Report of the Ministry Task Force Synod Council, at its September 23 meeting, considered the Report of the Ministry Task Force and approved the following two resolutions in that regard. Resolution No. 1 Be it resolved that Synod Council receive the Report of the Ministry Task Force and recommends that the Report be presented to Synod 2014 for discussion with the recommendation that the Report be adopted and implemented. Resolution No. 2 Be it resolved that Synod Council recommends to Synod that the Report of the Ministry Task Force be implemented in accordance with the following MTF Plan: 1. A Committee of Synod Council (the MTF Committee ) be established as soon as possible to monitor and assist with the implementation of the recommendations in the MTF Report; 2. Each Parish in the Diocese enter into a written Covenant to implement the recommendations in the MTF Report and shall report to the MTF Committee in writing on the steps being taken within the Parish to implement the recommendations, such report to be made twice yearly by June 30 and November 30 each year commencing June 30, 2015; 3. The Regional Deans together with the Synod Council members from each Deanery shall monitor and assist each Parish within their respective Deaneries to implement the recommendations of the MTF Report and shall assist in the filing of the Parish reports to the MTF Committee.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MINISTRY TASK FORCE
For a Bold & Courageous Church Almighty God, help us to be courageous advocates for a new vision of you, of your love, of your grace and power; and then, embolden us to go where you are calling us to grow a healthy, sustainable church in this Diocese at this time, and an awareness that in the strength of your Spirit we can do it to your glory. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen The current structure of the Diocese: 45 clergy, over 65 congregations across app. 14,000 square miles is not a sustainable model of ministry. (The Rev. Canon Michael Read, MTF, Chair) As the recommendations of the Ministry Task Force (MTF) begin to be circulated, read and discussed across the Diocese, there are a few important things to keep in mind. First, these recommendations are the product of the largest consultation ever conducted in the Diocese: this is the collective wisdom of the people of the Diocese of Ontario, not of individual Task Force members. The survey sample of 547 respondents represents approximately 17.5% of active parishioners. This report is a mirror. We may not like all of what we see and some of the recommendations may strike readers as controversial or inflammatory, but they represent the diversity of opinion in this Diocese. Second, let us not forget that the Task Force was given an urgent call to action: To develop recommendations on new and more sustainable models of ministry because the current model of ministry is no longer sustainable. The Church is in crisis. Yes, some Churches are thriving and much good ministry is happening but, overall, the present physical model of 45 clergy, 65 congregations, spread across 14,000 square miles, in an environment of continually-declining attendance, no longer makes sense. Third, through the survey people spoke in plain language, demonstrating a clear understanding of the crisis we are in. We have honoured their candour and clarity and have responded in kind: clearly, at times bluntly, but purposefully. Also, during the consultation process we heard that the word Relevance was not the right word. More often, respondents preferred the word Engagement and so that language has been changed as a result of your feedback. Finally, if a course correction is to be made, every person in this Diocese must take something from this document and lift it off the page. In other words: this report cannot simply sit on a shelf. We must work in our parish communities to identify the roles and responsibilities of clergy and laity in terms of moving these recommendations forward.
Ministry Task Force Members The Rev. Canon Michael Read, chair Roy Conacher Doug Cowley The Rev. Christine Downey Ken Healy Larry Norman The Church is in a crisis and the call to build a bridge across at least two, if not more, lost generations is urgent. (MTF Retreat Day, August 2014)
For the Mission of the Church God of all, draw us together into one great company of disciples, following our Lord Jesus Christ into every walk of life, serving Him in His mission to the world, and witnessing to His own love on every continent and island, particularly in our Diocese. Amen We do not need to improve upon the model that Jesus gave us we just need to commit to it. (MTF Survey Respondent)
Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. (Matthew 19, 14) I know of three instances where a young family, asked if they could have their baby baptized and they were told No because they weren t members of the Church. How welcoming is that? In each case they left and never came back, and you can be assured that their family and friends were told how they were treated. This has to change. (MTF Survey Respondent)
You don t choose your family. They are God s gift to you, as you are to them. Perhaps if we could we might have chosen different brothers and sisters. Fortunately or unfortunately we can t. We have them as they have us. And no matter how your brother may be, you can t renounce him. (From God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time by Desmond Tutu) Both the Diocese and the Parishes need to understand that Sacramental touch-points with the culture are an incredible opportunity. They put us in the position to be part of a power spiritual transformation
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. (Matthew 9, 35) Jesus was an activist. Some have described Him as the originator of civil disobedience. I have been told that the bible contains over 2400 references to the poor...now, ask yourself, what are we focused on? What do we spend our time debating? Do we really think that people don t notice? (MTF Survey Respondent)
Belonging calls forth what is most beautiful in our capacity to love and accept others but it also can awaken anger, jealousy, violence, and the refusal to cooperate. (From Becoming Human by Jean Vanier) The work of the church is not to keep the church going. (MTF Survey Respondent)
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. (Psalm 100, Verse 2) If you can drive change, you must, if you can t drive change then support change, if you cannot support change do not hinder it. (MTF Retreat Day, August 2014)
Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, Come over to Macedonia and help us. After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Acts 16, 6-10) A Fresh Expression is a form of church for our changing culture established primarily for the benefit of people who are not yet members of any church. (Fresh Expressions Canada, Re-imagining Church)
Pending Then the master said to the slave, Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. (Luke, 14:23) Our church once talked about the need for a school lunch program. Funding was identified as a stumbling block. Later, the church received a bequest that would have been our seed funding, but the money was used to refurbish the church s interior instead. The lunch program was never implemented. (MTF Survey Respondent)
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. (Matthew 25:35) Jesus the man, versus Jesus the Christ, remains the entry point for engaging with the culture-atlarge. (MTF Survey Respondent)
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)
And he said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. (Mark 16:15) Within the past two years we have been creating a website which showcases our parish and tells its story. We periodically run news items in our local paper about events and church happenings. (MTF Survey Respondent)
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12) Partnerships with Dawn House, Salvation Army, Food Bank, Local Public Schools, Nursing Homes, Animal Shelter, St. John's Ambulance and other local groups have already been established not to mention individual parishioners who volunteer their own time in the community. A church that does not have an outside focus to match it worship life will stagnate. (MTF Survey Respondent)