The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Congregational and Diocesan Vitality presented its Report #3 on Resolution A144 (Diocesan Missional Review) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(A144)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 79th General Convention finds it to be in the best interests of The Episcopal Church that all dioceses and other jurisdictions of the Church engage in the process of a missional review periodically but no less often than prior to engaging in an episcopal search process; and be it further

Resolved, That missional reviews include, but not be limited to, asking questions such as:

• Is the diocesan infrastructure capable of permitting people to exercise their ministries in healthy and life-giving ways? Is the staffing sufficient? Does it have the capacity to use its resources, and potentially, the resources of other dioceses?
• Are the staff (including the bishop(s)) compensated appropriately, according to local diocesan guidelines and the recommendations of General Convention including pension contributions and healthcare and in a timely manner?
• Is the diocese capable of fulfilling its financial obligations, including those in its own budget and its assessment to be paid to The Episcopal Church?
• Is the diocese capable of deploying and implementing programs for the congregations (i.e., safe church training, anti-racism training, stewardship programs, vestry training, festivals and meetings)?
• Are the diocesan properties safe, sound, and insured? Are there resources (financial or otherwise) available to assist congregations in crisis?
• Are there enough people to fill leadership roles to implement mission and vision?
• Is there enough spiritual health in the congregations?

And be it further

Resolved, That dioceses participating in a missional review be urged to seek collaboration and a sharing of ideas and visions with surrounding dioceses; and be it further

Resolved, That the knowledge, insights, and wisdom gained by a missional review be used to help define the gifts and talents that a bishop might bring to the diocese.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 79th General Convention finds it to be in the best interests of The Episcopal Church that all dioceses and other jurisdictions of the Church engage in the process of a missional review periodically but no less often than prior to engaging in an episcopal search process; and be it further

Resolved, That missional reviews include, but not be limited to, asking questions such as:

• Is the diocesan infrastructure capable of permitting people to exercise their ministries in healthy and life-giving ways? Is the staffing sufficient? Does it have the capacity to use its resources, and potentially, the resources of other dioceses?
• Are the staff (including the bishop(s)) compensated appropriately, according to local diocesan guidelines and the recommendations of General Convention including pension contributions and healthcare and in a timely manner?
• Is the diocese capable of fulfilling its financial obligations, including those in its own budget and its assessment to be paid to The Episcopal Church?
• Is the diocese capable of deploying and implementing programs for the congregations (i.e., safe church training, anti-racism training, stewardship programs, vestry training, festivals and meetings)?
• Are the diocesan properties safe, sound, and insured? Are there resources (financial or otherwise) available to assist congregations in crisis?
• Are there enough people to fill leadership roles to implement mission and vision?
• Is there enough spiritual health in the congregations?

And be it further

Resolved, That dioceses participating in a missional review be urged to seek collaboration and a sharing of ideas and visions with surrounding dioceses; and be it further

Resolved, That the knowledge, insights, and wisdom gained by a missional review be used to help define the gifts and talents that a bishop might bring to the diocese.

Resolved, the missional review will seek to look thoroughly into the vitality and viability of the congregations and ministries of the diocese, seeking at all times to ask the deep discernment question “what is God calling us to be and do at this time and in this place.”

Topics for the missional review include but are not limited to

• Worship and spiritual life;
• Formation for all ages;
• Engagement with the wider community, concern for neighbors and stranger, care for creation;
• Stewardship of financial resources, property, and people;
• Care for clergy and lay staff, policies and practices which seek equality and justice, recognizing the dignity and inherent worth of every human being;
• Fellowship and collegiality among and between congregations, clergy, and ministries;
• Areas of, and possibilities for, collaboration and networking, including with other dioceses and communion partners;
• Opportunities for new communities of faith and redevelopment work;
• Hopes, fears, and dreams.

A thorough review will seek examples of robust engagement and creative expressions in the various foci of review as well those places where increased time and attention must be paid in order to be become more vital, dynamic and sustainable; and be it further

Resolved, that the diocese undertaking the missional review shall seek assistance from the Office of Pastoral Development for the process of review and possibilities for consultants.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #106)