Letter From Bishop vonRosenberg

For two and a half years now, we've talked and written a lot about new mission opportunities, new member ministry, and new ways to grow the Church. Prior to this time, the Mission Strategy Task Force dealt with many of the same subjects. It has come to my attention that some of our "old" missions and long-time members have felt left out of these conversations and, perhaps, unappreciated. I can understand those reactions, and I want to respond to them.

Let me share with you, first of all, the two things that I have told mission councils when vicars have left those congregations. Basically, my message has been this. I am not interested in closing down any mission church. However, I am interested in working with the congregation in being the best stewards we can be of the resources available.

From what I have experienced myself in ordained ministry in small congregations, from what I have read, and from what I have observed - as well as from what I know intuitively - the brightest hope for our small congregations lies in cooperation with other congregations. In years to come, fewer of our churches will be able to afford a full-time priest. Indeed, the model of at least one priest per congregation is becoming less the rule and more the exception throughout the Episcopal Church. If we wish, we may wring our hands in regret for days gone by. However, I think it is far more healthy and appropriate to seize the time and circumstances of the day as opportunities for cooperation - something that the Episcopal Church should be able to do quite well. In fact, resources of our diocese are being consciously directed at encouraging and enabling such cooperation. It is our belief that cooperative ministry offers hope for new life and, on the other hand, that individual, isolated ministry points to the likelihood of a slow but certain death.

As I travel about our diocese, I have observed a very interesting phenomenon in this regard. Our smaller churches crave what the larger churches have - resources, personnel, program. However, our larger churches look with envy at what the smaller churches have - intimacy, a sense of belonging, mutual knowledge among members. From this and many other signs, therefore, such awareness indicates quite clearly that we need each other and that we can benefit greatly as we cooperate in our common life.

I want to say very directly that these times are not ones in which the rest of East Tennessee will turn our backs on those mission churches that have been spiritual centers of pastoral care, worship, and outreach for their communities in the past. Instead, we want to enhance those ministries in our day and for the future. May we remember that St. Paul wrote of the Church as a body, for "members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it" (I Cor 12:25b-26). In East Tennessee, we are all part of the same Body, which is Christ.

Please pray for the Diocese of East Tennessee, that we may be faithful stewards of all our resources - old and new - for the mission and ministry of Christ, on behalf of a world that desperately needs what we are blessed to give.