Dear Sisters and Brothers,
About three months ago, I announced that I thought it time for us as a parish to begin to look at a definition of what Outreach means for us as a community of faith.
Along with this I thought it appropriate for us to ask three simple questions:
Sadly, the majority of the people of Emmanuel probably can't answer the questions. Some have never heard of our various initiatives. Others simply don't want to be involved and some are involved in a personal program that has deep meaning for them and don't wish to go any further.
The purpose of an Outreach Summit is to begin to gather and share information with the entire parish family, to answer seriously the questions listed above and then discern the direction(s) in which to proceed as a parish family. Parish Outreach is a parish initiative, not one that is personal or belonging to a small group alone. If the name Emmanuel is used, then it is about all of us and we as a parish need the opportunity to commit, recommit, relinquish or step out in faith to meet a new need or venture.
The first step of the process was to distribute a simple questionnaire (enclosed) that was purposely vague enough so that people could share some basic thoughts and possibly "dreams," which in turn would be a tool for the committee's use to begin formulating the principles for discussion at the first parish wide meeting. A number of parishioners filled out the questionnaires and the responses were well thought out and well articulated. The only difficulty in this step has been the lack of response. In enclosing it in this mailing we will try again to see if there is interest in responding. If not, the committee will move ahead to set the agenda for the first parish meeting with the information that we have gathered so far and with the brainstorming of representatives from the vestry and those involved in Outreach ministries.
Emmanuel Episcopal Church has made a profound impact in this parish community, the city of
It is interesting to note in the responses to the survey, that many said we don't need to do anything more than what we are doing. "No new initiatives should be undertaken." Yet, if we took that route we would never address the Millennium Development Goals which have been accepted as vital to the life of the church and to which we owe some of our efforts. We do need to be stretched.
We also need to allow the visionary and prophetic voices among us to be heard and to be given the resources necessary to bring the Gospel into the world-perhaps a different world that some of us are not quite ready to look at yet. There is much work to do my brothers and sisters and maybe some different ways of doing it. In helping to stir the pot a little bit and help people think outside the box; at the last meeting of the Williams Rhodes Screening committee I said why don't you not give anything away for the next two years. Then you would have about $400,000.00 in which to create a project and make a profound impact in the lives of a lot of people. They didn't have a clue as to whether or not I was serious, but imagine what that might be like...There is so much creativity waiting to be tapped. As a matter of fact, we really could do anything we can dream of - If we are willing to do it together, and not be possessive or too attached to the idea of the old way as being the only way.
This is why I am calling for us to have a parish summit on our Outreach. Our life of mission. To commit ourselves to the Lords worked with one voice. If we are successful then we will probably wind up being of one heart as well. Imagine what that would be like!
In His love,
Robert +