Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

I was cruising around the Internet the other day when I stumbled on a site that inspired me.

The Anglican Diocese of Wellington, in New Zealand – way across the world from my little hometown of Fort Thomas, Ky., exhibited its care and compassion for the struggles that I face.

They run a website called i-care parenting. Here’s the mission of this ministry:

“We believe that churches can be instrumental in parenting and family ministry, and desire that they will support and educate parents in the community through providing courses, groups, and seminars run by trained volunteer facilitators.

“We want to enable churches to help parents be confident in their role and be able to provide loving, caring support to their children. We also believe that our churches have a pivotal role in building trusting relationships amongst parents, families and the wider whanau, and with other families in the community. This website is one of the ways in which we can resource churches.”

Wow. I mean, really. Wow. 

I’m not exactly sure of the impetus for launching this ministry, although I can imagine that perhaps there was a highly publicized case of child abuse or a string of horrific examples of neglect. Maybe folks in leadership got together and shared that they kept hearing from parents about the struggles of balance, of how to raise and nurture children of a good and discerning faith. I don’t know. But the impetus isn’t important. The ministry is. 

When you go to this site, you’ll note that there’s no compass rose on the front page, no diocesan shield, or church façade. It might not win awards for cutting-edge design. But I think it's top-shelf in terms of an articulation of ministry. Pictures of kids and parents, grandparents, and babies-to-be cross the website header. The resources cover the gamut from pregnancy to teen years and beyond. It seems the content is a mix of original workshops and classes and then a collection of vetted links and recommendations. 

The stages of parenthood are linked to scripture and faith – not by an in-your-face, bible-hammer way but rather in a warm, reflective tone. For instance, the pregnancy page invites people to remember how Mary must have felt when she was pregnant, that her spirit rejoiced. “New life,” says the website, “is a miracle for God.” 

The page continues with prayers for your unborn child and other resources. 

I’m excited to be a part of church like this, a church that sees a deep need and seeks to find a way to support and strengthen its members – and its community. 

A ministry like i-care is an amazing example of showing how we, the Church, care. God must be pleased.