Forum Looks at Mission Strategy
Episcopal News Service. August 9, 1984 [84161]
CHICAGO (DPS, Aug. 9) -- Over 200 new Episcopal congregations have been launched in the past five years while many older parishes dwindle. Dealing with both of these phenomena was the subject when 118 persons from 78 dioceses gathered here June 25-27 for a National Forum on Diocesan Mission Strategy for New Congregations and Redevelopment.
The forum was the result of two years of planning and work by the Joint Task Force for Congregational Development and Redevelopment, chaired by the Rev. Dr. Arlin Rothauge, Coordinator of Congregational Development at the Episcopal Church Center. According to Rothauge, "We wanted to bring diocesan leaders of the Church together to share the experiences of congregational development, particularly the redevelopment of our mission program in the dioceses and the effort to establish new congregations."
Most of the funding for the forum came from the church's Venture in Mission program, and in order to facilitate communication between participants and Episcopal Church Center personnel, members of the forum's staff included representatives of a broad range of Church Center programs. Among these were the Rev. Winston Ching, staff officer for Asia American ministries; Alan Sanborn, staff officer for the National Committee on Indian Work; the Rev. Sherrill Scales of the Episcopal Church Building Fund; the Rev. Wayne Schwab, evangelism and renewal officer; and the Rev. Richard Gary, national mission development officer.
Participants in the Conference were people in decision-making positions in dioceses: archdeacons; canons to the ordinary; bishops; and members of diocesan staff for development, programming, and mission. During the course of the gathering, they heard talks on mission strategy by the Rev. Ted McEachern, executive director of the Association for Christian Training and Service (ACTS); the Rt. Rev. Richard F. Grein, Bishop of Kansas; and the Rt. Rev. Telesforo Isaac, Bishop of the Missionary Diocese of the Dominican Republic. There was also an opportunity to hear case studies presented on four mission areas: ethnic communities, old city, open country, and growth areas; and to participate in mini-workshops titled "Starting and Reshaping a Congregation", "Planning and Financing a New Congregation", and "Understanding and Integrating Ethnic Missions". At the request of conference participants, both the case studies and the papers will be published this fall.
Preparations, which included an advance survey via a mission strategy questionnaire prepared by McEachern, seem to have paid off. Evaluations from participants gave praise to the format, focus, and presentations. One person commented, "The enthusiasm was as important as the content -- a good sign!" and Grein expressed pleasure at both the wide participation and the fruitfulness of the time spent.
Response was so positive, in fact, that planning is underway for two similar gatherings in the future. The first of these will be the National Forum on Diocesan Training Programs for Ministry and Congregational Development, to be held in 1986. The second, with a projected date of 1987 or 88, is to be a National Forum on Diocesan Intervention and Consultation with Congregations.