This is the first article in a series on the Team Ministry collaboration between Messiah, Chester and St. Mary’s, Sparta. Read the series introduction.
When we were first approached with the idea of a collaboration in June 2023 we were over a year without a priest, with no candidates and an insufficient budget to support a full-time priest. To say that I was excited about the collaboration idea and the prospect of having a priest would be putting it mildly.
We first met with the wardens and vestry of St Mary’s over brunch in the middle of August. One point was made clear in the very beginning – both church’s vestries wanted assurance that we would not be giving up our separate identities. It was very interesting to find out our similarities as well as our differences. We found them very open to the challenge of working together with us and quite fun. I was very excited about the possibilities of setting up some best practices by grabbing some of their good ideas! What works for one church does not always work for another, but it does open your eyes to the possibility of change.
We formed a Joint Executive Committee to work through the specifics. One of the first things we did was to come up with guiding principles on how we would interact with one another. Our two treasurers got together and put together a plan to support a division and process that would fairly cover all expenses incurred. The treasurers presented their plan to both vestries and the Canons and the Bishop for approval. At a meeting with both vestries, the Bishop reiterated an initial proposal that a lay pastoral leader from each church become part of the team, along with a deacon. The two parishes had a joint service and picnic in September. Both congregations were excited and anxiously waiting for a priest to be called.
Behind the scenes Mother Elizabeth Ivell’s resume was presented to the four wardens. We were very impressed and met to interview her. Once we interviewed her, we couldn’t believe that we were being given such a gift and opportunity. Next, she was interviewed by a few members from each church’s vestry. They also all agreed she was an amazing candidate. Both full vestries were then introduced to her, and separately and then jointly we decided to offer Mother Elizabeth the position. The official announcement was shared with the congregations on January 29, 2024.
The Joint Executive Committee, which is made up of the wardens, the treasurers and equal numbers of either the vestry or congregation from each church, meets at least quarterly.
Each church has had one parishioner go through training to become a lay pastoral leader.
Since we have been in collaboration St Mary’s and Messiah have enjoyed many opportunities to worship, break bread, attend minor league baseball games, bowl, attend a play, fire pit with marshmallow cooking sing along, shared musical talents with joined choirs and shared individual talents in a joint talent show and play miniature golf. We also had a joint vestry retreat. Many of us are now Facebook Friends and are truly happy with any opportunity to gather. It has been wonderful to share book clubs and bible studies by zoom with Mother Elizabeth and Deacon Gail. Having a larger number of, and more diverse, attendees has made these studies more interesting and informative.
As a church with a small congregation and low budget I find this collaboration to be a way to sustain ourselves and thrive by sharing expenses, expanding our opportunities and enlarging our church community. We are unique congregations, but we have found a way to meld as one while keeping the separate identities that each congregation holds dear.
