Mission Strategy

As the people of the Diocese of Minnesota move forward in implementing the recommendations of the Bishop’s Commission on Mission Strategy, here is an example of how we are living into Goal 3: Recreate the Diocese as a Network.

Many churches with a thriving choral program partner with other church choirs from time to time. Trinity, Excelsior; St John the Evangelist, St Paul; St Christopher’s, Roseville; and St Martin’s by-the-Lake, Minnetonka Beach, to name just a few, will do so several times this season. But leaders in music and youth ministry are also involved in two other attempts to bring together the musical resources of the Diocese. One is the new Web-based Minnesota Episcopal Music Calendar, and the other is the Minnesota Episcopal Youth Arts Council (MEYAC), which every year organizes and sponsors the Episcopal Youth Music Festival and the Episcopal Youth Music Camp.

[Apologies from the MSN communications team for the late posting of this article. We’ve been a little swamped with all the goings-on!]

This past Saturday, January 31st, three of us from the MSN Leadership team made our way “up North” to Trinity Church, Park Rapids where we were hospitably received as part of Region One’s quarterly meeting. We were pleased to meet representatives of many of the 18 congregations in the Region for fellowship, spiritual reflection and prayer as well as have the opportunity to engage those present in the work of the MSN.

[More details and news about the region gatherings available here.]

As the month of February comes, we’re heading into what I think are the hardest months of winter. Behind us are the excitement of the first snow fall and the delight of Christmas. Ahead are dreary, overcast skies and piles of dirty discarded snow. We need a bright, warm place to be and, given the economy, that place probably isn’t the Caribbean for many of us. But, I have a great deal to offer you: a trip to your next regional meeting.

Dwight Zscheile gave a presentation at the November coordinators’ meeting about social networking and what it might mean for the Church. He’s been kind enough to do a video version, which will be shown at the upcoming regional gatherings. You can watch it online here.

Part 1:

See the full story to watch the second part…

While catching up on our lives over a cup of coffee recently, a clergy colleague asked me if the MSN effort had re-vitalized any congregations. It was a fair and important question to ask, as he knew that the vision and focus of the Bishop’s Commission on Mission Strategy centered on congregations. I thought for a moment and then admitted that it was too soon to tell. As the BCMS report’s title indicated, the “Rethinking, Reframing, and Reclaiming our Identity, Purpose and Mission” as the Diocese of Minnesota is no small or easily-accomplished vision.