by David Smart

Episcopalians were listening to one another. They were sharing thoughts and views of mission and ministry. They were networking. This was the scene at St. John’s Cathedral, Knoxville, on April 20 as representatives from the middle east area churches and ministries came together in the first of 3 mission strategy meetings.

Following a pattern used in the northeast and southeast areas of the diocese, the Mission Strategy Task Force gathered about 100 representatives from 20 churches and ministries for a “listening meeting.” The keynote speaker was the Rev. Dennis Campbell, who spoke on looking to the future, a vision for mission and ministry. Campbell, who spoke at similar meetings in the other areas of the diocese, is director of Ministry and Congregational Development at the School of Theology University of the South, Sewanee.

“Traditional activities and functions of a diocese will be of lesser importance in the days ahead,” Campbell said. Resource sharing, networking congregations, and strategic planning are primary functions of a diocese that will be of greater concern in the future, he said.

Participants divided into small groups to discuss the information and ideas that were presented by Campbell and to share their own views regarding mission and ministry in the diocese.

Each small group was asked to select 2 points from their discussion session to share with the larger group. “Networking, communicating, sharing information,” were some of the keywords that were heard frequently as each breakout group reported back to the reassembled gathering. The information gathered was sent to each person who was present and will be used in planning for the next meeting of this mission strategy group.

St. James, Knoxville, will host the next meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, May 10. A 3rd and final meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 25 at 6:30 p.m. at Church of the Ascension, Knoxville.