardship of all Creation, since spiritual vitality and maturity are connected to stewardship and giving.

Question 2:
•    Promote lay visitation in each parish, focused on people’s needs.
•    Promote evangelism at personal and parish level through the appointment of evangelistic teams in each parish.
•    Encourage personal\family testimonies about spiritual growth through good stewardship.
•    Encourage the sharing of stewardship ideas that work such as by producing videos of successful stewardship stories which could be shared in general parishes.
•    Stewardship officer? More bureaucracy or will pay for itself.  Some are in favour; others are not.

Question 3:
•    Parishes should inform the diocese about local problems and needs, and should be more proactive in communicating with the diocese.
•    Parishes need to be more receptive to information disseminated by the diocese, and to promote the same.
•    Encourage parishioners to take part in church activities, especially the youth
•    Encourage parishes to support synod in their mission endeavours.
•    Encourage parishioners to see the church as part of that extended family.
•    Challenge parishioners to compare individual\family monthly expenses with the monthly amount given to god’s work \ mission.

Youth

Question 1:
•    Fundamental importance of Diocesan Youth Ministries.
•    We must put keep our own house in order.
•    Recognize the tensions between youth cultures and the traditions, and work with them.

Question 2:
•    Resource the ministry by intentional prayer and identifying financial resources.
•    Enable youth focused worship styles to flourish.
•    Expand and deepen our youth ministries

Question 3:
•    Communication
•    Participation
•    Partnerships

Spiritual Formation

Question 1:
•    Communication – Information to all at every level (keep everybody in the loop) 
•    Website? 
•    Promotion of groups in bulletins, N.B. Anglican etc.
•    Evangelism/Mission – Increased emphasis on Christian Education. 
•    Realize the value of the 19 groups in our cluster. 
•    Emphasis on youth.
•    Bishop’s Vision – Is dependent on Bishop looking after his health.  We appreciate your vision and leadership.  We want you to continue looking after your health.

Question 2:
•    Communication – Better communication of information.  Use technology (all parishes on-line)
•    Video – (perhaps for Lent).  Showcasing all 19 groups.
•    Missioner – Full-time visitor to parishes. 
•    Consultant who listens. 
•    Spreads message of formation and development

Question 3
•    Each parish wrestle with question.
•    How do we make vision more manageable?
•    How do we do “more” teamwork?
•    What is next step at the parish level
•    Better communication at parish level.
•    Better communication at outside community level.
•    Develop Lay reader ministry?  Bring lay readers under Spiritual Development Team umbrella.

Parish Development and Support

Question 1
•    Communications – Important in prospering parish support & development.
•    Made great progress in this regard.
•    Need to evaluate what we have and continue to utilize and improve communication
•    Resource Package – Excited about its arrival. 
•    Make its production a top priority.
•    Important to identify who we are and where we should be going as a parish.
•    Clearly identify our challenges, celebrate our success
•    Be open “willing to think outside the box”.
•    Lay people – Identify spiritual gifts, train individuals and empower them in their ministries.
•    Clerical leadership to encourage and facilitate lay ministry.

Question 2
•    Human Resource Directory focused on Ministries – to be for diocesan-wide distribution. 
•    Willingness to explore and engage ecumenical resources. 
•    Current training programs good start but need more.
•    Acknowledge differences of individual parishes.
•    Intentional follow-up of Visionary Process.

Question 3
•    Seek God’s vision for Parish and articulate clear goals and objectives.
•    Parish linking process emphasizing interdependency as encouraged by Bishop’s Charge.
•    Encourage deliberate follow-ups of inactive Anglicans.


Dr. Mohan Iype
Vice-chair of Diocesan Council
04 June 2005