Council Brought Up to Date on Venture Program
Episcopal News Service. February 17, 1977 [77057]
GREENWICH, Conn. -- The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, meeting here Feb. 16-17, heard a progress report on its three-year renewal and fund-raising program, Venture in Mission, which Presiding Bishop John M. Allin called the "venture in the one mission of the one Lord Jesus Christ. "
The Council heard the project's coordinator, Bishop Richard Millard of the Church Center staff, and Mrs. Seaton Bailey, Griffin, Ga., co-chairman of the diocesan visits committee, tell of the training and sending out of about 70 visitors -- two or three to a team -- to visit 91 of the 93 domestic dioceses of the Church this spring.
According to Mrs. Bailey, the visitors -- bishops, clergy, and lay persons -- will be "listeners, not salesmen," The purpose of the visits, she said, "is to invite response" to the program which was adopted by the General Convention last fall.
Mrs. Bailey presented a revised format for the visits to dioceses -- extending from Feb. 19 through May 27 -- which now includes an opening Bible study. The general format will consist of presentations, discussions in groups and in plenary sessions, with a slide presentation.
In an address to the Council, Bishop Allin reaffirmed his support of the program. "Amid adversity and in the midst of diversity," he said, "I repeat the call to venture in the one mission of the one Lord Jesus Christ. Let this be our priority in every place as we endeavor to realize and support together the fullness of His mission in every place amidst all sorts and conditions. "
"In this venture," he said, "may the Executive Council, the Church Center staff and the Presiding Bishop be recognizable servants of the whole Church."
Bishop Millard pointed out that the Venture Executive Committee has decided that there should be second visits to dioceses after information has been gathered in order to explain the final statement of needs and before negotiations are entered into.
The initial consultations and the compilation of the data are scheduled to be completed by next October. The second series of visits will take place between October and December, 1977.
Bishop Millard said the two series of visits to the dioceses will cost the Venture program about $71,000 and $50,000 respectively.
Bishop Millard said that the Executive Committee had approved the appointment of a Case Committee which will prepare the final data on each project need, including those specifically designed in the booklet which was presented to General Convention last fall. Other projects in that proposal may be refined and others may be added.
An amended campaign schedule is being prepared for the Venture program.
Bishop Millard said the Executive Committee is seeking to define its role more clearly, as well as trying to redefine what the Cabinet and the Committee of 200 are to do. The Cabinet will meet in March and the 200 leaders will get together at least once during the triennium, he said.
Several members of the Council spoke of the importance of the Committee of 200 to be kept informed about the program. It was pointed out that members of that committee had expected to get together soon after the launching of the program.
Recognizing "the importance of communication," Bishop Millard said, "we will be sending regular reports to bishops, the 200 and the Executive Council," so that all can keep up to date, know the sequence of events, and be informed on the criteria.
He said the Rev. A. Wayne Schwab, Staff Officer for Renewal/Evangelism at the Episcopal Church Center, is gathering a "renewal committee" in March to suggest "concrete ways for every congregation to experience renewal."
"We need every individual and congregation to decide to participate in Venture in Mission," Bishop Millard said. "This is Christ's work among us; it can't be programmed. This is where we think we ought to start."
During this meeting The Presiding Bishop once again has a need for "bilocational ability" -- that is, the ability to be in two different places at the same time. While needing to be here with you in this meeting, I soon must be at the Convention of the Diocese of West Texas in Victoria to salute Bishop Harold Gosnell on the occasion of his official retirement as Diocesan and to institute Bishop Scott Field Bailey as Bishop Gosnell's successor. Although staff has made some very helpful contributions in assisting The Presiding Bishop with his scheduling process, occasions meriting attendance still overlap and collide in our crowded calendar. Bishop Gosnell had arranged his Diocese's date before this Council meeting was finally set. The Presiding Bishop is expected in two places in rapid succession. So -- to quote the familiar phrase -- "here today and gone tomorrow."
While I regret the necessity of being absent from a goodly part of our meeting here -- my first absence since becoming a member of the Council -- it pleases me to have an opportunity to call attention to the nature of shared leadership, which I believe, is the most beneficial to the Church. The President of the House of Deputies, as ViceChairman of the Executive Council, will preside during most of this meeting. I must say that the experience of working in concert with Charles Lawrence continues to prove both a source of encouragement and good pleasure.
I am sure there is consensus among us that the Christian mission is our primary concern, calling for our growing commitment. We are responding to our true vocation in fresh determination to Venture in Mission with Partners in Mission. The magnitude of the many needs surrounding us must not be allowed to discourage, distract, or scatter us. By faith we can recognize opportunities within and behind those needs, opportunities to offer our services in the Spirit of Christ. Our Lord calls all of us to offer all of us -- all we are and have -- to Him in service. While we know that all of us is insufficient, in faith we can believe His Gospel that the Christ makes the faithful offering sufficient and acceptable.
There are many indications that members of this Church desire to respond. Every member of this Church an innumerable others can benefit from a Christian quality of stewardship among us in administering development and finance and in the clarity of our communications.
I believe you share with me a sense of urgency concerning the implementation and extension of our plans and programs for the Church in Society. I am anxious to have our Coalition for Human Needs expand as the central agency of a network connecting all of the congregations of this Church in more direct efforts to oppose the oppressive and destructive conditions which plague people throughout the world. There is so much more we can do.
Every valid expression of our ministry needs to be overhauled and better related, inter-related and strengthened. The comprehensive plan and perspective has not yet been developed to overhaul and engage the total ministry of this Church. As devoted as some efforts have thus far been, to date the efforts are piecemeal and often un-related.
There must be more effective methods to define, engage and coordinate the total ministry of the laity. The concept of the congregation as a ministering (serving) community must be realized. The functioning and regulating of the non-stipendiary ordained must be more effectively included. This should include a recovery of the original purpose of the diaconate.
I believe the future demands a proportionate reduction in the number of those who receive their total stipend from the organized Church. The skills, functions and relative role of the specially trained ordained person, who can teach and support non-stipendary priests and lay persons in liturgical, pastoral and evangelical ministries, and interpret the Christian basis for other ministries to human need, depend upon more precisely defined programs of Christian discipline being required and provided for those selected. Presently, there is confusion and lack of support concerning Christian education for ministry. An engagement of the whole Church is required to provide for recoveries and discoveries of what the Church's ministry is meant to be.
Within this context, let me again call attention to the one reality who so patiently and persistently can bring our infinite diversities into unity and communion, if we be faithful. Relating as Christians is the whole process of the Christian mission. Seeking the fullness of truth together in Christ and through Christ and seeking to understand the sincere convictions of others with whom we disagree is the difficult and demanding curriculum of Christians.
I know you share with me the painful distress which results from the distress of those in some of our congregations who threaten to abandon the Episcopal Church because they feel abandoned. I bid the prayers of all on both sides of the issues which so sorely test us. Pray that the Christian mission be not further weakened by divisions. All suffer and lose in such divisions.
Pray with me that we can work together to enable every member of the Church to recognize and offer our best in serving others. Pray that we can protect the rights of each person while we grow in understanding of the needs of each person, including ourselves. Let us test our assumptions for truth in the light of faith rather than reacting in fear and acting in prejudice.
Needless to say, there are many disturbing questions within the Church. Each member has the right to offer his or her answer to any question. Each answer sincerely offered deserves consideration by the community of the Church on the scales of Christian relations balancing personal fulfillment which prevents Christian relations can lay no rightful claim to acceptance.
Responsibility to the Venture in Christian mission requires an openness to possibilities of learning and growth and development with allowance for some mistakes. No human venturing is without risks. Difficulties will threaten our efforts and us whether we choose to venture or refuse the venture. Thus is our faith tested. What validity has untested faith?
So amid adversity and in the midst of diversity I repeat the call to venture in the one mission of the one Lord Jesus Christ. Let this be our priority in every place as we endeavor to realize and support together the fullness of His mission in every place amidst all sorts and conditions.
A responsibility of the Presiding Bishop is to remind the Church in such a venture of the importance of flexibility and coordination and communication involving the whole Church if we are to share openly and responsively to opportunities. Let the Church know we are dedicated to do everything we can to develop process and mechanic to involve the whole membership in the recognition of needs and opportunities, in the definition of programs and projects, and in the determination of financial commitments. In this venture may the Executive Council, the Church Center staff and the Presiding Bishop be recognizable servants of the whole Church.
In concluding this communication, let me call attention to two provisions which I believe should be made for possible developments. I believe both illustrate the open and ready style we do well to maintain.
The first provision to which I refer is an agreement by the Board of the Church Hymnal Corporation and the Board of Seabury Press to form a joint committee of two representatives from each board with a chairperson from this Council to provide for the best possible cooperation and coordination of these two publishing agencies of the Church. I am asking the Rev. Dr. Robert Parks to serve as the Chairman. Appropriately he also chairs the Communication Group of this Council.
The second provision I believe needed is the appointment by the Presiding Bishop, at the request of the Council, of an ad hoc committee to evaluate present and future facility and location needs of the Church Center. A venturing Church must take care not to be limited to "two mule loads of earth" or concrete monuments. We are reasonably well situated amid our present arrangements. Our responsibility, however, must include provisions to make such improvements that may be open to us.
The watchword of this Venturing Church must be readiness in every place to respond to any opportunity to strengthen the service of Christian mission.
Thus may our dialogue and deliberations here be beneficial to mission. May our companionship here be congenial and affirming. May we respond in joy and with thanksgiving to our gracious Lord -- and may it ever be. Amen.