| Shared Ministry |
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In 2007, the Diocesan Council met to discuss how the development of Mutual Ministry was progressing. In our conversation, the need to acknowledge the conventional congregations involvement in Baptismal Ministry, as well as the partnering congregations, was highlighted by the changing of the name Mutual Ministry to Shared Ministry. The paper on Shared Ministry outlines the various areas of growth which the council then focused on, and has been foundational in the last three years for the work of the Diocese. Shared Ministry Diocese of Wyoming: Living into our Baptismal Covenant In the waters of baptism we are, all of us, young and old, from congregations small and large, called into a Shared Ministry with Christ; a partnership to reveal God’s reign. We are invited to grow into all kinds of ministry: priestly (gathering, forgiving and being present with each other and God), diaconal (knowing and serving those outside our church walls) and apostolic (connecting both within and between congregations, within and between our past, present and future, and organizing for greater power to do God’s will). The baptismal covenant supports and describes our shared ministry. Our vitality as Church is dependent on living into this ministry in the fullest manner possible. Therefore, we seek to build a structure of relationship and a sharing of resources in this diocese which will nurture each of us and each congregation in living out our Shared Ministry. To that end, we propose three areas of intentional attention and effort: I. Developing a Diocesan Culture of Baptismal Theology A. Focus on Formation 1. Formation of individuals, helping those outside our church walls to experience God’s love and inviting them to join us in maturing in partnership with God. 2. Communal formation in congregations, encouraging each church community to engage the question: “What is God calling our congregation to be and to do?” 3. Leadership formation, by teaching and engaging a broad-based community organizing definition of leadership, in every aspect of our lives together. B. Education which emphasizes and builds on Baptismal Theology 1. Regional workshops (2007-Building Power for Baptismal ministry, Stewardship and Evangelism) 2. Connecting with and deepening relationships with Seminaries. 3. Intentional leadership and community organizing, gifts discernment, etc. with youth (HR, Wind and Wings, etc.) C. Building relationships between members and congregations 1. Venues for traditional and partnering congregations to come together and share gifts. 2. Regional Networking (For Wind and Wings, HR Camp, leadership support, educational endeavors etc.) II. Developing diocesan leadership’s focus and ability to nurture Shared Ministry. A. Ministry Developers 1. Commit to maintain ratio of MinDev’s to congregations in transition time. 2. Education of current MinDevs in Community Organizing. 3. Deepen MinDev’s involvement with the whole call of the Church-making them available to work with youth, traditional parishes, etc. (especially in the areas of community and leadership formation.) 4. Become field training site for the development of future MinDevs. |