Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Sunday’s Gospel reading (Luke 17:11-19), tells the story of the ten lepers healed by Jesus and the one who said ‘thank you.’ In response to this act of gratefulness and humility, Jesus said, “Rise and go your way, your faith has made you well.” Those of us participating in the Eucharist on Sunday gave thanks to God and renewed our commitment to go into the world to do the work God has called us to do.

Today, society still has many outcasts with difference continuing to be a common denominator. In the October 7, 2010 issue of Time, Archbishop Desmond Tutu notes, “As human beings we have the most extraordinary capacity for evil. We can perpetrate some of the most horrendous atrocities. That would be awful if that was the end of the story. But, exhilaratingly, people also have an incredible capacity for good.”

How is your congregation or faith group responding to issues such as:

• The economic fall out from the recession and the continued under- or unemployment in your community?
• The impact on families when one or both parents are serving in Afghanistan or Iraq?
• Natural and man-made disasters affecting our communities and our neighbors across the country and the world?
• Cyber bullying and youth suicide?
• Questions related to immigration policy and how it affects your congregation and community?
• Increasing tensions between members of different faith traditions?
• Concerns about the environment and the challenges related to ‘going green?’

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