Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota IX Bishop search

12 Recommended Mission & Ministry Initiatives

We are in need of spiritual transformation and theological renewal, for it is only through God’s grace and guidance that we will find inspiration for our shared life and ministries. The key arena for this spiritual transformation is within congregations. The most significant resource we have to offer for God’s redeeming work is the ministry of the baptized – disciples living in faithfulness to Christ through their vocations in the world.

Initiative 1: Spiritual Transformation

Initiative 2: Engage Congregational Contexts

One of the greatest challenges facing the congregations of the diocese is that their ministries have often not kept pace with changes in their surrounding contexts. Our congregations need to engage their members about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and how to exercise their spiritual gifts both within the congregation and the communities they serve. This requires us all to re-imagine and re-engage our congregations’ unique mission field and to equip our members for Christian discipleship. Such work will raise significant questions in all our congregations regarding their own identity and purpose, and in many cases this will generate confusion and pain as congregations address needed change. The potential fruits of this work, however, are clearly worth the effort, as our congregations come to experience the excitement of renewed life and ministry.

Initiative 3: Children, Youth & Family Ministry

For the congregations of the diocese to develop ministries that promote the spiritual growth of children, youth and family members within a theological understanding of lay discipleship, vocation and God’s mission in the world. One of the sober realities of the diocese is that many congregations no longer have significant numbers of children and youth, and our ministries that serve children, youth and families have atrophied. The aging of our church is a symptom of decades-long decline. The absence of families will be addressed for many congregations as they connect or re-connect their ministries to their mission field—the communities in which they serve. We recognize that all congregations long for success in attracting families with children, but that for some the resources required are as yet beyond their reach. We must, therefore, make this a diocesan-wide priority, establishing networks of congregations to maximize resources and opportunities for ministry that are available.

Initiative 4: Multi-Cultural Ministries

For the diocese to become a multi-cultural community of congregations that reflects the diverse ethnic realities of our state, where all congregations are empowered to have a shared voice within a culture of mutual accountability. The diocese has historic roots in Native American and African American ministries. Given the increasing populations of immigrants throughout Minnesota, there are numerous opportunities before us to develop ethnic-specific as well as multi-cultural congregations. This work needs to move from the margins to the mainstream if the diocese is to reflect the richness of our mission field.

Initiative 5: Creative Ministry Models

For the diocese to learn from its experience with Total Ministry and other models. The Total Ministry model has been spiritually-empowering and effective in many congregations of the diocese. This approach to ministry merits careful review and further consideration for expanded use, as well as consideration of other alternative models.

Initiative 6: Develop Network Infrastructure

We need to re-conceive and redevelop the diocese as a network of congregations and ministries where organization, communication and the use of resources flow along the lines of meaningful relationships and shared ministry commitments. We anticipate that much of this network will be experimental in character, especially initially, but that patterns once established will become more formally operational over time. In the short term, we may decide to maintain existing structures, such as regions, where they are helpful as an overlay on this emerging and evolving network. We need to devote attention, time and resources to cultivate the informal connections between congregations and ministries that are already coming into existence in numerous places.

Initiative 7: Empower, Engage & Inspire Lay Disciples

For the congregations of the diocese to invite and support the full participation of laity in the life of the church, where lay disciples feel empowered to have a mutual voice, are actively engaged in ministry in their congregations and the communities these serve, and where they are theologically aware of how to understand their vocational call to carry out their ministries. Congregations exist for the purpose of bringing individuals into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ, to foster a communal identity among individuals as the people of God, and to equip God’s people for love and service to the world in God’s name. Lay disciples of Jesus Christ are the church’s greatest gift and resource. We need to invest our best resources into the formation of spiritually-mature, fully-empowered disciples of Jesus Christ.

Initiative 8: Re-Envision Clergy Leadership

For the clergy of the diocese to engage thoughtfully and intentionally in a shared process of reflection and reevaluation of their roles in relation to a changing paradigm for ministry. We recognize the importance of ordained clergy leadership in the life of the church. Generally, clergy are not well equipped to address current changes and ministry challenges.

Initiative 9: Select Bishop and Diocesan Staff Capable of & Committed to Leading Plan to Fruition

For the search process to identify and recommend candidates for a new bishop who can provide visionary leadership in implementing this plan, and who can recruit and lead a staff that is able to support that work. With the diocese facing a period of leadership transition, this is a critical time for clarity and alignment of leadership priorities. The bishop and diocesan staff must be fully committed to the implementation of this plan.

Initiative 10: Aligned, Integrated and Supportive Organization & Structure

For the diocese to develop and implement a design for its organization and structure which is aligned and integrated with its identity, purpose and mission and ministry priorities. We must ensure that the organization and structure of the diocese are designed to carry out and fully implement its identity, purpose, and mission and ministry priorities. This design, in terms of achieving alignment and integration, will take time to develop and implement as the diocese begins to live into reshaping the paradigm for its life and ministry. One option is to utilize a provisional organization and structure during the transition period. Ideally, the new organization and structure should be in place by the time the new bishop takes leadership in the diocese.

Initiative 11: Effective Stewardship of financial resources

There are significant resources among the Episcopalians of the diocese. We believe stewardship needs to be addressed in two ways: first, as an outgrowth of personal faith and Christian practice; second, in response to a clearly articulated and compelling vision of ministry. There are many sound, biblically-based stewardship materials that the diocese could make available to congregations to great effect. Yet the basic principle that money follows vision has been consistently demonstrated in the church. As noted in the book of Proverbs, “Without vision, the people perish.” The current financial difficulties of the diocese are, at heart, related to a lack of a clear and compelling vision for the future that can inspire confidence and build trust. This situation will not be solved overnight. We believe that difficulties in meeting financial needs will continue in the next five to seven years, but as the new paradigm for ministry begins to bear fruit, we anticipate that the present financial struggles will gradually ease.

Initiative 12: Effective stewardship & utilization of facilities and land

For the diocese, through its emerging networks and hub congregations, to develop and implement a design for the effective stewardship and utilization of its physical assets of facilities and land and explore sites for new congregations. The diocese and its congregations have significant resources in land and facilities. These resources are not always effectively utilized, however, to support mission and ministry. We anticipate more effective stewardship of these resources as congregational ministries are revitalized, but there will still be need for an intentional assessment of current resources. Moreover, the diocese sorely needs a strategic development plan for the placement of new congregations.