800 select vestry members commissioned for mission
In the first major events associated with the Diocese of Down and Dromore’s Year of Mission 2015, Bishop Harold last week addressed more than 800 select vestry members over 4 nights.
Vestries and clergy were invited to a special evening in one of 4 venues – Dundonald and Saintfield in Down Diocese and Kilkeel and Magheralin in Dromore. Almost all of the parishes were represented and each night the hall was full and buzzing with anticipation.
The Bishop noted that this was the first time in the 16 years of his episcopal ministry that he had gathered the select vestries together. He took the opportunity to thank them for their faithful work and to remind them that they were “gatekeepers” who could either encourage or stifle mission in their parishes.
In a wide–ranging address, drawing from the Parable of The Great Banquet in Luke 14, Bishop Harold presented 3 pictures of how he would like the diocese to be transformed in the run–up to and throughout 2015.
Firstly, he said that he wanted us to be “turned inside–out,” meaning that, together, we should face outwards, rather than being consumed by our own parochial needs and preoccupations.
Secondly, the Bishop urged parishes to begin to see everything through a “missional filter” – questioning all our activities, our use of money, our worship and welcome. “Even the three Fs can be missional!” he said.
Thirdly, he issued a challenge to the diocese to move from plateau to growth and, indeed, to believe that growth was possible. He encouraged the select vestries to lead by example and to tend the ground, creating the right environment for growth.
Returning to Luke 14 in closing, Bishop Harold noted that this joyous, generous banquet was of most interest to those who are far away – those who know their need and respond enthusiastically – yet in most cases we are failing to reach them. He drew the analogy of churches comfortably fishing in a swimming pool when all the fish are out in the sea.
“Let’s embrace the Year of Mission,” he said, “and allow God to transform us so that we are missional all the time and become places of transformation for others.”
Following Bishop Harold’s address, vestry members heard 3 presentations about the missional use of money, of buildings and how to build teams of volunteers. The Mission 2015 logo was also unveiled for the first time.
After refreshments, each select vestry was asked to discuss what they had heard and to complete a short worksheet. Bishop Harold closed the evening with an Act of Commissioning.
View a gallery of the evenings here.