Bishop Waggoner (right) presides over the recent Diocesan Council meeting as the Rev. Gayle Gaither (St. Martin's, Moses Lake) gives the report from the Mission Strategy Committee
The first Diocesan Council meeting of the new year was full of energy, creativity and work. Council met Feb 27-28, at Immaculate Heart Retreat Center in Spokane.
On Friday evening members discussed a video of church consultant Brian McLaren addressing the Diocese of Washington (DC) on church vitality. The discussion, facilitated by the Rev. Canon Kristi Philip, prompted a variety of topics, including the question, ”If you had a choice between staying the same size and getting more money or growing in size and money, which would you choose?”
After Eucharist on Saturday morning, Council met in committees (Administration and Finance, Formation for Ministry, Mission Strategy, and Social Justice and Outreach). Most of the work of Council is conducted during the committee time, reviewing and proposing resolutions and presenting its work to the entire Council for final review and action.
Among items acted on in the business session were a resolution thanking Chase Shields for his ministry as the Director of Camp Cross and youth ministries; adoption of a new set of personnel policies for Diocesan Staff; approving a process for congregations to apply for mid-year mission grants, and the creation of a task force on budget priorities for the 2010 budget cycle. To view resolutions adopted by Council visit the Diocesan Council website. Minutes are posted as soon as they are approved by Council.
Other work in progress by the committees includes plans to develop a pastoral letter in response to the current economic climate; encouraging stewardship programs within the Diocese; developing a conflict of interest policy for diocesan leadership, and increasing awareness around environmental stewardship issues.
The next meeting of Diocesan Council is scheduled May 15-16, at Immaculate Heart Retreat Center