Continuing the Mission

An Update from the Mission Strategy Network

One of the highlights of the 2008 Diocesan Convention was the standing ovation that followed the convention’s affirmation of the final report of the Bishop’s Commission on Mission Strategy (BCMS). But what has happened since, and what steps are being taken to implement the recommendations of that report? This is the first of a series of regular communiqués from the new Mission Strategy Network to keep you informed about our diocese’s next steps in mission.

A bit of history
The BCMS evolved in 2006 from a Metro Mission Strategy group that was formed at the time of the development of the “Gethsemane Project” in 2005, when it became evident that such work affected the entire diocese. The BCMS worked for more than a year, gathering historic and current data and receiving input from congregations and other diocesan entities. Eventually, more than 2,000 individuals and more than 76% of the congregations of the diocese took part in the BCMS study, which included an all-day Mission Strategy Summit in the spring of 2007. Finally, the BCMS report, “Rethinking, Reframing and Reclaiming Our Identity, Purpose and Mission,” was presented to representatives of the diocese as a whole on October 27, 2008, where it was overwhelmingly affirmed.

As reported by Leonard and Lindsay Freeman, the BCMS report “built upon key statements about Identity and Purpose which emerged out of the diocesan-wide conversations, and articulated four overarching Goal Recommendations, with twelve supporting initiatives.”

Goal 1: Spiritual Transformation and Fuller Participation in God’s Mission
Goal 2: Renew Congregations in Context
Goal 3: Recreate the Diocese as a Network
Goal 4: Develop Effective Stewardship of Financial Resources

(Read the entire BCMS report here.)

Beginning the work of implementation
“Collecting data is easy; action is hard,” one of the members of the current Mission Strategy network has commented. Nonetheless, we have now moved into the implementation phase of our mission strategy work. Here are some of the things that have happened so far.

First of all, a new group needed to be created. This Mission Strategy Committee included some BCMS members but has also welcomed new members from around the diocese LINK (click here for membership list). A January 2008 meeting brought together both returning and newly-appointed members of the group, along with others who responded to a call for people with an interest in the continuing mission strategy work.

One of the group’s first actions was to rename itself the Mission Strategy NETWORK. It was felt that working with existing networks and creating new ones if necessary would be more effective than trying to fit such work into a geographical model. Some existing networks that have been mentioned include Diocesan Council, the regions, deacons of the diocese, Total Ministry, Clergy Conferences, the Department of Indian Work, Clericus, faith formation, Teens Encounter Christ (TEC), various commissions of the diocese, and the Lay Leaders’ Network.

A number of these networks have already begun work on living into the BCMS report. Several recent region meetings devoted time to study of the report, and discussions have been facilitated by MSN members at the spring Clergy Conference, the spring Total Ministry Summit, and the June Convocation of the Minnesota Committee on Indian Work (MCIW).

The MSN is working under the oversight of Bishop Jelinek and Diocesan Council and in partnership with them in their work of implementing the BCMS report, and MSN representatives have provided updates and led discussions at each Council meeting this year. As might be expected, MSN faces quite a list of tasks to accomplish. With the approval of Bishop Jelinek, it is using the BCMS report as its primary mandate.

Although planning is underway for implementation of all four BCMS goals, the first one — spiritual transformation — is being focused on as the priority.

What’s been happening
As is typical in such endeavors that progress in phases, there were pauses in the action as the Convention euphoria wore off, the holidays intervened, the implementation group was formed, and this new group met to decide what form the implementation should take and how it should begin. Although there has been some concern about loss of momentum, work is picking up again and a number of diocesan constituencies are now joining in the conversation.
As mentioned above, several regions have set aside time at their meetings to study the BCMS report. Region 9 focused on Goal 4, “Develop Effective Stewardship of Financial Resources” and brainstormed about various ways for congregations to assist and support each other. “We’re eager for networking to work,” they said, and they are ready for the tools and contacts to make it happen.

Other regions have found it necessary to bring new representatives up to speed with the BCMS report, and have provided the document at meetings or directed people to the diocesan website. Council members from these regions hope to have more to report in the months to come. Presentations have also been made at the May Clergy Conference and the June MCIW Convocation, to help bring MSN back to the forefront. MSN members also participated at the two recent Financial Summits at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Minneapolis.

Some of the most enthusiastic response has come from the network of Total Ministry congregations. Comments from the May 2-3 Total Ministry Summit seem to show a keen interest in spiritual transformation and networking — things that Total Ministry congregations experience first-hand. “The goals from BCMS are goals for Total Ministry congregations,” reads one comment from the gathering. “In TM congregations, there is a discernment of gifts in many more people than before,” said another. “The more you get to know people and meet with them, the more you bond, and more undiscovered gifts appear.”

Other feedback has come from MSN members themselves. All have been contacted by the Rev. Anne Miner-Pearson for their impressions and comments (both positive and negative) on the work so far, as well as to learn their particular areas of interest. She will also contact former BCMS members. It is hoped that the material gathered will keep people connected, allow them all to be heard, and help the MSN improve how it does its work.

Next steps
MSN is currently continuing its work of building infrastructure — organizing networks, tapping into existing ones, and coordinating everything so that it can operate efficiently. At present, four task team leaders are being identified, and they will form their teams this summer. It is planned that each team will have a “dedicated blogger” to keep all informed of its progress.

Additional work is being done on the problem of “overcoming geography” in this large and spread-out diocese by the use of interactive electronic means to attend meetings and join in discussions. Look for more news about these initiatives in future communiqués.

Looking ahead
The transformations that are in progress will certainly affect the future “look” and structure of the diocese, and MSN members will also be working with the Bishop Search Committee as it begins its own task. As a participant at the Region 9 meeting put it, “We’re eager to have things in place so the new bishop can get off to a new start.”

More MSN updates will be issued on a regular basis. Watch for them on this page.

“This is a huge leap of faith. Total Ministry knows something about that, with similar start-up difficulties in TM congregations. We need to lower the fear factor, and let people “buy in” at a small level. The gift of time is important to acknowledge. Start out with the easiest things. Let time solve most of the problems.”

– Total Ministry Summit, May 2-3, 2008