Introduction
Following up on our FAQS (Frequently Asked QuestionS) booklet, we have had some helpful feedback and questions from parishioners. I'll reply to one detailed set of comments here. There will be some repetition from earlier presentations, but the format is different and may increase understanding. The following quote and requests are from Our Saviour's in Little Falls:
"At the present time in the process it gives the impression that we are putting a roof on a building with some of the side walls are missing and the foundation is not completed."We do have a foundation. As we have been known to sing: "The church's one foundation," we are building our total ministry program on the foundation of Jesus Christ as we hear the Word proclaimed in Scripture. From the beginning this process has been grounded in scripture and prayer, many of the key moments being part of our communal Sunday worship time.
I am hesitant to admit that we have a roof yet. We are far from putting a lid on things and the process is still wide open to the movement of the Spirit. That is what makes it feel as if some of the walls are missing. We are still in the building process, although it's true we have many strong "pillars of the church" to rely on as we work on some new construction.
The process feels uncertain and soft because it does not work for an outsider to come in and impose a solid and completed plan on our churches. The plan has to come from within and be really ours. That's what total ministry is about. And the plan changes as we grow and as the pieces fit into place. So even as I attempt to answer the following requests, some are left undefined, so that our ministry program can be responsive to prayer and tailor-made to fit our unique congregations and those who will become our ministry team.
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I. Congregation learns about Total Ministry (may be ongoing)
II. Congregation(s) covenant to prepare for Total Ministry
III. Administrative issues are dealt with
IV. Congregational Discernment
V. Calls to team ministry are made
VI. Individual discernment in community
VII. Diocesan Discernment (Possibly August)
VIII. Formation Training begins (Possibly September)
IX. Additional, Individual, or Exceptional training/formation planned
X. Team members are matched with individual mentors
XI. Team members begin ministering when ready Varies
XII. Discernment of additional team members each
XIII. Canonical Examination of Team when ready
XIV. Team is commissioned / ordained when ready
XV. New ministers are discerned and added ongoing
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The details for each position will vary and shift according to the gifts and abilities of the individual minister. That's how small churches work best. When the team is in place, a question: "What is a Communication Coordinator?" might be best and most clearly answered with "Oh, it's Evelyn." (I know we don't have an ‘Evelyn' yet, but with total ministry we can expect to grow ... so maybe someday!) Some fitting of the ministry to the minister is necessary in a small community and optimizes the use of our unique gifts. That's why there is some overlap in descriptions. But here are the descriptions with which we begin:
Communication Coordinator: Facilitates information flow within team, between team and parishes, and to surrounding communities. Makes sure that everyone knows what is going on and that communication happens when it needs to. May include: newsletters, press releases, diocesan meetings, phone trees, email forwarding, public relations, advertising, overall coordination of team activities.
Preacher: Licensed by the diocese to write and present original sermons. Must be in EFM and the monthly preaching group for licensing. May begin preaching under supervision immediately. Some may be licensed after two years.
Outreach/Evangelism Minister: Leads in serving the needs beyond our community/church/cluster and in spreading the Good News of Christ. The person who goes out and tells people about our church and helps us find new members or organizes special events in our community: service projects, advertising, advocacy.
Pastoral Care Minister: Visits and coordinates hospital/home/other visits where needed in crisis and ongoing. Counseling (grief, premarital, spiritual) according to gifts and preparation, clinical pastoral education ("CPE") part of training for most.
Christian Education Minister: Oversees, coordinates, and supports a program of Christian Education for all ages. Program planning, curriculum review, teacher/facilitator recruiting, confirmation/new members preparation, intergenerational activities for all parishes.
Stewardship/Administrative Minister: Sees that people's gifts of ministry, money, and property are well used in God's service. Resource (including human resources) manager, Reviews possible parish stewardship programs or capital funds drives, builds up lay ministry, resources property concerns, may deploy ministry team.
Liturgist: Plans worship services and supports music programs. Specialized training in music and history of liturgy.
Sacramentalist: Ordained and locally affirmed Canon-9 priest to administer the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist, also weddings, burials, baptisms only in our Spirit of the Heartland churches. Must take canonical examinations (possibly with team).
Deacon: Ordained and locally affirmed to minister as deacon in our churches only. A servant ministry bringing the needs of the people to the church and speaking out about those in need. Assists during worship, may preach or provide pastoral care. May fill another particular ministry role on the team.. Must also take canonical exams (also possibly with team).
Pastoral Mentor/ Spiritual Guide: "It's Pat (not ‘Evelyn')." See the description that follows in the final section. Is seminary-trained.
The basic formation/training expectation for all team ministers this first year is Education for Ministry, averaging 2 ˝ -5 hours a week of time (the same time expectation for team ministry) for nine months of the year. There will also be monthly team gatherings and twice a year retreats (these continue when the team is in place). Some ministries have specific licensing or canonical requirements noted above. All will spend some time with a mentor with expertise in their particular area. There will be specific preparation for individual ministries during months when EFM is not meeting. The amount of individual time involved will vary significantly according to the previous preparation and experience of the individual.
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For now this newsletter and our website are usually, but not exclusively, the vehicles for these reports. (Check out the check marks for this month's progress report.) Anyone desiring to minister as ‘reporter' will be welcomed. Later our Communication / Coordinator minister or other team members may make reports. Questions are always welcome.
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Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer, page 256
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Read Volume 1 of the Total Ministry Owners' Manual
Outline of Discernment Process:
1. An outline or agenda of the steps 2. What is needed to complete each step
(As of August 1, steps in blue letters are completed)
A. Informational Meetings with Canon Missioners
B. Regional Discussion
C. Visits with other Total Ministry Teams
D. Discussion in individual parishes
E. Reading and Conferences attended
A. One Congregation (Good Sam) hires a Pastoral Mentor (Pat)
B. Other congregations covenant with Good Sam & Pat
C. The Bishop approves the covenants
D. Prayers for the process begin in all congregations
A. A Council is formed for administrative/financial responsibilities
1. Pastoral mentor is ex officio full member (Pat)
2. Each congregation elects a representative
a. Good Sam - Ann Beard
b. Our Saviour - Bea Winkler
c. St. Stephen's - David Dodds
d. St. John's - Linda Maloney
3. Lay members of council may elect other clergy members
(Connie Claxton is elected)
B. A Formation/Training Team is appointed by the Council:
Connie Claxton,
Johanna Morrigan,
Linda Maloney,
Pat Gillespie,
Priscilla Gray
C. Pastoral Mentor notifies Commission on Ministry of our process
A. Parishes meet to discern their identity and mission
B. Parishes meet to discern tasks to be done to fulfill their mission
C. Parishes meet to discern which people have gifts for those tasks
1. Names are offered during worship
2. Lists are prayed for in all parishes
3. Each parish chooses it's own selection process
a. Good Sam appoints a committee of three
b. Our Saviour's casts ballots
c. St. Stephen's decides during coffee hour
d. St. John's has informal nominations
4. Each parish chooses a person for the Discernment Group
a. Good Sam - Dorothy Peterson
b. Our Saviour's - Lu Tax
c. St. Stephen's - Mary Ann Erdmann
d. St. John's - Sam Calvert
5. Canon Missioner (Connie) and Pastoral Mentor (Pat)
are ex officio members of the discernment Group
D. Discernment Group meet and discerns potential team
(details of process are online at www.MotherFlash/spirit/discernmentgroup.html
or "hard copy" by request from Pat or anyone online )
A. Pastoral Mentor sends letters to those the group has discerned
1. Some people are called to a specific ministry
2. Some ‘multi-gifted' people are called to the team
and to further discernment about their place on the team
B. Prayers are offered for those called
A. Those called to the team either
1. Attend a discernment retreat OR (In process)
2. Meet with a spiritual guide
and with the pastoral mentor (In process)
3. Individuals are encouraged to share their call,
those in discernment pray for others on the list,
but the list is not yet public (In process)
C. Those who have responded positively
are prayed for by name in parishes
A. Commission on Ministry meets with team
B. Adjustments may be made accordingly
C. COM gives approval to begin formation/training
A. Education for Ministry Classes are formed
(Including students not on team)
B. Monthly team gatherings begin
C. A team retreat is held October
A. Specific training or each ministry
B. Appropriate arrangements for seasonal ministers
(Depending on ministry and previous preparation) Team Positions and Training:
A detailed description of team positions and what training is needed for each team position. Reporting and Updates:
Continuing Reports of what steps have been completed.Seminary-trained Clergy Roles:
A detailed description of what role the Rev. Pat Gillespie or any other clergy will play in this process.
Pat's primary ministry is the development, formation, and spiritual guidance of the ministry team. She will serve as mentor, trainer, supervisor, shepherd, and resource person to the team. When the team is in place, she will also serve as part of the team, ministering in each of the team ministries on occasion as needed. Until we have ordained sacramentalists she will continue to preside at the Eucharist two Sundays each month and minister in other areas reserved to the priesthood in three of the parishes. Until a team is in place, she will meet with vestries, attend diocesan gatherings, and serve as priest-in-charge in those areas where ordination is a prerequisite. At Good Samaritan, she accepts the usual responsibilities as Rector. For the time being, the Rev. Josie Martins will continue to preside regularly in two parishes at a monthly Eucharist and may serve in other priestly ministries (e.g. burial services). The priest from St. John's will minister regularly (time averaging the same as other team members) with the team as priest according to his/her gifts, probably in training and formation. Other clergy will on occasion serve in the formation/ training process and as mentors for individual ministers. Team Support:
Prayer for all Christians in their vocation
Got other questions?
Contact us: spirit@MotherFlash.com
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