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. Mary has taken the work to sixty (60+) dioceses in The Episcopal Church, three Episcopal seminaries, three university, the Anglican Diocese of Calgary, 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 The Episcopal Church 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 invitewelcomeconnect.sewanee.edu
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 The Episcopal Church 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 invitewelcomeconnect.sewanee.edu
Email Mary to learn more.
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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
In the Diocese of Georgia, Bishop Benhase has made checking in on how a congregation’s leadership are engaging with Invite Welcome Connect a part of every visitation. As I work in teaching practices of congregational vitality, I also find the ethos of Invite Welcome Connect to be invaluable. This work is core to being the Body of Christ as hospitality was an expectation of Jesus’ followers. Any parish can focus on cultivating that culture of hospitality in a way that fits their needs and matches their abilities. The Diocese of Georgia has been richly blessed in our ongoing teaching of Invite Welcome Connect year after year rather than as a one-time engagement before moving on to the next idea. This work is a gift to the church. The Rev. Canon Frank Logue, Episcopal Diocese of Georgia I wanted to thank you for serving as the keynote speaker for the Diocese of Pennsylvania's Clergy Conference. More than a few people have expressed how much they appreciated the ideas you brought to the table and your willingness to share your story. Moreover, a number of people intimated that they had never experienced such a focused introduction to the practice of evangelism and welcoming newcomers. As helpful as the concrete suggestions are, however, I think that the best thing about INVITE-WELCOME-CONNECT is that it provides a wonderfully helpful framework for engaging in and thinking about the all-important discipline of Christian hospitality. The Rev. David Romanik, Church of the Redeemer, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania Since Mary Parmer presented INVITE-WELCOME-CONNECT to the Diocese of Western New York, people have been talking…A LOT…about being inviting, about offering genuine welcome and about focusing on ways to help people connect to their faith through our parishes and among all who walk into our doors… and stay! What was presented at INVITE-WELCOME-CONNECT is marinating among our people! And that is good news, indeed. The Rev’d Cathy Dempesy-Sims, Canon for Connections, Episcopal Diocese of Western New York 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 Mary Parmer brought her gifts, enthusiasm, wisdom, and INVITE-WELCOME-CONNECT into the life of St. David's Church and School at an ideal time. We were having new people come through our doors every Sunday, which we were very excited about, but we did not have a clear pathway through which to truly welcome and engage them in the life of the congregation. Mary was able to help our leadership hold a mirror up to our current way of hospitality and incorporation of people into ministries so that we could see more clearly and honestly. She was able to facilitate our ability to name and celebrate the things we were doing well and what we had to offer as the church, but also name the "growing edges" we needed to address and improve in order to become a "stickier" place and people through which to encounter the life- saving love and hope of Jesus Christ. The Rev. Lisa Mason, St. David's Episcopal Church & School, San Antonio, Texas 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 |
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 |
After a year it is clear to me that INVITE-WELCOME-CONNECT is only partly about evangelism. Its primary outcome here has been transformation. St. Peter's has become a different parish. Long time members talk to each other more. People linger longer after church. More people stay for breakfast and participate in adult formation. We are having an adult Confirmation program for the first time in years. To my surprise, almost everyone wears a nametag! And as I talk with others in our neighborhood or in the diocese, more and more people refer to St. Peter's as "the welcoming church." I believe the best of the good news in this initiative is proclaimed anytime a new member tells a long-time member, "I joined this church because you all have been so welcoming." Anytime someone hears that it dispels the myth that "The Rector" draws people to the church and reinforces the truth that we all participate in the ministry of evangelism. The Rev. Luke Jernagan, St. Peter’s, St. Louis, Missouri
I often hear people say when they finally find their way into the church, 'I’ve been looking for this all my life.' Sadly, part of the responsibility for that statement resides with our church because we have always struggled with the invitation and incorporation of new members. Mary Parmer has developed a comprehensive process that is easily understood, adaptable and produces results. Mary not only provides the direction but also the tools necessary for any size congregation to participate in the fundamental and critical ministry of hospitality. Her INVITE-WELCOME-CONNECT work is the best evangelism resource I have ever seen in my years as a parish priest! The Rev. Paul G. Pradat, St. Thomas, Huntsville, AL
Mary’s work and the INVITE-WELCOME-CONNECT philosophy and methodology have been incredibly applicable and motivational in the life of St. David’s! The moment our group was introduced to the project’s mixture of core values and helpful resources, they wanted to get to work helping to transform the life of the parish. No longer was “Newcomer Ministry” seen as just the work of a few people – it was embraced as the work of the whole church with enthusiasm. I highly recommend this work to help shape the way a congregation sees its ministry beyond a limited vision of what Welcoming can entail. The Rev. Hillary Raining, St. David’s, Wayne, PA