July 2013
Vision & Planning
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Becoming Grace
By Deborah Johansen Harris and Frances A. Hills as told to Nancy DavidgeGrace Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Western Massachusetts rose from two congregations that started their visioning and planning process in two very different places. For one, a wall fell down in the church; for the other, the recognition that ‘business of usual’ would be the death of their parish. Deborah Johansen Harris and Frances Hills share details of this story in “Becoming Grace.”
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Echar por Tierra el Statu Quo
By Todd OusleyEl cierre de la base de la fuerza aérea Wurtsmith cambió todo.
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Equal Partners
By Donald RomanikFor many churches, the one church one priest model is no longer possible, creating opportunities for different models of leadership. In “Equal Partners,” Donald Romanik shares a story of a congregation – and a diocese – committed to the development of healthy and effective lay clergy partnerships to build up the Body of Christ in our changing world.
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Expanding Our Understanding
By Sam Dessórdi LeiteAcross our church, congregations are exploring new partnerships. Many times these include conversations between Anglo and Latino communities. In “Expanding Our Understanding,” Sam Dessórdi Leite introduces a resource developed in response to the question: Who are Latinos?
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Seeds of Hope
By Shirley BowenLike many small churches, Christ Episcopal Church in Biddeford, Maine had seen its resources rise and fall with the economic tide of the community. Shirley Bowen’s “Seeds of Hope” shares how this congregation multiplied their ability to serve Christ after deciding to disband as a parish.
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Semillas de Esperanza
By Shirley BowenEn 2008, la feligresía de la Iglesia Episcopal de Biddeford decidió dejar de aferrarse al pasado. Y al hacerlo renació, al transformarse intencionalmente de una casa de culto en un Centro de Jubileo y descubriendo que como Semillas de Esperanza ahora están compartiendo la presencia y el eterno amor de Dios con muchísima más gente que lo que lo hubieran hecho como Christ Church.
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Sharing Faith Dinners
By Luke Blount and Laura ShaverUnlike other faith traditions, the Episcopal Church is not known as a denomination where members talk easily – or publicly - about their faith. “Sharing Faith Dinners” by Luke Blount and Laura Shaver describes what can happen when groups of Episcopalians gather to talk about their faith.
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Shattering the Status Quo
By Todd Ousley“Shattering the Status Quo” by Todd Ousley challenges congregational leaders to break out of familiar patterns by entering into an exodus experience as a way to open themselves to get ‘Egypt’ out of their systems.
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[Accepting] God’s Gift of Chaos
By Demi PrentissIn “God’s Gift of Chaos,” Demi Prentiss shares how embracing the messiness of the unknown can help a congregation become unstuck from the things that prevent meaningful change from occurring.
Past Issues
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May 2023
LGBTQ+ Pride Download -
March 2023
Disaster Preparedness Download -
January 2023
What do you hope the Episcopal Church will look like in 2050? Download -
November 2022
Young Leaders in Ministry Download -
September 2022
Stewardship in a New World Download -
July 2022
ECF Fellows: Innovating in The Episcopal Church Download -
May 2022
Beyond the Pews Download -
March 2022
Caretakers of God's Creation Download