Ideally we could have started this as soon as the Convention resolution passed, encouraging Ministry Networks, as we've had a few start already.
Sharon Pearson gathered a group together to form a Christian Formation Ministry Network. They had their first gathering in January at The Commons. Sharon and Mary Grace Williams are sharing the task of convening at this point, expecting others to take over later.
About a dozen people attended a Communication Summit last fall, which I organized to work on communication & media issues and opportunities facing ECCT. We came out with a Digital Ministry Network, and one person created a Facebook group to continue the conversation. Two have taken on the Network's first project (their idea, totally). Adam Yates and Adam Thomas are putting together a "package" of recommendations to make a church campus wireless everywhere - which they're testing out in their own churches.
The ECCT website is in the process of reorganization and will have a separate tab under "Resources" for Ministry Networks - and this blog.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
An introduction to this blot
Welcome to this new blog about Ministry Networks in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut (ECCT)!
Proposals for reorganizing governance and structure in ECCT included recognizing Ministry Networks in new ways, encouraging them, and including them in the governance structure. What is a Ministry Network? When two or more Episcopalians from two or more parishes are collaboratively engaging God's mission.
Traditional "Ministry Network" examples: The Episcopal Church Women
Emerging Ministry Networks: An Ecclesia Ministry Network in the New Britain area.
Some deaneries are deciding to stay together as Ministry Networks; some committees are re-imagining themselves as Ministry Networks, and the concept is being embraced by lay and ordained as new, flexible ways to work together in ministries serving God's mission.
There is no governing body of Ministry Networks that approve, or disapprove; there is no expectation of a particular size, location, how long it might exist, who else it might partner with, and whether or not it is "successful" in any of its experiments.
The governing body of ECCT between annual conventions, as of July 1, 2016, will be a Mission Council. Three of its members will be from Ministry Networks. They will be elected at Annual Convention. (Other members will be selected from the Regions.) The task of all the members of the Mission Council are NOT to represent their own Network or Region, but to serve on behalf of the whole of ECCT.
So Ministry Networks are being formed as we speak! And through this blog I (and colleagues, I hope) will keep up with what's happening.
Proposals for reorganizing governance and structure in ECCT included recognizing Ministry Networks in new ways, encouraging them, and including them in the governance structure. What is a Ministry Network? When two or more Episcopalians from two or more parishes are collaboratively engaging God's mission.
Traditional "Ministry Network" examples: The Episcopal Church Women
Emerging Ministry Networks: An Ecclesia Ministry Network in the New Britain area.
Some deaneries are deciding to stay together as Ministry Networks; some committees are re-imagining themselves as Ministry Networks, and the concept is being embraced by lay and ordained as new, flexible ways to work together in ministries serving God's mission.
There is no governing body of Ministry Networks that approve, or disapprove; there is no expectation of a particular size, location, how long it might exist, who else it might partner with, and whether or not it is "successful" in any of its experiments.
The governing body of ECCT between annual conventions, as of July 1, 2016, will be a Mission Council. Three of its members will be from Ministry Networks. They will be elected at Annual Convention. (Other members will be selected from the Regions.) The task of all the members of the Mission Council are NOT to represent their own Network or Region, but to serve on behalf of the whole of ECCT.
So Ministry Networks are being formed as we speak! And through this blog I (and colleagues, I hope) will keep up with what's happening.
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