Loading...With energy and enthusiasm, Shared Ministry Discernment Team members shared successes and challenges during a gathering in Knoxville on Dec. 10. Throughout the day, team members reported on their efforts to assist parishioners in discovering and living into lay ministry opportunities and meeting needs within their parish and in the wider community.
“We cannot have effective shared ministry among strangers,” said Nell Campbell of Church of the Good Shepherd, Knoxville. “As discernment team members, it is important for us to have a relationship with those whom we engage in discernment conversations. Otherwise, it may be viewed as recruiting and becomes threatening.”
“I know of no other ministry---lay or ordained---more important than yours,” said Rick Govan, diocesan Deputy for Ministry and Congregational Development. “On behalf of your vestry, and working with your clergy, each of you and your fellow discernment team members helps to identify, affirm and support folks in their journey to become active ministry participants. That is powerful work and is critical to the purposeful life and vitality of both the individual and the parish!”
Among those attending this annual event was Ronda Redden Reitz from St. John’s Cathedral, who is one of three diocesan Spiritual Gifts and Talents Discovery Workshop facilitators. Referring to theologian Frederick Buechner, she emphasized that sustained lay ministry is the confluence of matching one’s passions and gifts with the needs of the world. “How do we better make our ‘call to ministry’ normal, expectable and ongoing within the parish system?” she asked.
Team members were delighted to also spend quality time with Bishop Young who enthusiastically supported the discernment teams’ purpose and efforts.
“I am so excited, grateful, and encouraged by the deep commitment of these folks. They are working to not only help us understand, but also to act on the fact that all of us who are Christians are called to ministry. The Spirit has given us gifts, and we have the opportunity to use those gifts in service to God and the Church,” Young said.
Any parish interested in exploring the Shared Ministry Discernment Team infrastructure model can contact Rick Govan at rgovan@dioet.org or 423-698-1222. Information is also available in the Shared Ministry Notebook (soon to be revised) located on the Shared Ministry homepage of the diocese’s website //dioet.org.
Current parishes with Shared Ministry Discernment Team Infrastructure
- St. Peter, Chattanooga
- St. Thaddaeus, Chattanooga
- St. Stephen, Oak Ridge
- Good Samaritan, Knoxville
- St. Luke, Knoxville
- Good Shepherd, Knoxville
- St. John, Johnson City
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Above is a photo of some who attended the Dec. 10 gathering at Good Samaritan, Knoxville. L-R: Mary Embler, Good Samaritan/Knoxville; Bishop George Young; Boyd Evans,St. Stephen, Oak Ridge; Nell Campbell, Good Shepherd, Knoxville; Rick Govan, diocesan staff; Dee Taylor.St. Thaddaeus, Chattanooga; Ronda Reitz, St. John’s Cathedral, Knoxville; Beth Janney, St. Peter, Chattanooga; Rucht Lilavivat, St. John, Johnson City |
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