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Dear Friends,
As I hope you are aware, three separate days for
visioning time with me, are planned in each of the three
deaneries. I want to give you some sense of why and how
we are spending this time together, and what I hope our
outcomes will be.
First of all, please know that everyone is invited. I
welcome the opportunity to hear from those of you with
whom I have not had a chance to dialogue or interact. So
if you are not a convention delegate or in some way
involved in diocesan ministry, this is a great
opportunity to spend some time wondering together,
discovering how our local and diocesan ministries can
work effectively in drawing people to Christ. At each of
the deanery meetings, a youth coordinator will be
present to facilitate conversation and activities with
people of middle and high school age. Childcare will be
available for those younger. This is an opportunity for
all voices to be heard.
Since arriving, I have heard the desire to have an
overarching vision for the diocese. “What does the
diocese think?” is a common question around the topic of
vision in the Diocese of El Camino Real. Well, “we” are
the diocese, so I interpret this as an expressed need to
get in the same room with me to hear and articulate what
we, the diocese, thinks. This is quite a normal response
for Episcopalians; since we are balanced between the
four orders of ministry – lay, deacon, priest and bishop
– and when one order has been less than fully present -
in the sense of not having had a diocesan bishop for
sometime now - it is only natural that we would want the
full compliment in the same room at the same time to
answer the question, “what does the diocese think?” I
hope we will get a sense of our thoughts throughout
these vision days.
I also hear a strong desire to work together and to
know one another better. Another purpose for this day
then, is to be together in the context of the new
deanery structure, to discover the communication model
for each group, and listen for any particularly local
focus that may emerge. Christianity is a communal faith;
we are in relationship with a communal God, and we are
called to live fully and powerfully together. I know
that this quality of our faith is part of our sure
foundation as we move forward in our ministry together.
Finally, I hope we will hear some common language
across the three days. I have asked the communications
team to be present at all three meetings in order to
listen with an ear for how a person seeking a faith life
might best receive what we Episcopalians in the Diocese
of El Camino Real have to offer. We will use an
Appreciative Inquiry model, which is specifically
designed to draw out that which is best, most
life-giving and effective, applying our joy and strength
to areas that need building up.
A bulletin insert will be sent by email this week, so
you can easily run a piece for your Sunday bulletins.
The only registration need is for the head delegate of
each parish to send an email with the number of people
attending from their parish, and childcare needs (as
well as parent’s names and contact information) to Susan
Altig at
susan@edecr.org . Lunch will be provided at a cost,
but otherwise there is no registration fee for the day.
Childcare arrangements will vary across the deaneries;
and a convener will contact those who need childcare.
All three vision days will be from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00
p.m.
- Monterey Deanery will meet January 5 at Good
Shepherd, Coral de Tierra
- Santa Clara Deanery will meet January 12 at Trinity
Cathedral, San Jose. Seating of the bishop to follow
at 4:00p.m.
- San Luis Obispo Deanery will meet January 19 at St.
James, Paso Robles
I am very much looking forward to being with you
during these three days, and wondering together for the
glory of God.
May God be made known to us as we prepare to celebrate
the coming of Christ,
+Mary
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