375 Attend Evangelism Seminar in Buffalo
Episcopal News Service. March 23, 1978 [78081]
The Rev. John R. Fisher, Editor, Episcopal Churchfacts
Buffalo, N.Y. -- Over 375 persons in the Diocese of Western New York gathered Friday night and Saturday, March 10-11, to attend a ten-hour Basic Evangelism, Renewal and Church Growth Seminar. The Rev. Bruce M. Shortell of Harrington, Del., Regional Associate for Evangelism and Renewal for Province III, conducted the meeting, assisted by the Rev. Kendrick Child and the Rev. Ralph E. Smith who serve as Regional Associates in Provinces I and II respectively.
Ten churches were represented as full participants, with 25 percent of their Sunday worshiping community in attendance. Nineteen other parishes sent observing teams.
Format for the seminar included large lecture discussions and small group application of principles. On Friday night an overview of Evangelism was given. Rooted in an expression of genuine commitment, the goal of Evangelism is to seek disciples, not just decisions, through an honest sharing in a loving relationship. There is no set pattern to be followed. Each parish must develop its own strategies for achieving growth in faithfulness and in numbers of disciples. The important thing is to make Evangelism and Renewal integral, on-going, normal parts of parish life.
In order to make each parish aware of its growth potential, small group sessions were held with each participating parish group examining "Non-growth excuses" (e.g., "We're too busy to call") and "Growth Restricting Obstacles" (e. g., "We'recomfortably -- 80 percent -- full on Sundays") and ways to overcome these. Graphing exercises were also conducted to examine trends over 10 years in total baptized, average adult attendance per Sunday, Church School enrollment and Church School average attendance. Graphs were also produced of community population, age spreads of the congregation, membership flow and classes of leaders.
On Saturday, the seminar began by focusing its attention on the Great Commission and the Anglican heritage. Biblican passages were cited showing that obedience is the final answer to the Great Commission. The ABC's of decision were given as a first step toward discipleship and commitment to Jesus Christ to share in the responsibility of making him known to the unchurched.
Attendees were shown that critical to this process is a recognition of our spiritual gifts. There is a need for "recruiters," like ANDREW, who are able to interest others in Jesus Christ and his people. Others will serve as "evangelists, " like PHILIP, and sense the search in others and lead them to commitment. "Absorberlovers," as BARNABAS, are needed as encouragers and door-openers for new converts. And finally, "teacher, " as JOHN, must continue to nurture us in the ebb and flow of spiritual growth.
Specific strategies are needed to reach and to involve the unchurched. Again, because these depend on each congregation, small group sessions were employed to examine possible avenues for initial contact, new member classes, confirmation classes, prayer, education, community needs and administrative support. Faith goals of new disciples (in numbers) were made for one year and five year time frames. The training of teams of consultants to work with these congregations on a regular basis for the next three years was planned behind the scenes by the Rev. Ralph Smith, Regional Associate for Province III.
For the people of Western New York the process has just begun. Challenged by Christ's will that all find their places at his table, armed with principles for growing in depth of commitment and in numbers of disciples, and supported by the resources for consultation training of the Regional Associate, Evangelism has taken on new meaning and strengthened commitment to God's unserving purpose to reach lost mankind.
John Fisher's overview of a Basic Evangelism, Renewal and Church Growth Seminar is concise and accurate. The Basic Seminar needs also to be set in the wider context of the three-year commitments to Evangelism and Renewal as top priorities made by the fully participating congregations.
The Rev. Peter Bridgford, Evangelism Commission Chairman for the Diocese of Western New York, made clear to every congregation in the diocese that the Basic Seminar was no slick program or panacea. Participating churches knew that hard work lay ahead of them. Each had spent three months or so in careful self-study and marshaling of the facts of their congregational life. To them the Seminar was but one event, a major one, in an initial three-year commitment. The next two-and-a-half to three years will be spent in finding the real dimensions of the task and the "right mix" for each congregation.
During this three year period, the Diocesan Commission will offer a regular series of consultations for planning and support. Some will be individual visits with the responsible committee in each congregation. Others will be gatherings of representatives of all the congregations to share ideas, learnings and support. Resources for the training of consulting teams are being developed with the assistance of the Rev. Dr. George Peabody, Human Relations Consultant, working in an action-research project with ten congregations in the metropolitan area of New York.
Finally, note carefully that each congregation works out its own patterns for Evangelism and Renewal guided by principles derived from a growing body of research in what contributes to the growth'and decline of disciples. The combination of tested basic principles and a congregation's God-given creativity seem to be what many Episcopalians have been looking for.
The process has indeed just begun in Western New York. We look forward to what we will learn together.
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