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Keynote Address at the Diocese of Alabama 2013 Parish Leadership Training Event
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Episcopal Church Foundation Vital
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Articles
At the End of the Day
[Diolog Magazine, December 2011] Imagine what would happen if the clergy and laity of the Episcopal Church lived into the idea that we are a part of salvation history and God's mission in the world. Imagine if we overcame our fear of invitation, if we obeyed Jesus' gospel mandate to see and welcome the stranger into our midst, and if we cultivated the sacred act of listening. Compelling stories emerge from congregations around our diocese that take these imaginings seriously, and one by one they experience transformation.
St. Francis, Houston, a pilot congregation in the newly developed Newcomer Ministry Project, began using the assessment tools to evaluate their invitation, welcome and connection processes. They began to see the school on their campus and the families and students as their biggest mission field. Only 10 percent of the students' families were members of the church; and, within six months of refocused effort, an additional l 0 percent had joined the church or were attending regularly. Read the full article here. Or from the Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers here. |
Simple Idea Leads to Sustained Growth
[Diolog Magazine, March 2013] By now, most of the clergy and leaders in the Diocese of Texas have heard Mary Parmer’s story. After an invitation from a friend to attend a service at St. Stephen’s, Beaumont, Parmer left her evangelical background and fell in love with the Episcopal Church. For the past several years, she has toured the diocesan conference circuits, encouraging Episcopalians to simply invite their friends to church.
Now, in addition to other roles, Parmer has developed a newcomer ministry training that has inspired new church growth. Using some creative thinking and common sense practices, some churches across the Diocese of Texas have seen more than 100 new members in less than one year’s time during the newcomer ministry pilot program. “I think the Episcopal Church is the best kept secret,” Parmer says, and she wants to let everyone know it is okay to expose the truth. Read the full article here. |
Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
[Diolog Magazine, September 2011]
Now I become myself. It's taken time, many years and places. I have been dissolved and shaken, worn other people's faces...
May Sarton’s poem speaks to my spiritual journey of discerning giftedness, and hence, my vocation. Years ago I could not have imagined nor predicted God’s hand would move in a mysterious way through painful life circumstances, taking me on a life-affirming journey of self-awareness and transformative clarity,then utilizing my giftedness in a life-giving vocation.
The word vocation is rooted in the Latin vocare, “voice” or“to call,” and it essentially means the work a person is called to by God. Episcopal priest Sam Portaro contends that vocation is not a thing once-delivered, but a gradual, lifelong waiting and a perpetual receiving.
Read the full article on page 16 here.
Now I become myself. It's taken time, many years and places. I have been dissolved and shaken, worn other people's faces...
May Sarton’s poem speaks to my spiritual journey of discerning giftedness, and hence, my vocation. Years ago I could not have imagined nor predicted God’s hand would move in a mysterious way through painful life circumstances, taking me on a life-affirming journey of self-awareness and transformative clarity,then utilizing my giftedness in a life-giving vocation.
The word vocation is rooted in the Latin vocare, “voice” or“to call,” and it essentially means the work a person is called to by God. Episcopal priest Sam Portaro contends that vocation is not a thing once-delivered, but a gradual, lifelong waiting and a perpetual receiving.
Read the full article on page 16 here.