My 2019 vision for our Church
From: Doug, London Ontario
Introduction:
First let me thank you for this wonderful opportunity to share my hope for our Church in this Vision 2019 survey. This is a wonderful idea. Your use of technology in reaching out and soliciting feedback is something that’s very welcome. Primate Hiltz’s presentation using You Tube was excellent and I would encourage many more such endeavours for ongoing communications to the faithful.
My story:
I am the spouse of a clergy person, who inspires me everyday with her resolute commitment and faithful devotion to God’s purposes in her life, and in God’s church. It is the ministry of gifted people like this, plus the empowerment of all God’s faithful who are called to make a difference in our world today.
In some small way this is my very little contribution of hope for God’s Church. Thank you again for the opportunity to share it with you.
Yours in Christ
Doug
Our God
- Alpha and Omega: Where all Anglicans believe in hope, seek greater understanding, and are continually transformed by faith in our Lord Jesus, stirred by the Spirit, and all for the Glory of God the Father.
Our leadership
- Parish pastoral leadership: Where priests and deacons are people of deep faith, who lead their flock with inspiration. Where leadership is challenged to pursue a life of holiness, and in turn challenge their flock in the same way.
- Motivate and challenge: Where priests and deacons are able to facilitate the mobilization and care of their flock, through word and example.
- Episcopal leadership: Where our church leadership seeks to nurture and inspire our priests and deacons. Labouring in the fields, our pastors require care, support, encouragement and love, and recognition from those in Episcopal leadership. .
- Where talented prospective candidates are encouraged to consider and pursue their calling: Where people of faith, with leadership skills and gifts for effective communication and devotion are identified. People need to be encouraged to consider the possibility of a life in ministry, starting with the ministry of the laity.
- Where the church leadership honestly guides prospective candidates in their calling: Where people with leadership aspirations, but who are better suited to the vitally important ranks of the laity, are challenged to realistically assess God’s calling in their life.
Our parish homes
- A gathering of the faithful believers, living out their baptismal covenant: A place where believers are actively living out their Baptismal Covenant, seeking to answer our Lord’s question, “Who do you say that I am?”
- A community prepared to repent and earnestly turn to God: A community with people of faith who are always ready to admit their failings, and turning to God for the grace to mend their ways. A place of prayer, where people kneel and ask God for his presence.
- Care motivated by love: A place of worship that creates an environment which enables its parishioners to care for and love fellow parishioners.
- A welcoming community: A community that creates an inviting and welcoming atmosphere for the surrounding community, and those who visit. Where members seek to share about their life stories with their sisters and brothers.
- People who both speak but as importantly … listen: Where we stop arguing. Where parishioners speak the truth in love, but do this while equally listening in love.
- Where people don’t have to have their own way … “or else”: Where we see the bigger picture that united we grow, that divided we fall.
- Cares for the sick and shut-ins: Where the sick and shut-ins are not forgotten, but are regularly visited and prayed for. We should know that over the years to come more and more parishioners will disappear from our midst. However, this doesn’t mean they’ll be gone. Instead, they are still with us but may become shut-ins, needing support and recognition.
- Both large and small: Where smaller congregations can join forces, able to pool their resources to support necessary programs, while at the same time creating an environment for encounters of smaller groups for more local fellowship.
- With the times: Where members and leadership would be in step with and appreciate our current society, just as our Lord completely understood the world in which he lived.
- A sense of Holy reverence: Where an environment supports a sense of “Be still and know that I am the Lord your God.” God’s presence needs to be appreciated.
- For young and old: For a Church that is a place that excites the young, and comforts the elderly, and supports and inspires all.
A Church for our times
- A safe community: A place where the young and vulnerable can come for care, all without fear of abuse or being taken advantage of.
- A place for all expressions of worship: Where the young can rock, and the contemplative can pray in silence.
- Past and present: Where the past is respected, appreciated, and understood. But where the future is embraced and seen as hopeful.
- Free from the battles of race and gender: Where we live and worship in a space where “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Where women and men equally share in God’s blessing, and together work in true partnership.
- Free from the battles of pelvis politics: Where we accept all our brothers and sisters. Where we, blessed with companionship, live a life of faithful commitment, devoted to our partners in love, just as Christ loves his Church.
Finally, on the practical side
- Name tags: Where names tags are used regularly, for those of us who continually forget our brothers and sisters name.
- A place for all to hear: Where our parish sound systems, properly configured to deliver clear sound quality for all to hear.
- Bring back the Church sponsored bible studies: For those of us who remember the 80’s, there was the church sponsored bible study programs in the Diocese of Toronto. I was a member of a team leading such studies in our parish of Grace Church on the Hill. Unfortunately, true to my state of mind, I forget the official name of the program. However, I can’t forget the wonderful times of fellowship, learning, and sharing in life’s experiences and God’s call.
