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Joining God in Shaping Our Future

We believe that God is inviting us into a new way of living together in the world – one that is loving, liberating and life-giving for us and for the neighborhoods where God has placed us. God is calling us out of our churches and into the world – to see what God is up to. To listen to what God is up to. And to join God there.

Joining God in Shaping Our Future is an initiative that includes three main journeys: the Congregational Journey, the Clergy Journey, and the Organizational Journey. These journeys travel on parallel paths, and each one is necessary for us to continue to be shaped for God’s mission. Each one is grounded in Scripture.

Dwelling in the Word

One of the key components of each of our journeys is learning together how to discern what God is saying to us by collectively living in Scripture. Find out more.

Congregational Journey

How do we go on a journey together to discern what God is up to in our neighborhoods and join God there? This is the core question of our journey together as a diocese and the primary focus for the congregational journey. Find out more.

Clergy Journey

What leadership challenges do I face for which I do not have an answer but must address if I am to lead this congregation through missional transformation? Clergy discover and experiment into their own challenges while supporting one another on the journey. Find out more.

Organizational Journey

How do we shift the culture and structure of the diocese as an organization from a regulatory and customer service agency to partners and companions in mission? Find out more.

Dispatches from the Journey

Listening Excursion participants reflect, form future plans
June 20, 2017
On Saturday, June 3, 23 congregations attended the Listening Reflection event to check with one another about their experiences in listening over the...
St. Agnes' Listening Excursion team members, l-r: Michelle Borden, Nancy MacDonald and Deacon Deborah Drake. Not pictured: Amy Allen.
May 1, 2017
It was at a meeting of St. Agnes’ in Little Falls’ Listening Excursion team that Deacon Deborah Drake suddenly got the idea for an...
“I've talked to people that I never would have talked to before. And it's been amazing.”   Ginger McArthur,  St. Peter’s Church, Livingston
April 18, 2017
Ginger McArthur was part of the team that got St. Peter’s, Livingston started in the Going Local process in March 2015, but by that summer she...
A Youth Listening Event at St. Alban's, Oakland/Franklin Lakes. JOHN KING PHOTO
April 4, 2017
In response to the departure of the diocese’s Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries, diocesan staff formed an exploratory team that...
Joining God in Shaping Our Future
March 14, 2017
Over the past year, many in our diocese have been dwelling in the third chapter of Joshua. In this story, our spiritual ancestors, led by Joshua, are...
Listening Excursion attendees Dwelling in the Word. NINA NICHOLSON PHOTO
March 14, 2017
On Saturday, March 4, 125 individuals representing 43 congregations attended the kick-off gathering for the three-month “Listening Excursion...
Joining God in shaping our future
February 1, 2017
This 143rd Annual Diocesan Convention - "Joining God in Shaping Our Future" - was different from any Convention before it. All interested...
Bishop Mark Beckwith
January 28, 2017
This year, Bishop Beckwith gave his annual Convention address in three parts, on Friday afternoon, Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon. The text...
Crossing the river
January 18, 2017
Attendees at the Listening Tables in 2016 saw a presentation by Paul Shackford and the Rev. Ginny Dinsmore illustrating our diocese's journey of...
Author Barbara Djimopoulos and other members of the Harrington Park "Going Local" guiding team stand in front of their Dream Board at the October 1 meeting. L-r: Paul Shackford, Barbara Djimopoulos, Coach Deborah Drake, Kathy Ferdinand and Cathie Ruppi. NINA NICHOLSON PHOTO
October 31, 2016
Acting on a promise made at Diocesan Convention, last June four teams of clergy and lay leaders developed innovative experiments to help the diocese...

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