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Domestic Missionary Partnership explores mission in small places
By Dick Snyder
2003-032
2/14/2003
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[Episcopal News Service]
Methods for promoting the Episcopal Church's mission in small dioceses and small congregations were explored at the annual meeting of the Domestic Missionary Partnership (DMP) in early February in Burlingame, California. The meeting's theme was 'Mission in a Micro-Chip Culture: Being Small Doesn't Mean You Can't Make a Difference.'
The meeting discussed a recommendation of the 20/20 Strategy Group to General Convention this summer, encouraging church members to embrace 'fully the stated mission of the church,' and to adopt strategies that will double participation in the life of the church by the year 2020.
'It is really about mission,' explained Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori of Nevada, a member of the Strategy Group who led the discussion. She said that 20/20 'is a movement' with the goal of encouraging church growth, recognizing and fostering vitality within congregations. Its principles include enhancing diversity within congregations while also stressing prayer, biblical literacy, reflection and witness.
'Vital congregations may be any size,' said the bishop.
Hallmark of leadership
The Rev. John Harmon, rector of Trinity Church in Washington, D.C., said that the 'hallmark of leadership is vision,' the ability to see 'what is possible in this place.' Small congregations, as well as larger ones, can 'make an impact in transforming communities,' he said.
DMP delegates heard about marketing techniques from the Rev. Frank Hull of Arizona, who said that 'you've got to use the words that people will understand to get them in the door.' He added that 'brand loyalty,' individuals who would always attend an Episcopal church no matter where they moved, is disappearing.
The delegates heard about reaching new church members through the use of electronic evangelism--the use of interactive web sites--from C.T. Fitzpatrick of explorefaith.org. A tour to the technology museum in San Jose was also part of the agenda.
Funding approved
DMP delegates approved distribution funding for the Episcopal Church's aided dioceses. Eastern Oregon was awarded $103,000; Western Kansas received $55,000; Eau Claire received $41,000 in budgetary support. In addition, a one-time grant of $12,800 was approved to assist Western Kansas in hiring a part-time assistant for the bishop to help with local congregations, and Eau Claire received $8,000 for a campus ministry program.
Delegates decided to review their financial guidelines at next year's meeting--including a requirement that churches in dioceses that receive aid must pay 25 percent of their net disposable income. Bishop William Gregg of Eastern Oregon said that the financial review process 'does not energize and nurture' those dioceses. Bishop James Adams of Western Kansas agreed, saying 'We need some flexibility.'
Bishop Keith Whitmore of Eau Claire was elected to a three-year term as president of the group, replacing Miller.
DMP is comprised of 10 dioceses, all relatively small. Most of them formerly belonged to Coalition 14, a group of small and rural dioceses formed for ministry and mission development. Member dioceses of DMP are El Camino Real, Navajoland, Spokane, Western Kansas, Eastern Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Alaska, North Dakota and Eau Claire.
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