Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

In just two weeks, leaders from across The Episcopal Church will gather for General Convention. Held every three years, this conference is a time for the Church to pray together, to spend time wrestling with difficult issues, and to chart a course for the future.

In preparation for this work, a group of people prepared a report called the “State of the Church.” In a lot of ways, it’s similar to the President’s State of the Union address or a review of the year offered by the rector and/or senior warden of a congregation at the annual meeting. The report offers an analysis of the Church, gleaned from statistical trends, interviews with stakeholders, and anecdotal evidence. In some ways, it’s a diagnostic tool: here’s where we are, here are the places of ill health, and here are some highlights of places of strength. It offers some recommendations and insights into ways of building on those strengths and moving forward not in fear but with energy for creating something new. But the real work of determining the future lies both with the bishops and deputies of this General Convention and importantly, with you, the faithful members and leaders of congregations big and small across the Church.

Whether or not you are attending General Convention, will be following it online, or couldn’t give a hoot about the gathering, you should care about the insights of this State of the Church report.

We know that each part of the body is critical to its overall vitality, and places of weakness or sickness spread and threaten the healthy ones. But at the same time, there is good news because vibrant, thriving places can also spread and ignite.

Read a brief summary of the report here (and download PDFs for sharing). And the full report can be found here. I encourage you to include a copy in your church bulletin on Sunday or share it through your electronic communications. Spend some time asking the suggested study questions, perhaps as a vestry, a staff, or at another gathering of leaders of your church.

God is doing a new thing among us—and awaits our help.

Picture above: Episcopal News Service photo / Mary Frances Schjonberg

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