| |
Everyone Has a Part in the Evangelism Process
John Rollins, Province II Regional Coordinator in Evangelism Ministries
For a lot of people, evangelism is seen as a specialized ministry. Many (mistakenly) believe it's only the job
of the clergy. Some will allow that lay persons can be evangelists, but only the ones that have been gifted with
a divine imperative. But take a look at the diagram that follows.
This is a typology which divides the membership of the Episcopal Church into six groups based on how God is known.
It was used by Hugh Magers, Evangelism Officer of the Episcopal Church, in a keynote address to a diocesan evangelism
conference. In the right-hand column is Hugh's assessment of the capacity of the members of each group to act as
evangelists (or to do the tasks of evangelism). The material in quotes is Hugh's own colorful descriptions.
There are some surprises. The groups who have the highest motivation to do evangelism tend to be the worst at it
because their members imperative or enthusiasm may be overpowering. The majority group, the Traditionalists, can
be very effective in doing the pieces of the evangelism process even though they don't have the words to describe
why God is important to them.
The happy truth is that there is a part for everyone to play in the process of evangelism. With training, the evangelicals
and charismatics can understand that others need more time to develop the sense of imperative they feel. With training,
the traditionalists can discover the words which will help them tell their story. The social activists and the
Anglo-Catholics will reach out to those with similar interests and concerns. And the rationalists will provide
the broad inclusion which hears and reflects on the myriad ways in which God is present.
| GROUP |
HOW GOD IS KNOWN |
EVANGELISM ABILITIES |
EVANGELICALS
(10% of members) |
- through conversion. Experience of redemption heightens sense of sinfulness.
Awareness of a personal relationship with God |
Evangelicals have the highest motivation for evangelism but are "the
worst at it" because they "tend to scare people." |
CHARISMATICS
(15% of members) |
- through the experience of baptism in the Holy Spirit, which is repeatable |
Charismatics are highly movitated but not good at evangelism because they,
too, "scare the fool out of your average pagan." |
SOCIAL ACTIVISTS
(3-5% of members) |
- through a quest for justice or a quest for healing from woundedness. |
Social activists always focus outward, so they are extremely valuable as
they bring in people from the outside, especially wounded people in need of healing. |
TRADITIONALISTS
(50-55% of members) |
- through experience at pre-cognitive state (3 - 4 years old) but, "they
knew
it before they knew they could know stuff, so they can't talk about it." |
Since they can't talk about it, don't ask Traditionalists to witness; but
these are the
folks who can do tasks in evangelism (newcomer ministry, etc.) They will do
tasks without violating either's sense of comfort |
ANGLO-CATHOLICS
(10% of members) |
- through mystery. God is known through mysterious parts of faith, e.g.
sacraments, liturgy and music, aesthetics. |
Anglo-Catholics are invaluable in bringing into the Church those attracted
by the aesthetics – music, liturgy, architecture. |
RATIONALISTS
(?? % of members) |
- through paradox, sense of journey, ambiguity, ambivalence. The wider
the poles of paradox, the more meaning they find, e.g. submission <------> liberation |
Rationalists (which includes many clergy) are critically important – they
are the ones who are able to hear others' stories, analyze them, relate to them, capture the sense of journey,
relate to others in ways which lets them see God at work in the world and in their lives. |
From a presentation by Hugh Magers to the Diocese of Newark Evangelism
Conference,
November 13, 1992.
--Return to Contents
|
| |
A Lesson in Life
Lillian Davis-Wilson
At the Annual Meeting of Province II ECW, this story was shared.
I would like to share it with everyone in Province II.
A while back I was reading about an expert on the subject of time management. One day this expert was speaking
to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration I'm sure those students will never
forget. After I share it with you, you'll never forget it either.
As this man stood in front of the group of high-powered over achievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz."
Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouth Mason jar and set it on a table in front of him. He produced about
a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the
top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is the jar full?" Everyone in the class said, "Yes."
Then he said "Really?" He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. He dumped some gravel
in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. He
smiled and asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?' By this time the class was onto him. "Probably
not," one of them answered. "Good!" he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket
of sand. He dumped the sand in and t went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more
he asked the question, "Is this jar full?" "No," shouted the class. Once again he said, "Good!"
Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. He looked up at
the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?" One eager beaver raised his hand and said,
"The point is, no matter how full your scheduled is, if you try really hard, you can always fit some more
things into it!" "No," the speaker replied, "that's not the point. What this illustration teaches
us is that: If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all. What are the Big Rocks in
your life? - Time with your loved ones? - Your faith, your education, your finances? - A cause? - Teaching or mentoring
others? - A project that you want to accomplish?
Remember to put these Big Rocks in first or you'll never get them in at all. So, tonight or in the morning when
you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question: "What are the Big Rocks in my life? Then,
put those in your jar first.
Presently, the Executive Committee is scheduled to meet October 16 - 17, 1999, to prepare for our 1st annual meeting
in the Millennium. We will be discerning and deciding what are the Big Rocks in our organization. As we continue
to fit all the areas of our ministry in our Mason jar. Your blessings and prayers are requested as we make the
connections to be more inclusive.
Your Sister in Christ,
Lillian Davis-Wilson
President of Province II ECW
--Return to Contents
|
| |
The Fourth Annual International Stewardship Conference
Bruce Rockwell
Assistant to the Bishop for Stewardship and Planned Giving
Diocese of Rochester
The Fourth Annual International Stewardship Conference will be held on April 16 to 18, 1999 at the Four Points
Hotel on the Genesee River in downtown Rochester, New York. The Dioceses of Western New York, Rochester, Central
New York, and Albany have sponsored three hugely successful stewardship conferences in 1996, 1997 and 1998 in partnership
with the Office of Stewardship of the Episcopal Church and with The Episcopal Network for Stewardship.
The conference in 1996 was held in March in Syracuse, New York and drew 211 people from 18 dioceses in the U.S.
and 4 Canadian dioceses. The conference in 1997 was held in April in Buffalo, New York and drew 273 people from
15 dioceses in the U.S. and 7 Canadian dioceses. This year's conference was back in Syracuse and drew 235 people
from 19 dioceses in the U.S. and 4 Canadian dioceses. The evaluations from all this year's conference encouraged
The Conference Planning Team to offer yet another conference so the people who had attended could return with others
from their parishes.
The conferences continue to bring about personal conversion (or enhance personal conversion); they provide the
"nuts and bolts" some come for, and they assist in our ongoing formation. Some find the conference to
be an opportunity for personal renewal. It remains clear the conference feeds people's hearts and souls while also
feeding their minds and giving them useful information they can use to develop a more theologically based, more
sound stewardship education and development program back in the parish.
One of the highlights of the 1999 conference is the return of Bishop Burrill of the Diocese of Rochester. He was
the keynote speaker at the very first conference. People still rave about how moving his presentation was. He returns
in 1999 not only to serve as keynote speaker at the banquet but also to lead a plenary entitled "Why is IT
always about money" in which he will talk about why our attitudes about money are critical to our relationship
with God. In addition, he will lead a Track II workshop for Clergy Only.
Another highlight for the 1999 conference is the addition of a Planned Giving Track. Charlie Gearing will lead
the Planned Giving Track. Charlie is a deacon from the Diocese of Atlanta who has held Development and Planned
Giving positions both for Georgia Tech and for the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta. He is one of the Episcopal
Church Foundation's most requested regional consultants and presenters. He will show people how they can develop
an on-going, sustainable planned giving program in the parish. This track is open to folks who have attended a
prior conference, but it is also open to newcomers. Charlie will be assisted by Bob Rasmussen, an area planned
giving representative for the Episcopal Church Foundation. This track is being underwritten by the Episcopal Church
Foundation.
One of the things that has been particularly important is that parishes send a team of people. The parish will
benefit far more if they send two or more people to the conference, hopefully including the rector. The registration
costs for the conference encourage parishes to send teams since additional registrants from the same parish benefit
from a lower registration fee.
Brochures for the 1999 conference will be available in November. For a copy of the brochure or for more information,
contact your diocesan office or call the Diocese of Rochester (716) 473-2977 and request a copy. The deadline for
early registrations (with a lower registration fee) is February 15, 1999. The final registration deadline is March
15, 1999. No registrations will be accepted after that date.
--Return to Contents
|
| |
The News of the Episcopal Asiamerica Ministry in Province II
The Rev. Peter Lam
Liason to EAM Province II
Mission Statement
With the coming of the year 2000, the Province II Episcopal Asiamerica Ministry would like to reiterate our mission
statement.
The mission of the Province II Episcopal Asiamerica Ministry
(EAM) is to
Enable dioceses to strengthen existing Asian ministries and to develop new ones; and
To raise awareness in dioceses about the opportunities embodied by Asian ministries, in order that we may grow
together into the full life of the Body of Christ.
Announcements
- On Sunday, October 24, 1999, the Diocese of Long Island EAM will hold
an Asian Festival at St. John's, Flushing, NY. All are welcome to attend this celebration highlighting the food,
music, an traditions of the many Asian cultures making up our diocese. Please contact Rev. Peter Lam at 718-837-0412
for more information.
- On Saturday, December 18, 1999, the Diocese of New York EAM will host
an Advent celebration at the Church of St. James the Less, Crane Road & Church Lane in Scarsdale, NY. The Rt.
Rev. Richard Grein will be the celebrant, and The Rt. Rev. Mark Sisk will preach at the event. Please contact Ms.
Kyoko Kageyama at 914-723-6118 for more information.
- The Rev. Canon Edmund B. Der (previously rector of St. Matthew's and
St. John's, Toronto) has joined St. George's, Flushing, New York as the interim rector for its Chinese Ministry.
- Effective October 1, 1999, the Korean Ministry at Trinity-St. Joseph's,
Astoria, NY moves to St. John's, Flushing.
|
| --Return to the Province
II Home Page |
Changes, Changes, and More Changes
From Tom Barrington:
Hello Jan and Province 2 folks: It is good to have a list, unfortunately, I am leaving Province II for church
in Province I, All Saint's Church, Chelmsford Massachusetts. It is in the diocese of Mass. just outside of Lowell.
I begin there the end of September. I will be keeping the same e-mail address for now. All Finger Lakes Conference
inquiries should be directed to the Rev. Diana Purcell Chapman at diana.chapman@ecunet.org . Diana,
and the the Rev. Barbara Humphey are the new Deans of the Finger Lakes Conference. Peace, Tom Barrington
From the Diocese of Long Island Dominion
One of the most beloved and respected priests of Long Island, Father David Bryan Hoopes, OHC, Rector of St. Thomas's
Episcopal Church, Farmingdale, LI, was elected as Superior of the Order of the Holy Cross on June 20 during the
meeting of the Order's Chapter. The initial term is six years. The election marked the culmination of three
years of discernment by the members of the Order and Fr. Hoopes was elected on the first ballot.
From the Diocese of New Jersey
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of New Jersey has announced that it has "unanimously and enthusiastically"
called Bishop Herbert A. Donovan, Jr. to serve as assisting bishop in the diocese, effective June 1, 1999. Bishop
Donovan served as rector of St. Luke's, Montclair in the Diocese of Newark from 1970-1980, after which he was elected
Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of Arkansas, a post he held until he retired in 1993. After retiring from Arkansas,
he served as vicar of Trinity Church in Manhattan, NY and then interim Bishop of Chicago. Currently, he serves
as the coordinator of the College of Bishops, which meets annually at the General Theological Seminary in New York.
From the Diocese of Western New York Churchfacts
The Rev. Lorna H. Williams, Canon for Christian Formation of
the Diocese of Western New York, has been appointed to serve as Chaplain for the Episcopal Campus Ministry Center
at SUNY Buffalo's North Campus. Lorna, a native of Jamaica, was ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church on
January 1, 1999.
From the Convocation of American Churches in Europe
For complete
stories, visit <http://www.ecusa.anglican.org/europe/press.html/
The Wardens and Vestry are happy to announce the appointment
of the Reverend Allan Sandlin as Rector of the Church of Christ the King, Frankfurt, Germany, a member of the Convocation
of American Churches in Europe. Father Sandlin, his wife Gretchen Nagy and their two children Thomas, age 7, and
Elizabeth, age 3, are expected to arrive in Frankfurt in late September.
Father Sandlin grew up at least in part in New Mexico, and was raised in the Baptist church. He received a Bachelor
of Arts in music from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1976 and a Master of Music from Hardin-Simmons
University in Abilene, Texas in 1978.
The first weekend of June was an exceptionally full and exciting one for the members of St. Augustine of Canterbury,
Wiesbaden, which almost eclipsed the historic event that took place on Monday evening, 7 June 1999 - the ordination
of the first German as Deacon in the Convocation of American Churches in Europe. A large representative congregation
was present for the Monday evening ordination of Dr. Hanns Engelhardt, by the Rt. Rev. Jeffery Rowthorn, Bishop
in Charge of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe. In addition to attendees from the Wiesbaden congregation,
witnesses to this special milestone also included twenty members of the Anglican Episcopal congregation in Karlsruhe,
founded by Dr. Engelhardt in 1994.
The Vestry of All Saints' Church, Waterloo, Belgium is pleased to announce the appointment of their new Rector,
the Reverend Kempton D. Baldridge, from Newark, Delaware.
The Rev. Kempton D. Baldridge was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on August 14, 1955. Raised in Fairfield, Connecticut,
he graduated from The Citadel, the military college of South Carolina, with a bachelor of arts in history in 1978.
He received his masters of divinity from Yale University Divinity School (Berkeley Divinity School) in 1988. Ordained
deacon in 1988, and priest in 1989, he served churches in Orangeburg and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina before
being activated in the navy for Desert Shield/Storm in 1990. After release from active duty in 1993, Fr. Baldridge
was named interim associate and university vicar at St. Thomas's Episcopal Church in Newark, Delaware. In 1994,
after serving as priest-in-charge, he was named permanent associate rector and university vicar. In 1998, Fr. Baldridge
was elected coordinator for ministries in higher education for Province III of the Episcopal Church, and was responsible
for overseeing Episcopal campus ministries at the more than 150 colleges and universities in the Mid-Atalantic
states.
--Return to Contents
|