News for today's 2018

<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">              </span></span><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">INTRODUCTION<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.5in;"><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">   </span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Transitions<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This has been an extraordinary year of transition.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A lot of things are shifting.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For one thing, we are in the midst of a lot of clergy turnover.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All Saints, Grace in the Desert, Christ Church, St. John’s, St. Mark’s,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">St. Patrick’s, Epiphany, and St. Paul’s Virginia City<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         have all been in transition this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Transitions cost time and money, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">and they elevate anxiety. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Congregations cannot move forward<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         while they are preoccupied with choosing their clergy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But All Saints, Grace, and St. Mark’s have now extended calls<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We hope to have good clergy leaders in place<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         at all of these congregations very soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">B.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">   </span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Governance<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On the church governance front, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">we have streamlined our leadership structure<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         to serve parishes better.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our unified board Standing Committee<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         has vastly improved diocesan leadership.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They meet more, communicate more, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">gather the information they need, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">and make timely decisions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We always had good people on the Standing Committee,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         but the tangled web of our organization kept them<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">                  from doing their job.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Standing Committee has appointed<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">working and advisory committees to deal with <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">finance, investments, and property. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They have provided guidance on real estate issues,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         and helped us balance our budget, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">redesign our chart of accounts to reflect what we actually do,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">and invest our savings in more profitable ways.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">C.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">   </span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Relationships<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Last year I emphasized our relationships around the diocese. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We are not fighting but that’s because we aren’t speaking.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We have retreated to our neutral corners  after old <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">– perhaps even forgotten – battles.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I said then, and I say now, there is no a silver bullet for relationships<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         and it isn’t going to change over night.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But this year our priests and deacons <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">have been communicating more. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Women from around the diocese gathered in Tonopah <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">to discuss how parish ECW’s might support each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yesterday, they organized themselves into a Diocesan ECW.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our conventions seem to be becoming more relational.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It isn’t the 2<sup>nd</sup> Coming <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">–<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">     </span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">but some people are beginning to talk to each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Changing the tone of out diocesan relationships <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">can make a difference for parish relationships as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We have several congregations in Level 4 Conflict<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">–<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">     </span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">that’s the fight/flight kind of conflict <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">where somebody has to leave.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In most cases where members of a congregation are seriously <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">at odds with each other,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">the congregation is at odds with the diocese <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">or their neighbors in the diocese. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t know which comes first. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s probably a chicken and egg thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But our internal and external relationships go hand in hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If we form a larger network <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">of personal relationships in the diocese,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">that will help parishes contain their conflict at healthier levels.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">D.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">  </span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Social Ministries<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Relationships among churches and church members is crucial. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But they are not the only relationships essential to our health.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Being connected to people outside the church walls <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">is just as important. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All over the diocese, I see that churches <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">connected to their communities flourish;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         while disconnected churches wither.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This year we have made encouraging moves on that front.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In Las Vegas, we have formed Nevadans for the Common Good,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">an interfaith community organizing effort<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         to combat child sex trafficking, improve education,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         speak out for immigrants, and improve life<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">                  for the vulnerable elderly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our Latino congregations led the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then 7 of the 9 congregations in this Valley <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">turned out in force for the founding Convention.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ACTIONN is a parallel project in Northern Nevada,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         focusing on jobs and education. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Trinity and St. Paul’s, Sparks led the way by joining ACTIONN, and  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">every Episcopal Church in the Reno-Sparks-Carson area<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">was present to support ACTIONN’s founding convention.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">E.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">   </span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Church Growth<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In terms of Church growth, we are jump-starting evangelism<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         after a no-growth stagnation that persisted <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">for at least 20 years despite Nevada’s remarkable <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">population explosion during that time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To avoid growth during that boom too some work.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Three years ago we began to address this stagnation in two ways.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">First, we invested in Latino ministries.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Second, we began a small, underfunded evangelism program <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">–<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">     </span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">just a sign here and an ad there.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Result: Average Sunday Attendance for the diocese<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         in 2010 rose by 12% over 2009.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Average Sunday Attendance in 2011 went up over 2010<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         by an additional 22%.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The most dramatic growth<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         was in Latino congregations;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">but congregations that did not have Latino ministries, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">like Grace in the Desert and Holy Trinity,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         also showed solid growth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Church growth in Nevada is naturally disconcerting.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, when I released these numbers,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">people tried to help me find  where they were wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t blame them a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">People of my generation remember Paul Simon’s lyric<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         “I can’t get used to something so right.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And folks a little younger recall the immortal words of Garbage,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         “I’m only happy when it reains.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Besides their skepticism was rooted in facts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When you consider <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">that nationally mainline denominations are shrinking,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">that our congregations with Level 4 Conflicts were losing people,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">that some of our larger churches  were in transition  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">and attendance always goes down during a transition,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         that in 2010 Nevada’s population <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">went down for the first time since 1920<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">     and rebounded by only half a percent in 2011,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">add that all up and statistics showing growth rates <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">of 12 and 22% sound wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, they were wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We failed to include the numbers<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">from our 2<sup>nd</sup> largest Latino congregation<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">and from one of our smaller Latino congregations.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The actual growth was even larger than reported.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">F.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">    </span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ministry Development<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The vitality of our diocese depends on calling, training, licensing, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">and ordaining people for ministry in the church.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Since we lost the Regional Vicars about 7 years ago,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         that essential part of our life has been a challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It still is – but we are beginning to regroup.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This year the COOL & MDC revised and clarified the training criteria <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">for most licensed lay ministries.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They will establish will get to deacons and priests next year.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This year, the MDC provided training for Basic Discipleship presenters<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         and facilitators so that we can offer the foundation course<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         for lay ministries anywhere in the diocese.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The MDC also provided training <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">for Gifts Discernment Workshop leaders.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gifts Discernment is the second step in preparing for ministry,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         and it is now available in most of the diocese.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The COOL has begun clarifying and simplifying,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         our discernment process for ordained ministries.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That can’t be done all at once.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But this year we began the work.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">II.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">            </span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">THE COMING YEAR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As we consider what we might accomplish together next year,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         let me reiterate, it’s all about the relationships.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We can set all sorts of marvelous goals.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But whether they amount to a hill of beans<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         depends 100% on our relationships.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This coming year I plan to introduce our clergy <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         to new processes for building relationships.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We can build relationships and learn conflict management skills<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">at our Small Church Workshop this November.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I hope we will find new ways to connect with each other<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         throughout the diocese.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Only if we make those connections, can we generate <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">the synergy it will take to overcome <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">our historic areas of weakness.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">   </span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Church Growth & Stewardship<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our diocese has historically been anemic on two counts <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">–<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">     </span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">evangelism and stewardship.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As a missionary diocese living off the national church dole,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         we got into a habit of passivity.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So we were weak on evangelism and stewardship.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We propose to double our investment in evangelism next year.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We have segregated the rental income <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">from the old St. Stephen’s property for a new church plant.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Standing Committee has authorized one grant and made several <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         accommodations on parish assessments <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         strategically designed to invest in church growth<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">                  instead of church maintenance.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many businesses came out of the Great Depression stronger <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">than they were before.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Without exception, they followed this simple strategy:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Cut maintenance costs and invest in growth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s what we have done – cutting our rent in half,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         cutting travel costs, reducing communications overhead, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         while investing in growth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When the churches in transition have clergy leadership in place,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         they can resume growth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If the Churches in Level 4 Conflict learn to work together,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         they can grow again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our host congregation is a prime example.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Grace was stagnant for years because they were mired in conflict. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then they stopped fighting and got on with the mission.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Result: For the past five years, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">they have been one of our fastest growing congregations. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Being visible signs of the gospel in our communities<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         is part & parcel of evangelism.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Where I have served before, Churches were leaders<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         in Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         and MLK Day service projects.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Last MLK Day, I volunteered at a community center.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There were identified groups of volunteers<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">from banks, Starbucks, and fraternities <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-- but no churches.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When other volunteers learned I was from a church,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         they said “Where is your church.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">                  If a church actually serves the community,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">                  I’d want to be part of it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But I was the only Episcopalian in sight and I don’t have a congregation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So that sparked the BBHAG.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My goal for next MLK Day is to have 300 Episcopalians<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         at work sites around the state<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">                  wearing our T-shirts and hats.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">No preaching: just admit you are an Episcopalian, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         and serve your community.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That will grow our congregations.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I will need coordinators in each of our parishes<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         to organize that project.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If we choose to grow next year, we can do it  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">–<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">     </span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">not just for the sake of our institutional vitality <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">–<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">     </span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">but because there are people all over Nevada <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">           who need some gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If we extend our church growth rate for a 4<sup>th</sup> consecutive year,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         we can say we’ve turned that one around.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Stewardship is almost as important as evangelism,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         not just because it takes money to sustain mission,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         but because failing to instill stewardship <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">spiritually  infantilizes our people.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This year our Diocese joined The Episcopal Network for Stewardship <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">and made their resources available to all of our parishes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A few parishes have begun solid stewardship programs<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         in the past four years --  though most have not.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Next year we will begin a small tentative stewardship program,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         just as we began evangelism 3 years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If we steadily improve our evangelism and stewardship,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         we can reduce the parish assessments<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">and still fund a diocese.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I do not have the authority to make this promise.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But I can and will state this goal.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I want to reduce the percentage of the parish assessment<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         by at least 1% each year for the next 5 years.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We can adjust the formula for the assessment all we want.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But the real burden is the 25% rate.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Parishes cannot flourish with that lodestone around their necks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Shifting the burden from one parish to another is not the answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Instead of just shifting the load, we need to lift the load.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My goal is to reduce the assessment to 20% <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">within 5 years regardless of what happens in the national church.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">National restructuring may lower the assessment on dioceses.       <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If and when that happens, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">we may be able to reduce the assessment faster and more.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But cutting the 1<sup>st</sup> 5% is up to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It takes two things: evangelism and stewardship.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">B.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">   </span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Communications<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One obstacle to our relationships is weak communications.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In recent years, we have tried experiments,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         with some hits and some misses.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But we have never developed a comprehensive communications plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The communications questionnaires you have received <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">are part of that planning.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the coming year, we will implement <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">a new communications package.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">C. Strategic Planning<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Finally, we need a vision of and a plan for our life together.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To that end, I have asked Jim Koehn<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         to form a Strategic Planning Task Force<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">                  to help the Diocese draw its own big picture.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tools like asset mapping,  Canon Chuck McCray’s 4T Days program,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         and studies of the 5 Marks of Mission,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">                  are all part of finding our direction.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But there cannot be a strong diocesan vision or plan<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         unless it percolates up from the plans and aspirations<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">                  of congregations.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The framework of any diocesan plan is to support<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         parishes in their mission strategies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We cannot have a plan or vision for the  diocese<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         unless parishes first discern their own missions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The diocese cannot tell a parish what its mission is.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Parishes must find their own missions, make their own plans,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         so we can weave those ideas into a whole.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When I ask some of our parishes about their mission,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         they say that it is just survival. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But what is the point of surviving?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Remember Miracle Max in the Princess Bride<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         shouting to the comatose Wesley,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Hey you in there, what you got to live for?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Each of our congregations needs an answer to that question.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I hope the Task Force will develop a strategic plan for the diocese,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         but more importantly I hope<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">                  their work will prompt parishes to do their own planning,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">                  form their own visions, figure out <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">                  “what they got to live for.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I hope we will not rush to an answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I hope this will be a process that lasts several years<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         so  it can keep dreaming, keep thinking,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">         and keep working out how to be the Body of Christ together.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

State Of The Diocese Of Nevada: 2012

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State Of The Diocese Of Nevada: 2012

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