Representatives of nine dioceses met in February to plot, ponder and plan the mission of the Episcopal Church during the annual meeting of Domestic Missionary Partnership (DMP).

The group was formed from the remaining dioceses which were in Coalition 14 when that organization dissolved three years ago. Its annual meeting was held Feb. 4-7 at Burlingame, Calif.

"Building a mission spirituality for the future" was the theme for the meeting.

The Rt. Rev. Rustin Kimsey, Bishop of Eastern Oregon, said the goal was to "learn of grace from the past, hope for the future, and action in the present."

Delegates looked at mission from three aspects: how missionary development of the past "informs our future"; mission and spirituality; and mission models for the next century.

The Rev. John Kater, a professor at Church Divinity School of the Pacific, used the life of the Rt. Rev. Daniel Tuttle to describe the development of the church in the West, where many of the member dioceses of DMP are located. Bishop Tuttle was elected a "missionary bishop" by the House of Bishops in 1867. He served as first bishop of Montana and Utah. Prof. Kater concluded that Bishop Tuttle's "legacy is this: commitment and adventure go together."

In small groups to discuss missionary spirituality, the Rt. Rev. Vernon Strickland, Bishop of Western Kansas, said, "Every person is a missionary."

The Rt. Rev. Richard Shimpfky, Bishop of El Camino Real, said he was glad to hear of discussion of "establishment versus the mission model.

"I am really fascinated with the idea of moving from a field to being a force," he said.

He added that his "real enthusiasm for the future is with Hispanic ministry." He explained that people attending those churches "bring new people every Sunday."

A model for evangelism was presented by the Rev. Patrick Bell of Eastern Oregon. He explained that congregations in his area had adopted a mutual ministry, or Total Ministry model, and now wanted to put that model into action "making disciples." He said that an active effort to recruit new church members has begun in the three communities he serves in southeastern Oregon.

The Rt. Rev. Andrew Fairfield, Bishop of North Dakota, said he found value in the meeting being relatively small, with about 40 in attendance.

"We can really discuss issues thoroughly, with people with whom we may disagree on other issues," he said. "But here we talk about practical issues, and the theology of Total Ministry, and there is general agreement on that."

Bishop Strickland said most all the dioceses attending are small in membership and lacking in financial resources.

Delegates learned several dioceses are cooperating with neighboring dioceses in the development of churches near state or diocesan borders.