Endowed Parishes' Conference Offers Motivation, Practical Advice to Congregations

Episcopal News Service. February 27, 2006 [022706-12-A]

Clergy and lay members of 111 parishes and 22 church-related organizations spent three days recently networking and learning at the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes' 21st annual conference.

This year's conference, held February 22-25 at the Alexandria Mark Center, was called "Faith, Formation, Freedom: Affirming Episcopal Identity."

Each year's conference features keynote speakers, well-known preachers and a variety of workshops on outreach, stewardship, leadership, congregational development, Christian formation and endowment management.

The Consortium helps leaders of endowed parishes foster development and use of endowments for mission and ministry. Its website, www.endowedparishes.org, states that "consortium members believe endowments are venture capital for the communication of the Gospel and are held in trust for Christian witness. They seek to be catalysts for evangelism and mission. Endowed parishes recognize that their wealth brings unique challenges as well as opportunities."

Click on the links below for coverage of speakers and workshops at the conference.

Holding the center means holding onto Christ

Closing panelists say living in communities that practice Christ's ministry are key

By Mary Frances Schjonberg

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_72331_ENG_HTM.htm

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Telling and listening to stories helps piece together Anglican puzzle

Canterbury is Communion's crossroad, dean tells consortium

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_72330_ENG_HTM.htm

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Post-Katrina ministry happens outside church's walls

By Mary Frances Schjonberg

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_72329_ENG_HTM.htm

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Convention's process can help prevent division in Church

House of Deputies vice president says special committee will craft response to Communion

By Jerry Hames

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_72328_ENG_HTM.htm

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Religion should be political bridge, not wedge, activist tells parishes

By Mary Frances Schjonberg

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_72327_ENG_HTM.htm

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Prepare now for disaster, experts tell parishes

Disaster plans need to be living documents

By Mary Frances Schjonberg

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_72326_ENG_HTM.htm

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Church must be politically involved, counter fundamentalism

Fear, not faith driving policies, Chane says

By Mary Frances Schjonberg

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_72325_ENG_HTM.htm