Case Study
Grace Episcopal Church is a Mission Church in Madison, South Dakota. Our official mission statement is: “It is our mission to praise God, make his name known and minister to people in our community and the wider world.” We are extremely small, with a congregation of 4 ½ regular worshipers, clergy, and a piano player twice a month. We try to be inclusive and bring people together using our individual talents to do God’s work.
Several years ago we wrangled a seat on the Madison Area Ministerial Association (MAMA). We had never participated previously, as we did not have full-time clergy, and our supply clergy lived at least an hour outside town. Mother Karen Hall attended a meeting one morning and asked if our senior warden could attend the meetings and report back to her. That is how we gained representation in the Association. MAMA’s general purpose is to be an expression of unity in Christ in the Madison area, a fellowship to explore differences in a lively interchange of ideas, a vehicle for coordination and consideration of requests for community needs and services, a time for devotions and worship, and a means of support for one another in our respective ministries.
By partnering with other churches, individuals, and organizations we can do so much more than we could by ourselves. This is particularly true in our quilting ministry.
If we passed the plate every month, our church couldn’t raise enough funds to make the difference that we would hope in our community. But by sewing together for a few hours on Saturdays, we are able to create quilts to raffle, quilts to donate, and crafts to sell, giving the proceeds to outreach. We also ask our partners to help us raise funds. Various Christian denominations are much more alike than different. After all, we are all in the business of doing God’s work.
1. We try to meet people where they are and look for what skills they have. We are not all artistic; some of us cannot sew a straight line, but perhaps we have other gifts. So, if someone stops in on a Saturday or we meet them in the park or in the grocery store, we talk and find out what they hope for or want to contribute to the effort.
2. We don’t force change on anyone or try to alter their beliefs. Some people don’t like to raffle items, as they think it is gambling. That is fine—but perhaps they would contribute a little material to a quilt or have a vision of Christianity that we can incorporate into a quilt. Or maybe they just want to fix a ripped seam in their pants and don’t know how. We help them without judgment or conditions.
3. We start small and accept the results we get. We do not expect anyone to be perfect, and sometimes our work has flaws. We use the talents that present themselves, with the materials we have, in the space we have.
Our church has gained more significant notice as an accepting, welcoming place. While Sunday attendance has not changed dramatically, people in our community know who we are and what we try to do, and they seem to like to be part of it. The people who do help us have a strong sense of accomplishment and feel like they matter. The congregation, all 4 ½ of us, is like a close-knit family. We highlight strengths always and try not to focus on our weaknesses. In 2024, our church will host the Community Thanksgiving Eve Service. People from all denominations will walk into our church on the evening of November 27 to attend an all-denomination service done the Episcopal way. This is through the Madison Area Ministerial Association, and we are proud to show off our church.