Realigning for mission and ministry

Geographic boundaries removed
Canon Missioners will now serve entire diocese

February 5, 2008

To: Clergy and Elected Leaders in the Diocese of Minnesota

From: Canons Sandi Holmberg and Bronwyn Skov

Since Diocesan Convention’s adoption of the Bishop’s Commission on Mission Strategy report and recommendations, and the more recent announcement that The Rev. Susan Moss is leaving the Episcopal Center staff to serve as Vicar of La Misión El Santo Niño Jesús, there has been much speculation about the continued employment of the Canon Missioners deployed in Northern and Southern Minnesota; The Rev. Sandra Holmberg and Bronwyn Clark Skov.

It is with great hope and anticipation that we look forward to serving the people in the congregations of this Diocese throughout the Episcopate of our current Bishop, The Rt. Rev. James L. Jelinek. It would be presumptuous and premature to assume anything about the ninth Bishop of Minnesota’s staff; however we stand ready to offer our gifts and skills to the best of our ability during this transition time, and are prepared to enter into discernment about our future when the time is appropriate.

Many of the findings of the BCMS report resonate with trends that are evident to us in our work with congregations and regions. We applauded, supported, and reported to the BCMS Steering Committee when invited, and gave considerable time and effort to encouraging individuals and congregations to participate in leadership and listening processes that helped the grass roots effort spread. We are eager to work as partners with the newly commissioned group that will now take up the implementation of the vital and Spirit led work that is before this historic diocese.

Clearly the Spirit is calling for new things, including at the Diocesan level. The Bishop’s staff is now considerably smaller than it has been throughout this entire Episcopate. Concerns have been voiced about finances, accountability, and transparency. In discernment with Bishop Jelinek and his Canon to the Ordinary, Gary Gleason, we have worked through the BCMS document in the hopes of realizing a deep understanding of new learning, affirmation, and our potential to change. Through this process, some opportunities for continued work become quite clear. Some procedures to which we cling tightly can be identified as those that we must let go. Opportunities to serve as agents of transformation have begun to emerge within this staff and throughout the diocese.

In response to where the Spirit is leading us, the Bishop is removing the geographic designations from our titles and job descriptions to help support a shift in priorities and recognition of our expansive ministries. Each of us will now serve as Canon Missioner for the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota.

Sandi will continue her skilled and passionate work in facilitating formation of Total Ministry Congregations, and building that diocesan network as new teams and models emerge, in partnership with the Commission on Ministry.

Bronwyn will continue in her skilled and passionate work empowering the laity by facilitating greater networking in Faith Formation circles and intentionally building our capacity for lay leadership through workshops, adult education, and consultations, as she serves as the Bishop’s Liaison to the Mission Strategy Network.

Both will continue to respond to the ongoing needs of congregations as the Bishop’s representatives and we will do so with a Spirit of forward movement rather than chaotic reactivity.

As we live and work with these new priorities, it may take time for us all to understand the changes being made. If you find yourself wondering about something that was in the past part of our portfolios as geographically assigned Canon Missioners, you can still call us and we can discern together the appropriate person to contact or next step to take given the new and emerging landscape of the diocese.

We pray that clergy of the Diocese and elected leaders in our Regions and Congregations will embrace this shift in priorities as called for at Diocesan Convention in October, and work with us in exploring and living into the possibilities of mission and ministry as the Mission Strategy Network grows and learns and expands. We will do our best to hold the tension of connectivity, and help identify that which has potential to propel us or hinder us, as we move forward together so that we might all celebrate our transformation in Christ.