Discernment Day

We began with informal chatting, and marking our global ministries on a “map” of the world. (we will try to turn this into a graphic and get it on the blog).

Gathering Prayer- Hank and Sherry LeBeau lead us in a short reflection on the unity of humanity and a gathering prayer Lakota and English.

Welcome and Introductions- Silvestre Romero gave us the vision for the day and lead the process of introductions, where each person present talked about the ministries going on in their parish. Silvestre explained how the Network came to be, and it’s purpose of gaining a vision of where we are, encouraging more mission activity, and discerning together where we might be led.

What is a Companion Relationship?- Robin Denney spoke about companion relationships, and the importance of partnership, walking alongside one another, and recognizing all we have to learn from each other. Also, how companion relationships form and what they look like, and their importance in the Anglican Communion.

Personal views of world mission – Jerry Drino told his story of being called to mission work throughout his life, from Alaska, to Watts, and now to Sudan. He talked about the importance of mission work, and of relationships. He showed us some strategic plans from Sudan, as examples of some of the pressing needs a diocese overseas might possess (being clear that this was an example, to spur ideas and not a proposed relationship).

Small Group Discernment- We broke up into small groups, and discussed our passion for mission, what we have to offer, what we hope to gain, what the mission network could do for us, and where we might be led in the future.

We then got together as a large group again to share our ideas:

Next Steps

What the World Mission Network can do:

· The mission network should put together a plan or report of the areas where we have connections, and ask the Bishop to pray over it, and go into Lambeth with these connections in mind.

· The Diocese may want to revisit it’s mission statement, to fit where we are now.

· The Network needs a mission statement.

· The Network will use the existing structure of the deaneries to get information out, and use the deanery meetings as a place to gather ideas and information, and communicate information about the Network.

· Communication is a huge part of what the Network will do, developing a system of communication using email, blog, website, and a phone/email tree style of personal connection through the network and deaneries, to be sure all congregations get the information

· The Network should seek to connect parishes throughout the diocese with mission resources and people who have experience.

· The Network should put together a resource directory where people looking for ideas can find contact info for people in parishes that have already done something similar

· Having returned missionaries come and speak helps to grow passion about mission, the network could organize visits.

· The Network should be a vehicle through which those engaged in mission can help parishes who are not engaged to grow a desire to do so… how to do this is an on-going discussion.

· The Network should have a presence at Convention with displays, and available contact information for different projects.

· Telling our mission stories is a critical part of spreading the passion for mission. We would like to collect these stories, and put them into some kind of a publication. Many times spiritual reflection and prayer come out of these stories, and we value that and hope that people include that in their stories.

· The network

· The email contact for the network (and coordinating committee) will be Robin Denney: redenney@gmail.com.

· The blog: worldmissionnetwork.blogspot.com will be a forum for discussions online. Please submit articles to Robin to be posted. Once posted, anyone can comment on an article. Please send photos and stories!

Qualities important to us in a Companion relationship:

· Choosing a region where we have some historical involvement

· There seem to be two clusters of current mission connections, one of which would be a good place to begin a companionship: East Africa or Caribbean/Central America.

· Pilgrimages of delegations from each diocese to enliven people’s passion about mission (Ease of Travel is a major consideration here.)

· Some passions we have to share are community organizing, political advocacy, and agriculture. In order to get a comprehensive view of what we have to offer in relationship, we should incorporate the needs and strengths of our diocese identified in the documents developed for the episcopal search process we went through.

· Ways for the children and youth to get involved

· Adult short term mission trips

· Language: ease of communication in forming relationships is important to us, so we suggest beginning with a relationship where many people speak English or Spanish.

· Listening to the vision of the people we seek to enter into relationship with is important.

Put September 6 on your calendars, to meet at St. George’s with Bishop Mary, to discuss the network, and hear her report from Lambeth

Closing Prayer- Robin Denney (Prayer 7 on page 840 BCP)