“It takes a community to be a diocese.”

by the Right Reverend Thomas Clark Ely, Bishop of Vermont
Mountain Echo, April 2003

Many of you are familiar with the phrase, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Recently, I was thinking about what it takes to develop a diocese into truly being an association of congregations working together. Actually, I have been thinking a lot about this since you called me to serve as your bishop. My conclusion is that, “It takes a community to be a diocese.”

Working from that premise, I decided to see how many people are actively involved right now in helping to carry out the ministry of being the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont. I added up the number of people presently serving as elected, appointed or volunteer members of diocesan boards, councils, commissions and committees, as well as those elected or selected to represent the diocese at the provincial and national level. What I discovered is that there are over two hundred (200) Vermonters serving the church and our diocese in this way. That is over 5% of the Episcopalians attending church each Sunday in Vermont! It does take a community to be a diocese.

Please bear in mind that this number does not include all the parish representatives who serve on local vestries, or as delegates to Diocesan Convention, or in some other local leadership capacity. If we add those to the mix the number soars to well over 700 people involved in one or more ministries of leadership!

Where do all those people who serve in diocesan ministries come from, and how are they selected for their service? The answer is that they come from a variety of sources, but all have an active local church connection as well as a diocesan ministry. They are people sitting near to you in your local church community. They are your friends and leaders in your local church.

Elsewhere in this edition of the Mountain Echo [see below for link] you will read about many of the appointed and elected positions that need to be filled this year in our diocese. Contrary to what some might think, the bishop does not “hand pick” all these people. Many serve as the result of offering their time and talent in the service of the church and our diocese. Many are elected by Diocesan Convention to serve on our behalf, having agreed to let their names go forward in nomination for positions. Others ask that they be given an opportunity to serve, and we try to match their talents to the needs of the diocese by appointing them to diocesan committees. Still others are sought out and asked to serve, because they have certain gifts and skills that are needed in order to carry out the ministry of our diocese.

What each of these people shares in common is a love of the church and a willingness to offer their gifts and skills in service to the church and to our diocese. How about you? What gifts and skills do you have that could be offered in service to your diocese? What ministries in the Diocese of Vermont would benefit from the contribution of your time and talent?

In addition to the committees, commissions and other elected and appointed positions that are highlighted in this edition of the Mountain Echo, there are many Diocesan Council committees that need people with talent to serve our diocese in carrying out its mission and ministry. These committees include Spiritual Life, Youth Ministry, Music and Liturgy, Diocesan Study Program, Congregational Support and Resources, Outreach and Social Justice, Environmental Ministries, Communications, Stewardship, Accessibility, Christian Education, Dismantling Racism, and the Rock Point Summer Conferences.

My appeal to you is that you think about your gifts and skills. Think about your interests and your available time. Think about what you would like to offer in service to our diocese as we seek truly to become an association of congregations working together for the doing of God’s Mission as the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont. And then act on all that by being in touch with me, or by offering your name for election to one of the many diocesan positions that we will fill at this year’s convention. Remember that when you do, there are responsibilities and expectations that go along with these ministries. There are also great joys and benefits that come from such service.

Now is the time to be thinking about this. Now is the time for discernment. Now is the time to be offering yourself for service in the Diocese of Vermont. Now is the time to become more and more a part of that community of persons it takes to truly be a Diocese. Please don’t wait to be asked. Talk with me about your interest and your availability. I’m sure that together we can find the best way for you to offer your gifts in the service of Christ’s mission and ministry in the Diocese of Vermont.

In service to Christ with you,
+Thomas

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