tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80488029807251400552024-03-07T22:49:42.329-08:00Congregational SeasonsA community blog that features your Episcopal congregational stories of restored vitality and viability.Joe Dugganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05213826227329522249noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048802980725140055.post-29647926078478817242012-06-30T15:55:00.002-07:002012-08-28T13:33:04.117-07:00Recasting Your Church's Building Assets for Congregational ViabilityCongregational Seasons is very grateful for the following essay by Bob Jaeger, President of Partners for Sacred Spaces, http://www.sacredplaces.org/ <br />
<br />
Partners for Sacred Spaces <b>New Dollars/New Partners for Your Sacred Space</b> training program provides intensive, hands-on help to one or more parishes in a given diocese, encouraging them to identify their building assets (e.g. excellent acoustics, expansive kitchen, shareable parish hall), develop new partners in the community, and broaden their donor base. Partners have worked with hundreds of parishes nationwide, and with several dioceses in New England, the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, South and West.<br />
<br />
In an urban setting, St. Martin's, a mission church in Chicago, would face closing without new ways to raise funds and use space effectively. The parish took part in New Dollars, which helped parishioners organize, map out priorities and space uses and think more about their mission and purpose - within the diocese and the context of a struggling west side neighborhood. The church is hosting more arts and music activities now, and is thinking about how it can take better advantage of its position on a charming plaza, complete with fountain, in front of the church. Thanks to Partner's encouragement, the parish is placing a church table in the plaza for a community block party this summer, to bring visibility and new visitors to the church.<br />
<br />
Recognizing that many rural churches are small and could close without help, the Diocese of Vermont retained Partners to offer New Dollars training to several parishes, among them the Church of Our Saviour in Kilington. The church learned how to map its internal assets, as well as assets in the larger community. Recognizing its super acoustics, the parish is now hosting concerts sponsored by the local library when the weather is inclement. Given its location in the countryside, it worked with the town government on a scenic byways initiative, bringing more visitors to the church. These steps have brought new energy and visibility to the parish and have attracted new funding that has underwritten the replacement of the parish house roof.<br />
<br />
Parishes that are looking for new funding and support for the repair and effective use of their buildings have an important resource at hand: Partners for Sacred Spaces. Partners has been working with Episcopal churches (and congregations from all faith traditions) across the nation for 23 years, with a special focus on helping them raise capital funds in new ways and use their space more effectively for ministry. Partners also works with the Episcopal Church Building Fund.<br />
<br />
Note from Joe Duggan: Congregational Seasons will soon celebrate the work and ministry of the Episcopal Church Building Fund, so stay tuned...<br />
<br />
For further information, contact:<br />
<br />
Bob Jaeger, President of Partners for Sacred Spaces, bjaeger@sacredplaces.org <br />
<br />
The Rev. Christopher Griffin<br />
St. Martin's, Chicago<br />
773 378 8111<br />
chris61griffin@yahoo.com<br />
<br />
The Rev. Diane Root<br />
Church of Our Savious, Killington, VT<br />
802 422 9064<br />
drootTRRM@aol.comJoe Dugganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05213826227329522249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048802980725140055.post-5609634663101162702012-06-28T16:29:00.000-07:002012-06-28T16:29:36.227-07:00Three Parishes Experience Resurrection Out of Dire Straits<span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">About our contributor: The Rev. Peter E. Bushnell, Rector Holy Trinity Church, Enfield, CT - see parish website, http://www.holytrinityenfield.com/ </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">There
were four small churches in the North Central Episcopal Regional
Ministry for about 15 years before three of the parishes voted to merge
in 2007. This was accomplished with a great deal of enthusiasm after
about two years of intensive discernment and planning. The fourth
church opted to attempt to continue on their own, which they have done,
with a fair degree of success. <br />
<br />
The three churches that emerged as Holy Trinity were St. Mary's (the
current location of Holy Trinity), Enfield, St. Andrew's Enfield, and
Calvary Suffield. St. Andrew's was about 3 miles west of St. Mary's,
and Calvary was another four miles west of that. I found that it took
about 10-15 minutes to drive from any of the locations in the regional
ministry to any of the others. <br />
<br />
The merger was a wonderful outcome for the three churches involved. By
2005, I had to report to the membership of the regional ministry that I
had great doubts that God was being glorified in any way by the
continued existence of churches in such dire straits. The energies of
nearly fifty people were being devoted, on four Vestries, to a grim
struggle merely to keep the lights on and the doors open in four
separate locations. We began to experiment with combining our
congregations for major services (Christmas Eve and Easter) to begin to
test our strength together. The experiences were like experiencing a
resurrection. More and more, in a variety of combined undertakings, we
began to discover what coming together might hold for our future.<br />
<br />
We were very fortunate in being able successfully to sell the surplus
properties. Today, the Calvary buildings house the Suffield Senior
Center, and St. Andrew's property was purchased by Enfield Loaves &
Fishes, which is a soup kitchen which has operated at St. Andrew's since
its beginnings as a ministry of the parish in 1984. So that was a
happy outcome, which has contributed greatly to Holy Trinity's
stability.<br />
<br />
Holy Trinity, and the regional ministry benefited greatly from the fact
that St. Mary's was a fairly large congregation, that I always
identified as the "flagship" of NCERM. With an average attendance of
close to 100 most years, they formed a talent pool and resource of
support over the years. St. Andrew's had a moderate endowment, which
enabled us to have a reservoir of income to help with the investment
needed for the transition. <br />
<br />
Today, with growth of members and giving, we are a parish with an
average attendance of about 125 per week, and we are close to balancing
our budget each year. We have taken care of a lot of deferred
maintenance in the church building, and are looking to the future with
hope and confidence. <br />
<br />
A huge part of our transition was centered in renewal around the Alpha
Program. There were a number of people who were opposed to the merger,
and felt that the loss of their church was a breach of trust between
themselves and the leaders of their parish and the regional ministry.
Many of them have taken their membership elsewhere since 2007. A few
have begun recently to return. Others felt that the emphasis on
spiritual renewal was not for them, and they either withdrew or
transferred out. Since 2007, Holy Trinity has managed moderate growth,
replacing the losses, and becoming larger, in the bargain. We are a
parish focused on mission, in a large variety of ways, as God has
inspired individuals and groups to bring needs near and far away to our
attention for ministry.<br />
<br />
For me, it has been an exciting time, that at moments, has seemed like a
wild ride. Overall, it has been a great experience, and one that I
never could have imagined years ago at the beginning of my ministry. I
have been very blessed to have been called by God to lead this group of
Christians.<br />
<br />
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share this story. Hope it will help another church or churches.<span class="HOEnZb"><span style="color: #888888;"><br />
<br />
<span class="il">Peter</span></span></span></span></span>Joe Dugganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05213826227329522249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048802980725140055.post-45158271432234959272012-06-25T15:55:00.001-07:002012-06-25T16:01:56.703-07:00"Coming Together in Faith" - a parish merger story<br />
Post contributed by Rev. Thea Keith-Lucas<br />
<br />
"Coming Together in Faith" is the name of the parish's <span class="il">blog</span> for communications about the merger, <a href="http://comingtogetherinfaith.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">comingtogetherinfaith.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com</a><br /><br />
Coming Together in Faith and Calvary Episcopal Church also have Facebook pages.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I serve Calvary Episcopal Church in Danvers, Massachusetts.
We first started to talk about merger over a year ago, when we gathered as a
parish in late March of 2011 to have a frank discussion of our financial
challenges. We had been running deficits and spending down our limited
endowment, and we knew something would have to change within the next few
years. I presented a list of options for our future, and after we talked about
each one, I asked each member to raise a card of colored paper. Green meant “Yes,
let’s explore it,” yellow meant “Maybe,” and red meant “No way.” Cutting staff
and clergy time got a lot of yellow cards, and worshiping in a rented space
produced a sea of red. I explained that Grace Church in Salem and Saint Paul’s
in Peabody were facing similar difficulties and wanted to talk to us about
working together. Hands with green and yellow cards went up, and a new chapter
in our parish’s life began.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have learned a lot this year. We began by worshiping
together, moving from church to church over the summer of 2011. Our members
jumped into the planning: advertising the schedule, making sure we had nametags
to wear, volunteering as greeters and offering rides to those who might need
one. We had a great turnout from Calvary at both Saint Paul’s and Grace, and our
members enthusiastically welcomed our new friends during the weeks of worship
at Calvary.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then, in the fall, we began meeting with our partner
churches to discuss ways to work together. Guided by our facilitator Phil
Whitbeck, we learned about each other’s ministries and got to know members as
individuals. We hosted an All Hallow’s Eve service with the choir from Grace
Church. Our crafters invited folks from Grace and Saint Paul’s to have tables
at our Fair. I met often to talk and pray with my two sister Rectors, Debbie
Phillips of Grace Church and Joyce Caggiano of Saint Paul’s, and gained
powerful support and inspiration from them. Step by step, relationship by
relationship, we became more comfortable sharing our struggles and our hopes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On February 12, 2012, the Rev. Canon Libby Berman, Canon for
Congregations at the diocese, came to join our meeting. She encouraged all
three parishes to think carefully about what we wanted to get out of our new
relationships. Did we want to collaborate on a few projects? Or were we ready
to seriously consider merging? After careful thought about where God is leading
each of our parishes, Grace Church chose to focus on its distinctive ministry
to its local community and not enter into a merger. Saint Paul’s and Calvary
decided to talk about what it would mean for our two parishes to merge and
carry out our ministry together.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Joyce
Caggiano and I planned a meeting on March 24, 2012 where we would discuss all
the questions we could think of that might be on people’s minds. It was quite a list. Are we able to form
one cohesive fellowship?? Would we have a balanced budget? How would we choose
a priest? Which of the two buildings would we use for worship – knowing that
the other one would be sold? A parishioner read the list before the meeting and
said, “A lot of these questions are sad.” But then when we got into the meeting
and started talking, they weren’t sad at all. They were opportunities to find
common ground. The room was buzzing with energy and hope. Our closing Eucharist
brought us into one circle, perhaps the beginning of being truly one family.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The conversation
shifted from “Do we belong together?” to “How can we become one community?”
People readily volunteered to start the work of planning a merger: meeting with
financial consultants, arranging building audits, communicating with our
members, bringing the vestries together for fellowship. We also shared two
lovely and meaningful Holy Week services, a Maundy Thursday agape meal in
Danvers and a Good Friday way of the cross in Peabody. Together we celebrated
Christ’s love for us, his presence with us in the hard times, and his promise
that beyond every death we will find new life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lay leaders from the merged parish Church of the Holy Spirit
in Fall River came on May 6, 2012 to share with us their road map for a
successful merger. They lit our hearts with their enthusiasm for coming
together and their pride in their new, vital, growing parish.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Calvary’s Vestry met on Sunday, May 20, 2012 to talk about
how far we’d come and what we thought needed to happen next. I was expecting
the decision process to continue into the fall, but our leaders were very
clear: they wanted to take a vote on the merger at their next meeting, and then
bring the question before the whole parish. Everything came together
quickly. On June 3, our diocesan
bishop, the Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw, met with members from both parishes to
hear our plans and share with us his hopes and prayers for our future. On June
10, 2012 the Vestry voted to recommend a merger. Then on June 17, 2012 a
meeting of over 50 members of the parish voted unanimously to merge with Saint
Paul’s. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’re currently forming an Inter-Parish Council with five
members from Calvary and five from Saint Paul’s. The vestries have granted this
council the authority to make to make the countless decisions required to turn
this idea into a reality, including the choice of buildings, the staffing, and
the name of this new parish. We hope to be worshiping together as one parish
sometime this fall.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This work has taken a lot of time. We’ve had some bumps
along the way, with the rumors and misunderstandings, anxieties and losses that
can come up in any community decision, especially a change as large and lasting
as a merger. But we’ve stuck together and kept communicating, and the positive
energy has just grown and grown. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The new parish will need to choose the right clergy person
to lead them on the next part of their journey. I can’t say it’s been easy to
give up my job security, but I wouldn’t trade it for everything I’ve learned
from this process. I’ve been able to grow in new ways as a leader, and I’ve had
an incredible opportunity to witness the honesty, creativity, faithfulness and
compassion of our two parishes as they’ve worked to become one. It has been energizing, spirit-filled
work, and it gives me great hope for the future of our church.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Author Notes: Rev. <span class="il">Thea</span>
Keith-Lucas is a graduate of Episcopal Divinity School. She was ordained in the
Diocese of Massachusetts in 2005 and called as Rector of Calvary Episcopal
Church in Danvers, Massachusetts in September 2007.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Joe Dugganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05213826227329522249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048802980725140055.post-73350733013779837682012-06-12T14:48:00.001-07:002012-06-12T15:50:14.934-07:00Congregational Seasons Community Blog Launch<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Times New Roman";
panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-parent:"";
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Passionate with Abundant Hope by Rev. Joe Duggan, Episcopal Church Foundation Fellow and Convener of the Congregational Seasons community blog </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is a time for everything. A time to be born.
A time to live. A time to
grow. A time to die. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Congregational Seasons offers resources to assist congregations navigate from one season to
another as they stay rooted in Christ and are led by the Spirit of God into new
forms of life-giving ministries.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am passionate about ministry to the many Episcopalians who
are suffering in silence and don’t know which congregational season their parish is in at this time. Should these congregations merge, form partnerships,
use their property in alternative ways that draw more people into shared
ministry or close with dignity to find new life in another Episcopal
congregation? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Congregational Seasons features and welcomes stories of those who have made some of these difficult transitions and
discovered new life and their renewed baptismal commitment. See Rev. Rick Sorensen's post with his account of the closing of St. Stephen's Church in Reno, Nevada. Congregational
Seasons also welcomes stories where mergers and partnerships did not work so
that we may all learn. There are many resources available but few
know about them or know how to find them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As convener of Congregational Seasons my purpose is to
initiate and inspire a networked conversation. Congregational Seasons relies on people of churches, priests
and bishops to share their stories of transition, what they learned in the
process and how their lives have been changed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My role with you is to keep the urgency of these challenges
front and center for all throughout The Episcopal Church. Unlike other blogs, I will not comment on posts apart to expand and deepen your networking. I prefer to hear
your stories.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Together let us walk in love, as Christ loved us! </div>Joe Dugganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05213826227329522249noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048802980725140055.post-47434042309525163682012-06-12T14:34:00.001-07:002012-06-12T14:34:44.701-07:00Reflections by a priest on the closing of his parish<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Times New Roman";
panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-parent:"";
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Sermon preached by Rev. Rick Sorensen for St. John's
Glenbrook on May 20, 2012. Rev. Sorensen was called to be a priest by St.
Stephen’s Church, Reno, Nevada and was a member of the Vestry when the church
decided to close.</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
The Gospel reading from John we just heard sounds to me like Jesus tying up
loose ends with God. The 17th chapter of John works as a heartfelt
expression of Jesus's relationship to God and to his friends; as a benediction
of love and blessing for those he will leave behind; and as a telling of the
completion, the fulfillment, of the work God gave Jesus to do.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
As we are reminded every year during Holy Week, what looks like defeat on Good
Friday is actually a door to victory on Easter. At the previous two
Sunday services I've been here with you, I mentioned that I was a priest at St.
Stephen's in Reno, which closed its doors a year and a half ago. When
that uncomfortable fact is mentioned, people often avert their eyes or shake
their heads sadly and express their condolences. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
What is it like to have to close a church? It's very much like facing
death, with the same stages of searching for alternatives, then denial, anger
and sorrow, and -- with God's help -- acceptance and peace. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
We
at St. Stephen's shared Holy Week services several years ago with the Lutherans
across the street, when their sanctuary was damaged by fire just days before
Palm Sunday. We invited them to one of our last services, after we'd made
the decision to close.</div>
I was told by one of our members that, at the conclusion of the service, one
Lutheran said to her, "Well, <u>we're</u> not quitters." That
comment reminds me of the line from this morning's Psalm: "Happy are they
who have not...sat in the seats of the scornful."
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
The reasons for St. Stephen's closing filled about two pages, single-spaced.
Here are a few of the reasons: the Reno-Sparks area doesn't have the necessary
critical mass of Episcopalians to support four Episcopal churches. St.
Stephen's was located only two miles from Trinity church in downtown Reno.
My own spiritual energy was being directed to prison ministry. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
We had one young woman pursuing ordination to the priesthood and one in process
for the diaconate. For very valid reasons, they both terminated the
process. Our 20-plus years of Total Ministry living had, to borrow a
sports term, exhausted our bench strength. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
One of our most devoted members, Peg McCall, delivered a St. Stephen's farewell
at the last Diocesan Convention. She said, "At a series of parish
meetings, we reflected on the joys and celebrations at St. Stephen's and talked
about what the loss of our parish building would mean to each of us. We
talked about what had been important to us and what were our most meaningful
ministries.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
"We learned again that it was 'we, the people' -- the faith and the love
that we shared, rather than the building.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
"As a group we decided when we would hold our last service...We closed
with over $30,000 in the bank because it was time to move on. The bank balance
has been contributed to the Diocese, as well as an anticipated $48,000 yearly
income from rental of the property. And we are still here as members of
the Diocese."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
My message is that we, as an entire parish, came to see this inevitability NOT
as a failure, but as a <u>fulfillment</u>, a <u>completion</u>. Like the
17th chapter of the Gospel of John. Like Easter. Our last two
Sunday services were meaningful beyond words, and I cried like a baby at
both of them. Mine were tears of grief, loss, gratitude and love. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
NOW. Let me make it very clear that St. Stephen's story is not intended
as a cautionary tale for St. John's, Glenbrook. Each parish has its own
identity, history and destiny. We do not know what God has in store for
us. We only know that God's plan is more perfect than anything we can
come up with.</div>Joe Dugganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05213826227329522249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048802980725140055.post-72281898129095940412012-06-12T14:07:00.003-07:002012-06-12T14:18:37.556-07:00Church: More Than Keeping The Lights On!<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Times New Roman";
panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p.MsoHeader, li.MsoHeader, div.MsoHeader
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
tab-stops:center 3.0in right 6.0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p
{margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Times;}
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-parent:"";
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Times New Roman";
panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p
{margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Times;}
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-parent:"";
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Sermon preached by Rev. Dr. Joe Duggan at St. John's in the
Wilderness in Glenbrook, Nevada on the Second Sunday After Pentecost. Readings: 2Cor
4:13-5:1 and Mark 3: 20-35. Sermon posted has been slightly modified for
this blog. I have posted this sermon as a way to share why I am passionate
about the ministry of Congregational Seasons.</b></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I was the priest that led St. Stephen’s
Church in Reno, Nevada through a yearlong discernment process that led the
vestry and congregation to decide to close. St. Stephen’s Reno was a
grace-filled close. There was no element of the death of a parish, but
rather a true celebration of its life. My ministry with the people of St.
Stephen’s was my most exhilarating experience as a priest. I had the
privilege to witness the raw vulnerability, faith, grief, courage and love of
the people of St. Stephen’s. I had the privilege to see a congregation discover
life in new forms. I hope to have many more opportunities to see the people of
at risk congregations discover new life in Christ.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One of St. Stephen’s greatest successes as a
total ministry congregation was that their members were involved in many
ministries throughout Reno-Sparks, Nevada. Not a single one of their
ministries was dependent on having a church building! This alone is an
extraordinary accomplishment for any congregation. All of St. Stephen’s
ministries continue uninterrupted now two years later. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">During the year of discernment with St.
Stephen’s we all felt that we were going through it alone. At the time we
looked for resources like checklists to make sure we were doing everything we
could to make responsible decisions. We had to create everything
ourselves including a statement of congregational dissolution for the Standing
Committee. There were no examples available in the Canons of The
Episcopal Church. Nor could we find checklists on the manner in which to handle
church furnishings and other assets. We got through it, but it was a
challenge.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">After St. Stephen’s closed I discovered that
thirty Episcopal parishes had closed that year. One parish church
in Northern California closed the same day that St. Stephen’s closed. Thirty
Episcopal congregations had closed each year for five years. I also
discovered that the number of parish closings were likely to double and
possibly even triple over the next five years. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In his state of the diocese address this year
Bishop Bennison in the Diocese of Pennsylvania said 60 of the 141 churches are
soon to become non-traditional parishes; that is, unable to sustain a
traditional ministry with a full-time priest, property and program.
Bishop Bennison preached that, “having fewer parish buildings will not
diminish, our efforts to fulfill the Gospel, but rather free us up for
ministry.” The Diocese of Pennsylvania is not alone.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">My experience with St. Stephen’s gave me a
heart for Episcopal congregations in transition. I particularly have a
heart and empathy for the people in congregations that often face these
challenges alone with little support from the national church or local
dioceses. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Today it is all too easy for the people and
congregations to fall off the radar in dioceses as they struggle alone.
Among the St. Stephen’s members 95% were shepherded to one of three area
Episcopal churches due in large part to the generous welcome of these area
rectors and their vestries. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The part of the transformational change
needed is through neighboring congregations. In Reno-Sparks, Trinity, St.
Paul’s and St. Catherine’s churches are each moving away from the dominant
Episcopal culture where parishes compete against one another for members.
The rectors of these three Episcopal Churches collegially work together.
People freely attend worship in all three congregations from time to time and participate
in the fullness of the three parishes’ offerings and their opportunities to
gather.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I am writing a transitions guide for dioceses
and at risk congregations of The Episcopal Church because I want Episcopalians
to know that they are not alone and that there is abundant hope. Review
drafts will be ready in a few weeks in time for General Convention. Later
this summer I will self-publish the first edition. The idea behind the
transitions guide is to offer to congregations at risk resources to help them
become more vital and viable. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In the last few months I have learned so much
about congregational vitality and viability. One of the things I have
learned is that there is much fear, shame and denial about at risk
congregations. Who among us is not more pleased to talk about life than
death? It is far too easy for us to lean on our Episcopal polity and let
congregations make even unhealthy decisions that often lead to churches closing
without hope. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I am working to connect vitality to viability
to help congregations discover new life in Christ and reenergize their
baptismal ministries. In some cases congregations’ only choice will be to
close, but I hope that when and if they do that they will close in the
transparent and grace-filled ways that St. St. Stephen’s closed. St.
Stephen’s closing led to new life for all.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Today in the second reading we heard, “We
have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens.” This house referred to in the second reading is the Church.
The church is the people of God. The church is where two or three are
gathered. All of us have come to more often associate church with place,
such as with this beautiful building overlooking Lake Tahoe. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Looking back over the history of Christ’s
public ministry, the church was mobile and fluid. The church was
dispersed and moved from place to place. So the second reading reminds us
to hold our treasure of Episcopal Church buildings more lightly so that our
energy and passion is directed to the eternal church that is always vital and
viable due to Christ’s gift to us. We are Christ’s own forever. We are
not beloved on a conditional basis while we are members of a vital and viable
local church. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Many Episcopal congregations throughout the
nation are discovering their identity as a dispersed church. Even here in
the Diocese of Nevada two congregations meet in other than their own church
buildings. In both these cases these congregations want their own church
building. In other dioceses throughout the country, some congregations
that meet in alternate space have absolutely no desire for their own
building. These congregations celebrate the privilege of using their
pledge resources exclusively for mission.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In the Gospel we heard, “If a house is
divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” In the research
I have conducted for the book I am writing I have learned the primary cause for
congregations in decline. The primary cause is not what you might
think. It is not the cause I would have first named. Of course
there are old buildings to maintain. Some parishes are in decline due to
declining pledges not matching operating costs. Other parishes where
fewer people come to church cause it to be in decline. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">These are all reasons that contribute to
churches in decline, but the primary reason is unresolved conflict in
congregations. Grudges held against one another that are never addressed
in ways that lead to deep reconciliation. Unresolved conflict is the most
difficult challenge any congregation faces and often congregations refuse to do
the work. The cost is high, as when conflict is not openly addressed,
congregations inevitably close.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We also heard in the Gospel, "Who are my
mother and my brothers?" Jesus said, "Here are my mother and my
brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and
mother." </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">These Gospel words invite us to reflect on
our identity as an Episcopal congregation before God. As we reflect on
what it means to be the church, the Gospel reminds us to place our focus on the
mission of God. Our primary work is to focus on doing the will of God,
the ministries of God. Remember the words of Micah – Do justice, love
mercy and walk humbly with your God. The Good News today is that we the
people of God are freed to be church through our lives of Micah-like
ministries. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">By freed I mean that there are no liens or
prerequisites for being or doing church. Last week at Yale Divinity
School there was a meeting to share some new congregational findings about
parishes throughout The Episcopal Church. The researchers found that the
vitality of Episcopal congregations is directly related to the spiritual
maturity of its individual members. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Spiritual maturity begins with a prayer life
and participation in the liturgy of the church, but there is more. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Spiritual maturity is the way we encounter
conflict and passionately pursue reconciliation. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Spiritual maturity is the way we do church
and live out our baptismal promises. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This morning around the nation some
Episcopalians are doing church in gem churches such as this one and others are
in very nontraditional spaces. Where we gather really is far less
important than what we do between the Sundays we meet. We are all held
together through our faith, baptism, common worship and commitment to be
ministers in the world through our day-to-day lives. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In this way today’s readings return all the
congregations of The Episcopal Church’s focus to the fundamentals of being
church. These readings bring welcomed humility and grace to free up
Episcopal congregations for the work of God increasingly unburdened by the
temporal responsibilities of keeping the lights on. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Episcopal Church is alive! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We need only find our way from anxiously
doing all to keep the lights on to passionately serve as ministers of Word and
sacrament in our communities every day.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
<br />Joe Dugganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05213826227329522249noreply@blogger.com0