In 2009, Grace Church was invited to participate in the first series of Common Ministry workshops conducted by the Diocese of Southern Ohio. As a status check three years into the program, the Diocese asked Grace Church to answer some questions. Grace Church’s answers follow:
1. Question: What do you consider the most important accomplishment coming out of the Common Ministry work?
Answer: The members of Grace moved from a concept of having a priest in charge who was responsible for everything to a concept of shared ministry where everyone shares responsibility for all that goes in the parish.
2. Question: What ministries have been strengthened or begun in response to the work?
Answer:
- Grace clarified its values and mission.
- Grace created a Common Ministry Task Force which participated in the Diocesan Common Ministry program, organized several congregational CM workshops, did a health assessment, established priorities, and got them instilled in the various committees & teams before disbanding.
- Grace created a Mission & Formation Team with specific teams to handle: Newcomer Ministry, Pastoral Care, Worship, Outreach, and Christian Formation.
- Grace created a functioning Executive Committee which meets weekly.
-In reality all of our ministries have been strengthened because of the recognition that we are a priesthood of all believers.
-In particular the healing ministry has been strengthened.
3. Question: What connections to other organizations have been established to further the Common Ministry goals and initiatives?
Answer:
- Grace has worked with Episcopal Healing Ministries to create new and innovative healing services to reach out seekers and to those alienated from organized religion. The second Wednesday service draws a variety of healers and seekers from all over Greater Cincinnati. Once a month, we have a more formal Healing Service at our 10 am worship time.
- Grace hosts Education for Ministry and typically has participants from various Episcopal parishes and other denominations.
- Grace is a member of the local Ministerium (organization of local ministers) and through them, hosts the community Good Friday service.
- Grace is a member of Christ’s Community in College Hill and contributes regularly to the food pantry.
- Grace participates in the community IHN program, and contributes our share to hosting homeless families.
-Grace attends monthly College Hill Summit meetings of community leaders, to stay plugged into the community and to offer our support when we can.
-Grace and Life Renewal Fellowship Church are together offering monthly free community dinners beginning in July 2012.
-Grace has come to understand that our facility is a great asset and is finding other organizations to use it that support our mission. Examples:
The Rainbow Band practices weekly (supports our inclusiveness values and our healing emphasis)
Yoga classes meet several times a week (healing).
Life Renewal Fellowship worships weekly (outreach).
NA meets weekly (outreach and healing).
Parolees come monthly to get community service credit, involving as many Grace People a we have parolees most months (inclusiveness and healing).
We offer our parking lot as overflow space for the neighboring College Hill Recreation Center (outreach).
Ballet Classes for girls 3 – 12 meet weekly (community support)
4. Question: What measures for assessing growth and accomplishment of outcomes were developed?
Answer:
- Every team of the Mission and Formation Team has had specific goals for each year and developed plans to chart growth and achievement of those goals.
- Grace has had regular parish meetings to reflect upon the process.
5. Question: Who is responsible for this evaluation? If an initial evaluation has been done, please share the results.
Answer:
- The mission council has responsibility for this evaluation, which was assigned to a co-chair of the Mission and Formation Team, Hawley Todd TSSF, to get input from the members of Grace Church to compile this report.
- Final form was approved by the Executive Committee.
6. Question: What is the future of Common Ministry in your congregation?
Answer:
- Grace is committed to Common Ministry as the life blood of all that Grace does.
- Grace prefers the term “shared ministry” because it more fully captures our vision.
June, 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment