Update on Our Visioning Process from the Wardens and Dean (part 1)

| Posted By Charles Gaston

 

 

Dear Adventers,

Our Visioning Process continues, and we as your Wardens and Dean would like to take this space to share with you a few observations and an update.

The Advent set out last summer to discern the Lord’s vision for our parish family as we go forward. In case you missed them earlier, here are details of the guiding statements of the Visioning Process plus the members of each Priority Team (they are also available in print in Clingman Common on Sundays).

The Vision Process now has about 75 Adventers, clergy and staff who are spending a great deal of time together working in six different Priorities of the church:

  • Worship
  • Discipleship
  • Shepherding
  • Outreach
  • Communication
  • Ministry Development

The project has begun to grow as we have had Conversation Groups for all to engage, with around 80 Adventers participating the past several weeks. There will be opportunities in the near future for further conversation as well.

The Visioning Process will eventually lead to a report to your Vestry and the congregation on ideas and suggestions for the Advent. While we hope to have the process concluded this year, we have not set a date for that report as we want time for as much input and discussion as possible.

As your Wardens and Dean, we want to say that we are so grateful for what we are learning in this process. We are clearly moving from strength to strength: we have a strong church today, and the importance of the Advent is clear in the lives of our congregation. There is great interest in ensuring this church continues to be the beacon of the gospel of Jesus for future generations.

Given that the process will be ongoing and in the interest of having us all fully engaged in it, we have some observations on it, but as this message is already a bit long, we will share them in a second message soon. So please check back in the Adventurer and on the website.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, evermore. Amen.

Troy Haas, Jane Menendez and Andrew Pearson