February 24, 2010
To: Diocesan Clergy
From: The Dean and Archdeacons
Dear Friends,
In our work with you as fellow priests, and as Dean and Archdeacons, we are constantly encouraged by the dedication and skill that you bring to your ministry. Your faithfulness to God’s call has blessed us, your parish, and this diocese in many valuable and effective ways. Moreover, we are also inspired by the great number of lay people who faithfully live out their baptismal covenant, and who regularly provide prayerful and tangible support to our common mission and ministry.
We know, however, that this is a critical time in the life of our diocese. The affects of declining attendance and shrinking financial resources are felt at every level of the Church, and many of our congregations struggle to sustain ongoing ministry in their communities. Bishop Don described this situation as an “almost cataclysmic decline . . . of most of our churches over the last several decades” (Report to Diocesan Council, November 2009). Many of you have expressed your concerns to us about the state of the local church, and have urged us to explore what it means to be a vital and viable parish and diocese. But while we all have a sense that the status quo is untenable, we do not as yet have a clearly defined or widely accepted definition of either vitality or viability. We are convinced that any meaningful discussion and action around these topics will require a common understanding of these terms.
We are delighted, therefore, that Bishop Don has authorized a Vitality and Viability Study, and has called together a group of talented and thoughtful people to undertake this task. Together they will develop a standard protocol, endorsed by Diocesan Executive and Council, to encourage parishes to assess their own vitality and viability. They will need your cooperation to ensure consistent and relevant results. We want you to know that this team has our unqualified support, and we encourage you to participate fully in this process.
The Vitality and Viability Study is the first step in a longer process that will address the crisis we face and help us to discern how best to proclaim the Gospel in a new age. Many dioceses in Canada are also exploring these issues, but we are committed to finding a way forward that meets the particular needs and challenges in Rupert’s Land. We believe that parishioners and parish leaders are ready for this discussion, and need accurate and timely material to assess their ministry and mission. We commend this process to you, and entrust this work to your prayers.
Sincerely, (Dictated but not personally signed)
The Very Rev. Bob Osborne
The Ven. Godfrey Mawejje
The Ven. Norman Collier
The Ven. Jennifer Sisson
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