More than 100 clergy and lay leaders of the Diocese of Ohio met June 3-5 to pray, discuss, and discern what the Holy Spirit is calling the diocese to become during the next five years.

Called the Leadership Summit, the conference and the events preparing for it were designed by Helen Spector, a California-based consultant, who served as facilitator for the gathering of leaders in the diocese which consists of the northern half of the state.

Invitations to attend the meeting were mailed to all clergy, congregations, and members of diocesan committees and commissions by the Rt. Rev. J. Clark Grew II, Bishop of Ohio. He said they would "define new ways to develop healthy and vibrant congregations, centered and faithful clergy, and ministries of peace and justice." They would also consider the need for a capital campaign for the diocese, he said.

During the summit, participants met in small groups and one on one, before reporting results back to the full conference.

Throughout the conference, the facilitator helped the participants consider the positive instead of focusing on the negative. "Where we focus our attention grows in energy," she said. "As a culture, we generally focus our attention on what doesn't work in order to solve the problems. But we can choose instead to focus on what does work, what gives joy and life and energizes us. Positive effect is just as contagious as negative effect."

The areas for discussion led to positive statements: Looking back, when did you feel most excited and alive in your faith as an Episcopalian? What interesting or novel things have you seen that could extend how we think about ministry in the diocese? Dream about how our diocese can really work by 2005. What can we do to make the diocesan vision possible?

The conference was filled with personal stories about when Christ touched the lives of individuals and parishes. Participants heard story after story of new life developing through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Among the areas identified as most important to the attendees were issues about the care and nurture of the children and young people within and outside the church, issues of inclusiveness where everyone is valued and the poor and disenfranchised are helped; a desire for more spirituality; and a desire to work together across parish lines to use the gifts of each for the good of all.

One long-time member of the diocese pledged $1 million for the building up of the diocese if $3 million more could be raised in a capital campaign. An enthusiastic clergyman offered to lead the financial campaign to raise the additional $3 million.

In the final exercise, each person wrote what he/she would do to make the vision become a reality. Representatives from one parish promised to work with other churches in their area to help their impoverished and unchurched neighbors. A deacon announced she would organize the clergy of the diocese to build a Habitat for Humanity house while working together to know each other better. A staff member who was not an Episcopalian announced that she and her husband would join an Episcopal church after experiencing the joy and love of the conference.

Bishop Grew said the next step would be to develop a steering committee from the conference members to draw up the future plan. "This is about fleshing it out," he said.

In summarizing the summit, the bishop said, "We recognized our overwhelming commitment and concern for children, the poor, and the forgotten. We want to be the church in a different way, and it has to be inclusive. Everyone matters." He added, "If we are going to raise money, we have to know why, and we will decide together."