Boot Camp for Angels Demonstrates Variety of Ministries with Congregations
Episcopal News Service. October 17, 1996 [96-1588]
Owanah Anderson, Episcopal Church's Staff Officer for Indian Ministries
(ENS) Participants from 31 dioceses gathered in Minnesota in late September for a national consultation exploring the ministries offered by the Congregational Ministries Cluster of the Episcopal Church -- Stewardship, Evangelism, Women in Mission and Ministry, Church in Small Communities and Multi-Cultural Ministry, as well as the four ethnic ministry offices: Black, Hispanic, Asian American and Native American.
"We set out to test the cluster's concept of sharing resources of our respective offices," said the Rev. Winston Ching, director of the cluster. "We were asking participants if the model filled needs of parishes, dioceses, and provinces. It appears the model was basically well-received and we are looking at refining and repeating the venture in 1997."
"More people would benefit from conferences such as this one -- perhaps in the regions or provinces," wrote Alice Bruce, Mason City, Iowa, one of the eight laity from her diocese to attend. "This program has been super-energizing," she stated. Another participant described the event as a safe, hospitable place where stories were shared and healing took place, and language and culture were not barriers.
Building upon a metaphor of a seven-petal dahlia, congregational life was explored in petals representing Story, Safety, Hospitality, Language, Culture, Co-Creativity and Spirituality, with a congregational ministries staff person assigned to each segment. One participant anonymously stated, "The vision of an unfolding flower is a very powerful metaphor for the church."
Don Burr of Norwalk, Connecticut, affirmed relevance of the cluster's concept when he said that "Angel teams" should be available to travel to dioceses and parishes. The consultation was billed as a Boot Camp for Angels.
First to share the Luke 10 passage, " ... the Lord appointed 70 others... was the Rev. Canon Mark MacDonald, leader of the "Hospitality" segment and one of the three canon missioners for Indian ministry of the Minnesota diocese. He tracked the theme through the guiding principle of the ministry of the diocese: Gospel-based discipleship.
MacDonald's teaching was affirmed by the diocesan bishop, James L. Jelinek, who said, "Our commitment is not to preserving the status quo of the Episcopal Church. We are constantly working to broaden people's understanding."
"The state of Minnesota is three percent non-Anglo; the diocese, however, is 14 percent non-Anglo. We are the second or third largest refugee settlers," Jelinek stated. "We have vital and active Hispanic ministry, several African-American congregations, and 14 Native American congregations."
Indian mission in the diocese dates back to 1852, among the Ojibwa by James Lloyd Breck and Enmegahbowh, recognized as the first American Indian Episcopal priest. It was established under aegis of the renowned missionary bishop of the Episcopal Church, Jackson Kemper.
The Rev. John Robertson, a Dakota Indian who is diocesan canon missioner, conducted the "Culture" segment of the training consultation. Participants were also spectators at a cultural ceremonial on Saturday night in Mankato which annually memorializes 38 Dakota men hanged there in 1862 by the U.S. government. The strong Episcopal connection to the event stems from the efforts of Bishop Henry Whipple whose intervention saved 267 other convicted Dakotas from execution.
Robertson was also preacher for the Sunday morning Eucharist, marking the feast day of David Pendleton Oakerhater, the only Native American in the Episcopal Calendar of Saints. The Gospel lesson was again Luke 10. A special liturgy was interwoven with native music settings. Celebrant was Frederick Putman, retired bishop of Navajoland.
"I was grateful to hear representatives of other cultures speak, and it did raise my consciousness, said Jane Banning of Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania.
"We as a parish especially need people like Mark MacDonald to come and do presentations and workshops," stated another Pennsylvanian, Judith Warner of Bethlehem. "I feel we are really in an isolated cocoon, but very willing to grow and reach out with guidance from outside parish sources."
A South Dakota dean echoed a need to combat isolation, with comments on searching for identity of purpose, a spiritual connectedness and a desire to end our congregational isolation. The Very. Rev. George Parmeter of Huron, South Dakota, continued, "I can see this type of an exercise as a possible idea. I will certainly be sharing my discoveries. This dahlia model could be a good Lenten presentation. The petals are the very thing we need to focus our directions on."
"I would like to use the presentations on the petals during an all-day meeting where we typically struggle with the questions of diversity," stated Florence Young of Mayfield Heights, Ohio.
"All petals of the dahlia were well covered. I think by gifted, spiritual, brilliant (at the time at least) people of God. The aroma, freshness, and beauty of the dahlia was a beautiful metaphor. Now please, God, help me share, stated Joyce Hunt of Mason City, Iowa.