Diocesan Task Force on Physical Resources beginning work

Our Diocese is committed to supporting parishes in their efforts to be mission-oriented and has a history of assisting parishes that are facing challenges in doing so.

Bishop Michael asked me last June to chair the Task Force on Diocesan Physical Resources that had just been created by Diocesan Council. Being relatively new to the Diocese, and admittedly somewhat reluctant, I did a bit of research before accepting his invitation.

I found that the use and allocation of physical resources and property in the Diocese has been an issue for the past decade with a number of Synod presentations. Finally, members of Synod in May, 2005 agreed with the Diocesan Task Force on Diocesan Ministry and Outreach that “… the work cannot wait any longer” and adopted a motion to have diocesan processes and procedures established for the allocation of physical resources.

I accepted the invitation to lead the Task Force because I believe our Church is called to be outward looking and mission-oriented, using all of our resources wisely, including our buildings and our properties.

Our mandate as set out by the Diocesan Council is “… to hold a diocesan conversation, and recommend processes and procedures for the allocation and re-allocation of new and existing physical resources and property for the current and future mission of the church in this diocese.”

In pursuing this task we will be consulting widely in the Diocese as we seek to get the broadest possible input. We will also be examining the approaches taken in other dioceses that are addressing the same issues to learn from their experiences.

I occasionally hear comments that the role of our task force is to close parishes. That is not correct. We have no mandate to make recommendations in regard to any individual parish.

Our goal is to bring for the consideration of Synod in 2007 a recommended set of processes (methods and tools) and procedures (specific activities to employ these tools) to guide the Diocese in organizing its resources so the Church can be growing and vital. As well we will recommend steps for implementing the processes and procedures.

Thankfully the Task Force consists of a number of qualified and motivated members. They are the Rev. Albert McLane, Marcia Sauder, the Rev. Sharon Salomons, Jim Stewart, the Rev. Jeremy Clark-King, Rob Turnbull and the Ven. John Bailey. We are also well supported by Mike Wellwood, Carol Simpson and the Rev. Paul Borthistle of diocesan staff.

In the next issue of Topic we will share with you our work plan and activities and will use subsequent issues to keep you up to date on our progress and what we are learning.