INVITE WELCOME CONNECT was born out of Parmer’s 10-year experience as Director of Evangelism & Adult Ministries at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Beaumont, TX, where she began creating and developing a newcomer ministry. This initial framework, entitled “Sacred Connection” and then “Invitation, Welcome, Connection” was piloted in 2010 in four Diocese of Texas congregations through the Newcomer Ministry Project. The ministry of Invite Welcome Connect has circulated throughout the Episcopal Church, and Mary has presented and taught this work in seventy-plus dioceses of The Episcopal Church, three Episcopal seminaries, three University settings, the Anglican Dioceses of Calgary, British Columbia, New Westminster, and Toronto, and the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe.
Invite Welcome Connect is a ministry of transformation that equips and empowers individuals and congregations to cultivate intentional practices of evangelism, hospitality, and belonging. Rooted in the Gospel directive to “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), the vision of Invite Welcome Connect is to change the culture of Christian congregations to move from maintenance to mission. The Rt. Rev. Kevin S. Brown, XI Bishop of Delaware, speaks to this vision, saying, “Invite Welcome Connect has sparked renewed zeal for our proclamation of God’s love and reminded us again that the church, at its humble best, really can be the living, breathing body of Christ. Time and again, in this good work, we are pointed back to Jesus.”
More information can be found at https://www.invitewelcomeconnect.com/
Email Mary to learn more.
Invite Welcome Connect is a ministry of transformation that equips and empowers individuals and congregations to cultivate intentional practices of evangelism, hospitality, and belonging. Rooted in the Gospel directive to “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), the vision of Invite Welcome Connect is to change the culture of Christian congregations to move from maintenance to mission. The Rt. Rev. Kevin S. Brown, XI Bishop of Delaware, speaks to this vision, saying, “Invite Welcome Connect has sparked renewed zeal for our proclamation of God’s love and reminded us again that the church, at its humble best, really can be the living, breathing body of Christ. Time and again, in this good work, we are pointed back to Jesus.”
More information can be found at https://www.invitewelcomeconnect.com/
Email Mary to learn more.
Endorsements |
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Invite Welcome Connect is a godsend, literally, in that every single bit of this work is rooted in the God-sent good news of Jesus Christ. Mary Parmer’s brilliance here is not that she has concocted a miracle cure for what ails the church. Rather, she refocuses our vision to the evangelistic roots of the faith: proclaim the Good News (invite) with intentional hospitality (welcome) and genuine affection for every human being (connect). This is biblical discipleship that strengthens the spirit and feeds the soul. We in Delaware have embraced Invite Welcome Connect wholeheartedly, and it shapes a great deal of the language and direction of our collective work. It has sparked renewed zeal for our proclamation of God’s love and reminded us again that the church, at its humble best, really can be the living, breathing body of Christ. Time and again, in this good work we are pointed back to Jesus. The Rt. Rev. Kevin S. Brown, XI Bishop of Delaware
One of the great joys of my job is traveling around the diocese and meeting with congregations of all shapes and sizes. Although each of these churches possess unique gifts and face distinct challenges, one comment that I hear over and over again is the same: our congregation wants to grow. During the course of her excellent INVITE-WELCOME-CONNECT workshops, Mary Parmer explores how churches can implement practices and strategies that lead to growth. Mary's presentations are practical, thorough and thought-provoking. Her teaching style is relevant and compelling. Perhaps most importantly, however, Mary’s guidance has the potential to transform your congregation. I highly recommend attending one (or several) of Mary Parmer’s INVITE-WELCOME-CONNECT workshops. You will leave feeling inspired and prepared to lead your congregation with renewed energy. It is absolutely essential that our congregations learn how to effectively invite, welcome and connect newcomers into our communities. Mary has a unique gift for exploring these concepts with both a sense of depth and approachability. She is a visionary leader in the Episcopal Church and her teaching is not to be missed. The Rev’d Canon John A. Kellogg, Canon Missioner, The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana We here at the Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Rhinebeck. New York, invited Mary to bring INVITE-WELCOME-CONNECT to us over a weekend last November. I had first met Mary at the CEEP Conference earlier in the year and was bowled over by what I heard. Having been a priest for almost 30 years I thought I had heard every possible church growth program there is. But Mary's workshop took me completely by surprise. It is not a program, but a ministry, based in scripture, theology, and experience. It is comprehensive and incredibly well thought out, but perhaps most importantly, exciting! Mary's ministry encourages intentional listening by both the congregation and its individual members. She invites us to hear the story that each person carries and in listening acknowledge a deeper bond in ministry. I can tell a story that for me sums up everything about Mary. ~~~~ As Mary was staying outside of town in the country, we decided to rent a car for her. As I stood at the counter of the rental agency which is across the street from our church, Mary asked the young woman, who I had met several times before when I had rented a car previously, what her name was and if she had ever come over to church. Answering no, Mary said to the woman, ”You ought to go over, it's beautiful and a really friendly place.” When I saw the look on the young woman's face, which showed how moved she was to be invited, I knew Messiah would never be the same once Mary spoke to us. And it hasn't been. We have been changed by her words and ministry and for that we are deeply grateful. Mary and her ministry are a blessing that everyone should experience for themselves. The Rev. Richard McKeon, Episcopal Church of the Messiah, Rhinebeck, NY The INVITE-WELCOME-CONNECT ministry is a theological and practical initiative, which goes beyond making “The Episcopal Church Welcomes You” a reality, but also insures those who do come to faith in our churches do not leave by the back door. It provides a theological rationale for outreach to the spiritually hungry, a means of engaging those who come into our places of worship, and a way to engage those who become a part of our community of faith. If an Altar Guild can beautifully and habitually attract a dedicated core of hard working volunteers to tend the sanctuary, similarly organized teams of well trained laity can welcome seekers and incorporate the newly initiated into our faith communities. Simultaneously the vision of an outward focus can be preached as central to the gospel to encourage congregations to be welcoming and inviting. The Episcopal Church will continue to wallow in a high maintenance mode until it takes its outreach to seekers as seriously and happily as it does tending the Altar. INVITE-WELCOME-CONNECTis a super working model that makes “The Episcopal Church Welcomes You” a reality and not an oxymoron. Like the Altar Guild, choir, Christian formation ministry, youth ministry, acolytes, Lay Eucharistic ministers, etc.INVITE-WELCOME-CONNECT is a crucial and exciting vehicle for the faithful to fulfill their ministries of being the church. The Rt. Rev. Claude E. Payne, 7th Bishop of Texas, Pensioned |
2025 February 8 St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, Seattle, Washington (Episcopal Diocese of Olympia) April 5 Episcopal Diocese of Newark (St. Elizabeth's, Ridgewood, New Jersey - host church) May 4 St. Margaret's Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana May 31-June 1 Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee (Ascension, Knoxville - host church) September 6 St. John's Episcopal Church, Memphis, Tennessee October 4 St.Paul's Episcopal Church, Cleveland Heights, Ohio November 15 Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Jackson, MS (host church) November 22 St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Ladue, St. Louis, Missouri 2024 February 10 Saint Mark's, Little Rock, Vestry Retreat March 16-17 Saint Luke's Parish, Darien, Connecticut April 26-27 Anglican Diocese of Toronto May 4 Episcopal Diocese of Washington September 7 Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida (St. Paul's, Winter Haven, Florida - host church) 2023 February 11 Staten Island Episcopal congregations (Episcopal Diocese of New York) February 25-26 St. James, Leesburg, Florida March 4 Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida April 29 Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut May 6 Episcopal Diocese of Washington July 8 St. Michael's, Mandeville, Louisiana (Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana) August 26 St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, Columbia, SC September 16 Christ Church, San Antonio, Texas October 12-13 Anglican Diocese of British Columbia October 14-15 Anglican Diocese of New Westminster 2022 April 23-24 Christ Church, Tuscaloosa, Alabama May 21 Episcopal Diocese of Washington August 27-28 Christ the King, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida September 10-11 St. Peter's, Arlington, Virginia September 17-18 Trinity, New Orleans, Louisiana September 25 Christ Church, Grosse Pointe, Michigan October 8 Episcopal Diocese of Easton October 11 Episcopal Diocese of Delaware October 15 Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida November 12-13 Holy Trinity Lutheran, Akron, Ohio November 20 Christ Church, Grosse Pointe, Michigan December 3-4 St. Mark's, Cheyenne, Wyoming 2020 January 21-24 Rooted in Jesus Conference, Atlanta, GA February 6-8 Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina - keynote March 5-7 Beta Coach Training, Nicholas Center, Chicago March 7 Episcopal Diocese of Easton - keynote 2019 January 25-26 Episcopal Diocese of Delaware, Ocean City, Maryland - keynote February 8-10 St. John’s Episcopal Church, Tallahassee, FL February 20-23 CEEP Conference, Boston, Massachusetts March 1-3 Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, Grace Kirkwood, MO March 29-31 Pohick Episcopal Church & area congregations, Lorton, VA April 3-7 Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, Garden City, NY May 3-4 Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern & Western Michigan, St. John’s, Midland, MI May 17-19 Episcopal Diocese of Florida Evangelism Commission & Christ Church Ponte Vedra, FL June 12-14 Invite Welcome Connect 2019 Summit June 28-30 St. James Cathedral & area congregations, Chicago, IL August 30-Sept 1 Kauai Island area congregations, Hawaii September 6-8 Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii, St. Andrew’s School, Honolulu, Hawaii September 12-14 Curriculum Writing for Coach training, Camp Allen, TX September 21 Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, All Saints, Atlanta September 23-25 Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida - keynote October 18-19 Episcopal Diocese of Western Kansas - keynote November 1-3 Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana - keynote November 7-9 Episcopal Diocese of Northern California - keynote 2018 February 2-4 Mid-Atlanta Convocation, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, All Saints, Atlanta, GA (host church) February 17-18 Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma, Saint Paul's Cathedral, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (host church) February 24-25 Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, St. Bartholomew's, Poway, California (host church) March 2-4 Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska, St. David's, Lincoln, Nebraska (host church) March 9-11 Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio. Church of the Redeemer, Cincinnati, Ohio (host church) March 15-16 Evangelism Matters Conference, St. Paul's, Cleveland Heights, OH (host church) March 17 Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina, Trinity Cathedral, Columbia, SC (host church) May 4-6 Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas, St. Mark's, Little Rock, Arkansas (host church) June 12-14 2018 Invite Welcome Connect SUMMIT, University of the South, Sewanee August 25 Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, All Saints, Beverly Hills, California (host church0 September 7-9 High Plains Region, Episcopal Diocese of Colorado, Saint Gabriel the Archangel, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado (host church) September 15 Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, St. David's, Roswell, Georgia (host church) October 19-21 Episcopal Diocese of Delaware, Christ Church Christiana Hundred, Wilmington, Delaware (host church) October 21-28 Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee, St. Paul's, Chattanooga, Tennessee (host church) November 9-11 Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, St. Stephen's Cathedral, Harrisburg, PA (host church) 2017 January 28 Workshop co-sponsored by Episcopal Church in Minnesota, St. Mark's Cathedral, Trinity Excelsior, & St. John the Evangelist, Saint Paul, MN (host church) February 3-5 Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi 190th Annual Council, Jackson, Mississippi March 22-23 The General Theological Seminary, New York, New York April 11 Covenant Presbyterian Newcomer Committee, hosted by Tim & Sally Barber, Austin, Texas April 19-20 Episcopal Communicators Conference, Cincinnati, Ohio April 21 Episcopal Diocese of Lexington, Holy Trinity, Georgetown, Kentucky (host church) May 6 Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, Region XV congregations, Church of our Saviour, Charlottesville, VA (host church) May 19-21 Academy for Parish Leadership Conference, The Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, Schloss Fuerstenried Conference Center, Munich, Germany September 15-17 Brandywine Deanery of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, St. James, Downingtown, PA (host church) October 6-8 Region VI of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, St. Mark's, Alexandria, VA (host church) October 20-22 Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia, St. Martin's, Williamsburg, Virginia (host church) November 8 & 15 School of Theology, Contextual Education Class, University of the South, Sewanee, TN November 18 Episcopal Diocese of Florida, Camp Weed & Ceverny Conference Center, Live Oak, Florida December 1-3 Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island, South Carolina (host church) 2016 January 16 St. James Episcopal Church, Jackson, MS January 24 St. Cross Episcopal Church, Hermosa Beach, California January 29 St. George's Episcopal Church, Antioch, CA January 30 Episcopal Diocese of California, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, California Keynote January 31 St. James Episcopal Church, San Francisco February 1 Grace Church, New York City, NY February 20 St. Paul's on the Plains Episcopal Church, Lubbock, Texas February 24-26 Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes Conference, Denver, Colorado February 27 St. James Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana March 5 Episcopal Diocese of Arizona, Prescott, Arizona March 12 Falls Church Episcopal, Falls Church, VA April 9 Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, Pensacola, Florida April 16 Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, St. Philip's, Durham, NC April 23 Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia, Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd, Parkersburg, WV April 28-30 Invite-Welcome-Connect Summit 2016, Camp Allen, Texas May 7 Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Metuchen, New Jersey May 14 St. John's Episcopal Church, Jackson Hole, Wyoming May 21 St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Rochester, New York September 10 Episcopal Diocese of Western New York, Diocesan Ministry Center, Tonawanda, NY September 24 Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, St. Luke's, San Antonio, TX September 29-October 2 Anglican Diocese of Calgary, Cochrane & Srathmore, Calgary October 10-12 Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi Clergy Conference, Gray Center, Canton, Mississippi Keynote October 15 Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana, Camp Hardtner, Alexandria, LA October 28-30 Contra Costa Deanery, St. Alban's-St. George's, East Bay, CA November 3-5 Task Force on Clergy Leadership Formation in Small Churches, Crowne Plaza Chicago November 10-12 Episcopal Diocese of Georgia 195th Convention, Good Shepherd, Augusta, GA Keynote November 18-19 Evangelism Matters Conference, Transfiguration, Dallas, TX November 28-30 Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania Clergy Conference, Cape May, New Jersey Keynote |