Diocese of Colorado Explores Episcopal Version of Promise Keepers Gathering of Men
Episcopal News Service. December 12, 1995 [95-1337]
Schuyler Totman, Writer and Publications Designer for the Diocese of Colorado
(ENS) "How much does it cost to rent a football stadium?" It is not a question that Jerry Winterrowd, Episcopal bishop of Colorado, is quite ready to ask.
It's too soon to tell if a movement is in the making, but on the first weekend of October, 155 Episcopal men ascended to the YMCA of the Rockies Camp near Estes Park, Colorado, to "see if I could open up to other men without passing out," as one participant quipped.
"It was very moving. I was overwhelmed by a tremendous spirit of emotion and passion," said Winterrowd, who initiated the event which he believes is the first event of its kind in the Episcopal Church.
Although he has never attended a Promise Keepers event, Winterrowd credits the conservative, Colorado-based Christian organization that draws together thousands of men with inspiring him to initiate the conference.
"I admired what they had done," said Winterrowd, "and I thought, 'By God, we should have one.' Here we are, a mainline denomination, trying to learn from them, and we are not embarrassed to do that."
By focusing on the prayer of rededication from the Book of Common Prayer, the conference challenged participants to re-examine the vows they had made at baptism and confirmation -- and then to commit to them again. These vows were discussed in detail in small groups, which placed men from the same church and ZIP code together to help continue the community formed at the conference.
"Our essential theme was our commitment as baptized Christians, and how we work that out in the world, in our families, in our business life," Winterrowd said. "But in addition, we wanted to give the men a platform where they could share with one another. We wanted to allow the participants themselves to determine the flavor of the event."
"It was a home run, a great experience," said Jay Crouse, who traveled from Florida to participate in the event.
"The spiritual part of our group was amazing. We really got down to the nitty-gritty," Crouse added. "I wrote my bishop as soon as I got back about starting an event like it in our diocese."
In addition to small groups, workshops were offered on such topics as starting men's support groups and single parenting. The weekend also emphasized lay leadership.
"We wanted to give the clergy a chance to relax in fellowship, without the burden of being leaders," noted Tom Branch, director of the conference planning team, which began meeting in May.
"The clergy and lay participants had the opportunity to interact and support one another as peers. There was no perception of hierarchy, although the clergy did wear crosses on their nametags to let others know they were available to hear confession," said participant Timothy Chambers. And Winterrowd and the other clergy also received special attention in the form of laying on of hands and prayer for their ministries.
According to Chambers, the conference also served to "remind men of their role as godly examples. They can't leave the demonstration of faith up to the other members of their family. The perception used to be that wives and children were the only ones who went to church."
While diocesan events for women are plentiful, Winterrowd noticed that very few were offered for men. "Men need a place where they feel safe to talk about their faith, their needs, their struggles. And women are very supportive. I went to a women's event earlier this year, and they prayed for the success of the conference," he said.
Tom Riley, conference speaker and president of the Christian ministry Faith Alive, said that he was impressed with the conference and hoped other dioceses would show interest. Members of the conference planning team are available to assist others who want to plan a similar event.