Companion Ministry Program

Welcome to the Web page for the
Companion Ministry Program

             A Companion...

             from the Latin, “one who has bread with”
                   one who accompanies, as on a journey
                          one who assists
                                one who is closely connected

The Companion Ministry Program of the Diocese of Vermont is based on the theological principles found in the Baptismal Covenant.

Companion ministry encourages and supports a shared ministry for mission that calls all baptized Christians to be ministers of God’s reconciling love in the world.

Companions walk alongside a congregation as partners in a relationship designed to expand the ministry of the diocese to congregations and to offer an incarnation of Baptismal Ministry as they demonstrate their own ministry as baptized persons and celebrate the ministry of others.

Companions are trained and supported by the diocese. They are paid for their ministry by the congregations with whom they work.  The Companions’ ministries are also supported by a peer group of colleagues, including members of the diocesan Ministry Support Team. 

For information on the Companion Ministry Program, contact Canon for Ministry Development Susan Ohlidal, sohlidal@dioceseofvermont.org, or 802-748-8755.

Resources

The resources on this page are for use by Companions and congregations within the Diocese of Vermont. The resources are also available to people interested in exploring this ministry and, perhaps, creating a similar program in your region, diocese, or judicatory.

General Resources
Companion Ministry Program Brochure (pdf file, 56kb)
Companion Training Outline (pdf file, 157kb)
Mentor Training in the Scottish Episcopal Church (pdf file, 256kb)

Resources for Companions and Congregations in Vermont
Calling Clergy manual (pdf file, 292kb)
Mutual Ministry Review manual: Living into Our Ministries (pdf file, 1.29mb)
About Baptismal Ministry document (pdf file, 67kb)
Baptismal Ministry slideshow (PowerPoint, 131kb)
Letter of Agreement for Companion
            in a Mutual Ministry Review (pdf file, 96kb)
Letter of Agreement for Companion and Congregation
             in Transition with Clergy Leadership (pdf file, 76kb)
Interim Pastors Developmental Tasks (pdf file, 96kb)