Goal 3
Recreate the Diocese as a Network
Below are highlights of current activity on Goal 3. If you're new to the process, see the Goal 3 section (PDF) of the BCMS Report or the current roadmap for context.
Remarks from 2009 Diocesan Convention
Delivered before the 2009 Diocesan Convention by Jim Huber.
Thank you, Bishop,
It is my privilege as MSN co-chair to be here today. Before I say any more, however, please let me introduce my co-chair, the Reverend Daniel Pearson, interim rector at St. Martin’s, Minnetonka Beach, and thank you, Daniel, for your vision, theological understanding and partnership these past two years. On a personal note, I want to thank you, Bishop, and all of you for the privilege of serving as chair of the BCMS for 2 years and as co-chair these past two years with the MSN.
MSN Resolution at 2009 Diocesan Convention
Whereas the Convention of 2007 overwhelmingly adopted the report of the Bishop’s Commission on Mission Strategy (BCMS) and recommended the appointment of a continuing task force to develop this report into a more detailed strategic plan;
Whereas a Mission Strategy Network (MSN) was appointed by the Council and Bishop in January 2008 to take up this work with a mandate to report by Convention 2009;
Whereas the structure of MSN included 61 persons who served on four (4) Task Teams around the fo
Watch the Convocation via Webcast
The Convocation has arrived! Watch the live webcast here.
Convocation Agenda
The agenda for tomorrow’s Convocation (PDF) is now posted online, in addition to the report containing the MSN teams’ initial recommendations already published. Please take a look through them in preparation for the Convocation.
The Convocation will be webcast live here, as well as through the Diocesan website. Afterwards, the recorded video will be posted here so you can watch at your leisure. At any time during or after the event, you can send your comments to the MSN task teams here.
MSN Recommendations Published
In preparation for the Convocation on May 2, the Mission Strategy Network has published its recommendations online. The recommendations put forth in this report are intended to spark vigorous conversation throughout the Diocese. They are not the final word on how the vision of the BCMS report is to be implemented.
Even if you aren’t able to attend the Convocation, please take a look through the recommendations. On the day of Convocation, we will be posting video and providing a feedback form here on the website.
Convocation coming up!
Breck School • May 2, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
All of you, the entire Diocese, are invited to the Mission Strategy Convocation on May 2. Convocation will be a time for the people of the Diocese to discuss recommendations being put forth by the MSN, and for individuals to raise suggestions. The MSN recommendations to be presented are available online for your study.
Please take a moment to register online so that we have an approximate attendance count. There is no charge to attend. Lunch will be offered, with a requested donation of $10 to offset costs.
If you are unable to come to Breck on May 2, check back here on that day. We will be posting video of the presentations, and will provide a form for you to provide feedback. Even if you can’t attend in person, you’ll be able to add your voice to the conversation.
“Leadership all over the place!”
Goal Three: Recreate the Diocese as a Network
For the members of the Goal Three Task Team, Ken Toven’s phrase above says it all: transforming diocesan structure from a top-down model to one of networks within networks will enable all to be connected for their work of mission and ministry.
Region VII To Launch Parish Events Calendar
Here is another example of the implementation of Goal 3: Recreate the Diocese as a Network.
Region VII (East/Southeast Metro) will launch a region-wide parish events calendar in the next month. The idea for the calendar came out of an awareness that with the loss of traditional Diocesan communications avenues (Soundings and the central Diocesan calendar) there was no convenient way for congregations to let their neighbors know of events that would appeal to people beyond their own church walls.
Some congregations have Facebook groups with the ability to invite people who join their group to events in their parish, and while this is an exciting and new way of communicating, not everyone in the Episcopal Church is on Facebook. How then, to let people know what’s happening at congregations other than their own?
New Music Event Calendar
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.
Social Networking and the Church
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…
