February 8 , 2007

Spotlight: Congregational Development

The Diocese is committed to helping all its congregations empower their members to grow in faith and share the good news of God’s abundant love to those in their communities. This commitment is lived out in many ways – the Bishops and the staff spend many evenings with vestries, youth groups, stewardship chairs and Christian education committees to provide resources and guidance for greater mission.  The Commission on Congregational Development and a network of diocesan congregational consultants continue to provide resources, time and talent to this important diocesan priority area. 

To provide continuing support in this area, many Congregational Development responsibilities will now be the prime focus of the work of Carolyn Chilton, program director.  Many program details that Carolyn worked on will now be handled by Paris Ball, assistant program director, and Carol Thomson, administrative assistant in the program office.  Carolyn will focus on working with clergy and lay leadership through regional and diocesan training events and on in-parish consulting. Carolyn will also continue to work with Roslyn and Shrine Mont on their own program development. Lindsay Ryland, our transition ministry and deployment officer, continues to work with churches and clergy in search and the Mutual Ministry process.  Together Lindsay and Carolyn will work with our network of congregational consultants.

Already scheduled are two spring events with workshops focusing on understanding congregational size: the Vestry Education Day on March 10 and the Parish Administrator's Retreat March 19-21.

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News & Events

The Rev. Lauren Stanley Discusses Life in Sudan
The Rev. Lauren Stanley, journalist and theologian, is the Episcopal Church’s only full-time missionary living and working in Sudan. Ms. Stanley is currently available to visit your parish or group to discuss her mission experiences. Contact Ms. Stanley via e-mail at laurenrenk@gmail.com or phone at 703-678-3892.

Upcoming Mission Trips
The next issue of The Virginia Episcopalian will contain a list of upcoming mission trips. To be certain your church’s trip is included, please e-mail Buck Blanchard at bblanchard@thediocese.net by Monday, Feb. 12. If we don’t know where you are going, we won’t be able to get the word out.

Mustard Seed Grants in 2007
Mustard Seed Grant guidelines and an application form are now available online. The first deadline for a letter of inquiry is March 1, and the deadline for the full proposal is March 31. Click on the links below to download the guidelines and application.
            Mustard Seed Grant Guidelines            Mustard Seed Grant Cover Sheet

An optional workshop for those interested in submitting Mustard Seed Grant applications is being offered Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007, from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Trinity, Fredericksburg. General information about the grant process, eligible project ideas and grant proposal assistance will be available. For more information, contact the Office of Stewardship and Development, 804-643-8451, ext. 17 or ext. 16, or email, pbjorling@thediocese.net.

World Mission Day
Grace and Holy Trinity, Richmond, Feb. 24
Sponsored by the diocesan Commission on World Mission and the Missionary Society of Grace and Holy Trinity, Richmond, World Mission Day will feature speakers on such topics as creative mission opportunities, mission partnerships, and mission through music. More information can be found at http://www.ghtc.org/missioneveryone.html.

Confirmation Services Registration
For resources about the 2007-2008 confirmation visitation schedule—including information about confirmation services, a day with the bishops and registration—please read the memo and registration form found here.

Save the Date

Other Links

212th Annual Council
e-Bazaar: A listing of items that parishes would like to donate or receive.
Calendar: A listing of Diocesan and local church events. Don’t see your church event listed? Add it using the links at the bottom of the calendar.
Bishop Coadjutor Nominating Committee: Official website for the search for Bishop Coadjutor.
Employment: The latest information on ministry opportunities for clergy and lay.
General Convention: A summary of General Convention actions.
Global Mission Website: Read and submit mission stories and mission trip dates.


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