In my work as part of the Diocesan staff, I often get asked questions about the Diocese. People want to know what the Diocese is planning or what might be done about a given situation. There will be wondering about what The Diocese does for us. But when you think about it, what is the Diocese of Montreal?
It could be Bishop Mary, the Vicar General and Archdeacons who help lead all of us. As Anglicans, we are an episcopal Church, and that leadership is important. Perhaps the Diocese is the bishop working with the Diocesan Council and our annual Synod. We are, as the saying goes, episcsopally led and synodically governed, and those meetings when we all gather are necessary and significant expressions of our diocesan life.
Or maybe the Diocese is the Bishop and the staff who work at 1444 Union. Ours is a diverse and energetic staff all of whom care deeply about our diocesan family and can offer helpful, practical services to everyone. On the creative side we have gifts to share to help bring new energy and ideas and make them happen.
All of this is good, but I think there is something missing when thinking about the Diocese. Because the question suggests an “us” and a “them”, an institution that is remote from the reality on the ground. But maybe, the Diocese is the Bishop, the Synod, the staff, the leadership and all the parishes together. Maybe the Diocese of Montreal is all of us, the People of God, working together.
Some of the greatest encouragements I have seen around the Diocese this year all come from places where we have worked together and shared our time, energy and resources. A couple of examples.
This year at our annual clergy retreat, members of our Diocesan Spiritual Directors group led us in prayer and meditation. We have a wonderful group of spiritual directors who meet regularly and are willing and very able to work with you, individually in your own spiritual journey, or at your church. They can put on retreats and lead quiet days. At our retreat they brought many gifts which blessed us in new ways as a clergy group. They can do the same for you – so ask!
Last year I worked with the stewardship team at St George’s Place du Canada on a campaign that focussed on increasing participation in automated giving. We also used the Environics maps the Diocese commissioned to focus more upon who lives all around the Church and how the congregation might connect with them. The good news is that they significantly increased the number of people on automated giving which is making a difference. They also are finding new interest from the younger adults who live in condos all around them. With the arrival of the very energetic Rev Helen Liddell as their new priest and St Michael’s mission moving into the annex, St George’s is well positioned to move towards flourishing. So, we are planning a new stewardship campaign with many good news stories to tell. We share our time and resources and, together, are making a difference.
This year you will be hearing a great deal about the Bible Story Walk (see p.1), pioneered by Lee Ann Matthews. The basic concept is to create an installation for outside Church buildings that might appeal to people walking by and invite them into the ongoing story of faith. Using the creation story as told by Godly Play, Lee Ann has created a series of beautiful panels that combine art and wondering questions. We are interested in moving this installation around different locations in the Diocese – let us know if you are interested. We launched in May at St Paul’s Greenfield Park. There the priest Trevor Potter, together with the congregation, have embraced this project enthusiastically and we are very interested to see what will happen there.
These are a few of the ways all of us, working together, can make a difference in the lives of our parishes, and so in the life of the Diocese of Montreal. Because the Diocese is all of us and when we work synergistically we can have an impact. But it takes all of us: we all have gifts to share and, together, we can make a difference.
