New and vital communities
Bishop Holly has invited
us to think about our Diocese as "The Episcopal Church in Southern
Virginia", meaning that together, we are the church, and each
congregation is a mission outpost or ministry center carrying out our
common mission of sharing the Good News of Jesus. The Mission Network, the
team focusing on Congregational Development and Vitality, Outreach, and
Mission, looks for ways to enhance the ministry of local congregations,
and to strategize for new mission opportunities.
Two new Mission Network
initiatives are particularly exciting. Plans are underway to deploy an
ordained Ministry Developer / Regional Priest to work with some of our
small congregations in Convocations 8 and 9 who are interested in
collaborative ministry. The Ministry Developer will help train lay
ministers in worship, formation, and pastoral care ministries, and help
the congregations coordinate regional formation and outreach activities.
The Ministry Developer will grow a team of lay leaders and supply
clergy who, together, minister to the needs of the congregations, and
equip the congregations for expanded ministry in their communities. We
hope to expand this ministry from one part-time ministry developer to
two full-time ministry developers over the next three years.
Another exciting
initiative is to reach out to the growing Hispanic population in our
diocese. Our demographics show that the South Richmond area and the
Chesapeake area both have large numbers of Latino/Latina residents, many
of whom are not connected to a faith community. Convocation 7 will be
using their recently approved Mission Initiative Grant to host a
regional and diocesan workshop on Hispanic ministry in early 2014. Then,
as funding becomes available, we are looking to hire a bi-lingual,
bi-cultural Hispanic missioner who can plant a new Hispanic or
multi-cultural ministry.
Meanwhile, the Mission
Network continues to encourage vital mission locally through
congregational consultations, the administration of the Seeds of Hope
Grants for social justice ministries, and the Mission Initiative Grants
for evangelistic ministry.
St. Thomas, Freeman's Youth Empowerment Program and Senior Pals
Program, both supported with recent Seeds of Hope Grants, continues to
make a significant impact in their rural community. The Senior Pal
program focused on computer literacy for community seniors as well as
needed socialization and fellowship to prevent isolation. The Youth
empowerment program encouraged local young people in their academic
achievement and participation. Coordinator Iris Jones of St. Thomas
said, "Our Youth Empowerment ministry was a huge success this year. As a
result, we had 7 youth to be baptized...and [besides the academic and
cultural enrichment activities] our Sunday School grew from 10 to 20
participants." Senior Velma Jackson wrote a thank you note to the church
saying, "This class was a God-sent resource to me. I've learned lots of
new things and feel so much more comfortable searching the internet."
Another participant, Berthemia Callis, wrote, "It was beautiful
fellowship." Another senior wrote, "I thank God for St. Thomas being the
kind of church that opens its doors always with their hearts to us
all."