Diocesan Council strives to embody the diocesan mission statement: “Equipping congregations… Empowering people… Engaging the world… with the hope and justice of Jesus.” In this effort, Council is finding ways to partner, resource, and support the diocese in the fullest sense of the word – the people, congregations, affiliated organizations, and communities in which they minister.
Diocesan Council is the “convention between conventions” responsible for the long-range planning, programmatic priorities, and budgetary work that occurs during the year. Each of the ten districts of the diocese is represented on Council by one layperson and one clergy person, and six members are appointed by the bishop. Diocesan staff and Chancellor Diane Sammons regularly attend Council meetings. The bishop, the Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith, is the President of Council and chairs the monthly meetings, which are led by the Vice President in the bishop’s absence. The Rev. Ginny Dinsmore is the new Vice President of Council as of February 2012.
Council members serve on action teams led by two co-conveners who are also members of the Steering Committee that sets the agenda. The co-conveners are the Rev. Canon Dr. Sandye Wilson and the Rev. Dr. J. Barrie Bates for Equipping Congregations; Martha Reiner and Dinsmore for Empowering People; and the Rev. Joseph Harmon and Thomas Bisdale for Engaging the World.
Input provided by diocesan staff increases the action teams’ ability to respond. Planning for Vestry University, the Equipping Congregation action team’s well-attended day of workshops, was enhanced by their work with Kitty Kawecki, Director of Resources and Training. “Kitty brought her experience with training and organizing big events and shared concerns people were bringing to her,” said the Rev. Vicki McGrath, the previous Vice President of Council.
At their monthly meetings, Council members come together for dinner, then the action teams meet together separately after which the Council meets together as a whole. The meeting concludes with worship. Meeting minutes are published on the diocesan website at www.dioceseofnewark.org/council. In 2012, Council plans to dedicate some of its monthly meetings to mission and others to business, in order to accomplish the full breadth of its work.
Each diocesan organization or ministry is aligned with one of the three action teams. Recently, some action teams have invited a ministry representative to meet with them. The Empowering People action team found this leads to new possibilities for engaging and supporting ministries within their purview. Spiritually empowering people, with an emphasis on the laity, is their primary focus. Last August, they hosted a workshop on spiritual practices that featured the spiritual journeys of three lay people in the diocese, who spoke about their practices of icon painting, men’s bible study group, or yoga. Reiner said, “There’s a hunger for more spirituality, but it needs to be convenient. It can’t be offered in just one spot accessible to the same people all the time. Spirituality offerings need to be local as well as dispersed.” This team also held a forum on community gardens in the spring, gathering a cross section of the diocese. “Both events were really successful,” said Dinsmore. “We want to do a little better at following up with people who attend these events and explore how to keep the momentum going.”
The Finance and Budget Committee of Diocesan Council puts together a balanced diocesan budget that is reviewed and approved by Council and recommended for adoption at Annual Convention. Interested members of the diocese learned more about the 2012 budget at a budget review forum held in October 2011.
Diocesan Council members, including those on Steering Committee, serve for a maximum of two terms. This past year, these terms were extended to three years from two. “This came about for continuity’s sake,” said Dinsmore. “I think with the action teams it makes a real difference.” Finding ways for the three action teams to work collaboratively with one another is a priority in 2012.
Diocesan Council has also gathered with other diocesan governing groups to clarify responsibilities and discuss mutual stewardship of the diocese. “Under Bishop Beckwith’s leadership, the three governing bodies of the diocese – the Standing Committee, Trustees (along with the Diocesan Investment Trust), and Diocesan Council – have really been able to see their work in partnership and have a greater appreciation of what can and does impact each other,” Harmon said.
Council is responsible for ratifying grants recommended by the Ward J. Herbert Fund Board (Equipping Congregations), the Marge Christie Congregational Vitality Board (Empowering People), and the ACTS/VIM Board (Engaging the World). Wilson said, “We are discovering that many people just need grants, while others need grants and support to be successful.”
The Engaging the World action team oversees outreach grants, now through the Alleluia Fund. According to Harmon, “The development of the Alleluia Fund provided a chance to… widen the base by inviting individuals to contribute directly to diocesan outreach giving.” On Sunday, March 25, the first Showcase of Diocesan Outreach, an opportunity to connect with Alleluia Fund grant recipients, was held at Grace Church, Madison. Harmon stated, “The Alleluia Fund has been a helpful tool in allowing us a new and creative way to maintain our outreach efforts” despite a declining budget.
“There is currently an effort underway to take another look at outreach funding in the diocese so as to develop a more uniform and efficient application process for funding,” said Bisdale. “We’re anxious to play a role in that.”
The bishop, in consultation with the Justice Board, has identified ministry with children as a focus of the diocese’s mission to live into the hope and justice of Jesus. The Engaging the World action team has identified congregations and deacons ministering with children, St. Philip’s Academy in Newark, and Youth Consultation Service (YCS) as potential partners. “One way is to invite a conversation with the NEWARK ACTS interns who are working with YCS programs, as a beginning point [and] bridge, so we can begin to find ways that would be meaningful for YCS and for us to deepen the relationship,” said Harmon.
Asked if he would recommend becoming a member of Council, Bisdale said “I would enthusiastically encourage it. I find it to be immensely rewarding. It is a real joy to serve with people who serve in this diocese, both laity and clergy. And there is a lot of work to be done.” McGrath concurred, “You get to serve God in a different way than in your local congregation.”
