Slideshow image

Looking back on all that I've been involved with since beginning this role, I find it hard to believe that I’ve only been in this job for eleven months.

One of my highlights of this year was updating members of Synod (and through them, parishes throughout the diocese) on the progress achieved between October 1, 2023 and that time. This included an update on the evolution of the Structures Working Group and what I've been doing to help us move towards achieving the goals of the Implementation Plan.

A second highlight has been hearing from Bishop Lynne (after her time in the South Okanagan and West Kootenays this summer) that the Thriving Communities tools are being positively received, and helping parishes to discern and more effectively embody their mission.

I am sharing this report to provide the people of the Diocese a clearer sense of what this work entails, and what I've been doing to support parishes in this time.  

Supporting Baptismal Ministry + Leadership Development

I continue to work with other members of the staff team, other dioceses in the Province, and dioceses across the country to leverage partnerships that deliver more learning opportunities related to Implementation Plan priorities:

  • Inviting & Welcoming Newcomers with Intention (intro took place June 10 & 11 with an expanded six-week version taking place on Mondays and Tuesdays beginning September 9, 2024 co-taught with Bishop Lynne
  • Provincial School for Parish Development (online and in-person cohort beginning in September 2024). I will be one of the instructors, and there is a team from Kokanee Parish attending.
  • Missional Imagination Conference (Online) - I am working with colleagues from the Dioceses of Toronto, Niagara, and NSPEI to develop a conference taking place on January 30 and February 1, 2025 that equips lay and ordained Anglicans to:
    • Develop a missional imagination in local and diocesan contexts;
    • Constantly listen to, understand and respond to culture; 
    • Adapt church structures that will empower local and diocesan approaches to mission

Supporting Congregational Discernment

Kootenay Summits and Valhalla Parishes + Christ Church Creston

Following up on my Thriving Communities work with the six congregations of Kootenay Summits and Valhalla Parishes, I am currently supporting their search committee to do the groundwork that will allow them to create a Parish Profile and strategic Job Description for the leader of this newly forming Area Parish.

This includes providing them with potential models to consider from around the Anglican Communion, and helping to work through the practicalities of what this leadership might look like on the ground. We are particularly exploring some resources I discovered from the Diocese of St. Asaph's, in Wales, a rural diocese that is doing significant work towards missional renewal. 

Thriving Communities Tools

In addition to follow-up work with congregations I have already begun to work with (St. Andrew's Trail, St. David's Castlegar, St. Stephen's New Denver, St. John's Fruitvale, St. Paul's Salmo, Christ Church Creston, St. Christopher's Osoyoos, St. Edwards Oliver, St. Michael's Cathedral), I have scheduled processes in support of Boundary Parish and St. Andrew’s Okanagan Mission.

I am in conversation with a variety of others individual parishes and groups of parishes and will be working to schedule further engagement with them throughout the autumn. 

Communications & Parish Support

Since Synod, I have continued to oversee upgrades to the Diocesan Website with the end goal of supporting individuals and congregations in various areas related to the Diocesan Values (Wholehearted Worship, Daring Discipleship, Right Relationship, Thriving Communities).

This work has included upgrades to both content and user interface. A few highlights:

  • The “About” menu now includes a page outlining the Diocesan position on 2SLGBTQIA+ Inclusion. This clear statement has long been needed, but made more important with Synod’s unanimous motion calling for the Bishop and Diocese to sign on to the Queer Interfaith Coalition's Open Letter for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights.
  • The “Resources” menu now includes submenus for the following areas:
  • An updated Events section on the main page that allows users to see the wide variety of events and learning opportunities available to them.
  • A new page for Stewardship Resources
  • A section of the Parish Resources section focused on available Grants as well as Contract and Funding Resources for Parishes.

Room for Growth - Parish Electronic Communication

As mentioned in my report to Synod back in May , a cursory examination of parish web presence throughout the diocese indicates that not all parishes have websites.

Of those who do have websites, many do not have up-to-date information, or do not prominently display key information (such as service times or contact information). In response, I am designing resources for congregations as part of the Inviting & Welcoming Newcomers with Intention workshop, and will be able to distribute these more broadly thereafter.

For those who are curious about this work, or are looking to schedule time for a Thriving Communities consultation, please reach out to me via phone or email. 

Missional Renewal
Resources for Missional Renewal