Preparing to "spread the bug for mission"

Mission Strategy Committee holds first meeting and is commissioned by Bishop Jelinek

Twenty-three people with a passion for mission gathered along with Bishop Jelinek at St. David's, Minnetonka, on Saturday, January 26, for a daylong meeting on the next steps for furthering the mission strategy for the Diocese. This "Mission Strategy Committee," a successor to the Bishop's Commission on Mission Strategy (BCMS) will work to implement the BCMS plan that was approved at the October 2007 Diocesan Convention.

The group included appointed leadership (some of whom had also been BCMS members); as well as representatives from Diocesan Council, the Standing Committee, the Commission on Ministry, the Trustees of the Diocese, and other groups. Craig Van Gelder, who also served as BCMS consultant, has been asked to continue in this role, and Jim Huber and Dan Pearson will co-chair the committee.

A number of others with an interest in this important work attended the meeting as well, and are being considered as additional members of the committee, as leadership works to round out the membership.

Participants at the meeting talked about what passion they bring to the mission strategy process, and also held small-group discussions on two important questions:

• What have you learned through the BCMS process to date that informs you, and needs to inform us, as we gather today?
• What are the two or three most important things that we need to attend as we move forward with this work?

"I was especially moved in listening to the stories about why people have passion and energy to work on this committee as we look ahead to a mission strategy that the entire diocese can embrace," said Bishop Jelinek. The bishop then commissioned the participants for their ongoing work of mission.

"It was a very spirited and spirit-filled meeting," said committee co-chair Jim Huber. "Spiritual transformation is our first calling. I look forward to working on this and our other goals as we begin the next phase of our work."

"I'm delighted that I was able to be at this first meeting in order to commission each member," Bishop Jelinek added. "I am confident that they will be able to move ahead while I am away on sabbatical under their capable leadership of Craig Van Gelder as our consultant, and Daniel Pearson and Jim Huber as co-chairs. Their energy is infectious, and I look forward to their 'spreading the bug for mission' throughout the diocese."

Mission Strategy Committee membership as of January 22, 2008

Additional members will be announced in the coming weeks

Consultant: Craig Van Gelder

Co-Chairs

• Jim Huber – St. Mark’s Cathedral, Minneapolis
• The Rev. Daniel Pearson – St. David’s, Minnetonka

Staff Liaison

• Bronwyn Skov – Canon Missioner

Former BCMS members

• The Rev. Mariann Budde – St. John’s, Minneapolis
• The Rev. Michele Morgan – Supply Priest, Metro area
• David Allen – St. Paul’s, Virginia
• Paul Double – St. Paul’s, Winona
• The Rev. Rob Cavanna – Our Saviour’s, Little Falls
• The Revs. Len and Lindsay Freeman – St. Martin’s by the Lake, Minnetonka

Diocesan Council

• The Rev. Rex McKee – St. Mary’s, St. Paul
• The Rev. Lynn Orville – Supply Priest, Bemidji
• Pat Dibble – St. Peter’s, Kasson

Trustees

• Sandra Miller – St. Thomas, Minneapolis

Standing Committee

• The Rev. Michael Wyatt – St. John’s, St. Cloud

Commission on Ministry

• The Rev. Paul Allick – St. Edward’s, Wayzata

Department of Indian Work

• The Rev. Robert Two Bulls – All Saints Indian Mission, Minneapolis

“At Large”

• Bruce Nerland – St. Matthew’s, St. Paul
• The Rev. Steve Judd – St. Paul’s, Owatonna