Bishop Bruce, Bishop Robert, Members of Synod and Guests . . .

First of all, I would like to say thank you to Bishop Bruce and the Imagine Huron Committee-members, for the privilege of being asked to offer some opening remarks, regarding the work, intentions and final reportof the Imagine Huron Process. I do so with some trepidation, but also with a great sense of joy and delight.

The joy and delight is not so much that two and half years of committee-work is over, but it’s time to take this ‘Baby’ out for a spin! It’s time to see if all of your work, and all the intentions of the people of this gifted- Diocese, are ready to stretch out and let ‘er rip.

Let me start this way: By the time Friday evening comes around, I tend to want to put my shifter into
park and just be still. But two and a half weeks ago, my wife Carol pried me up out of my lazy-boy and away from the Edmonton/San Jose hockey game and took me off to the local Theater. Now, she would have had a whole lot less success, except for the fact that my Nephew, my brother’s son, Drew Kolohon had the staring role in his high school musical production. The show was Godspell. I had never seen it before.

As a reminder, Godspell, (which itself is a play on the Old English word meaning ‘Good Tidings’, thus
‘Gospel’), was first produced and performed on Broadway in the early 70's. It’s a musical that tells the story of Jesus’ ministry, loosely based on the Gospel of Matthew. Now, when I say ‘loosely’, I mean loosely. The woman, who directed the version my Nephew played in, used a ‘beach-motif’ for the setting. The characters were dressed in cut off-jeans, tie-dye shirts, running shoes and inverted sailor-caps. When Jesus (my Nephew) made his first entrance, he was wearing, (along with the cut-offs and tie-dye), a ‘ruber-duck’ flotation ring, diving-mask with snorkel and bright yellow flippers. Now, I know that what I am describing sounds more than a little off-the-wall. I thought so too. But, it’s a High School production, so you forgive the excess.

For those of you here today who know me and my off-the-scale ‘A’ personality, you know too that my
‘Anal-retentive’ tendencies tends to keep me well puckered. So you won’t be surprised that I noticed a few things. I noticed that my Nephew missed a few of his lines. I noticed that some of the singing was off key. I noticed that some the choreography was fumbled. I noticed that some of the stage-blocking was awkward.

And, to top it all off, I clearly noticed that the play was not exactly following the Gospel. Here Matthew had gone to all that trouble to put his Gospel together, and we, the Church, have preserved it intact from since forever, and then this play doesn’t get it right. Scenes were out of their traditional Gospel-order. Characters did not seem true to the Gospel’s intent. Story-lines were muddied. I noticed all this, as I sat there in the theater, arms crossed, scrutinizing the details of the whole affair, wondering what the score was in Edmonton.

But let me tell you this, when my Nephew and the rest of the cast came out on stage for their bows, I
was the first one up on my feet to give ovation. Part of it had to do with my Nephew Drew. But the larger measure was that the production ‘communicated’ to my heart and soul. The show was not played in the traditional order or form of our cherished Gospel, but it communicated and it communicated powerfully!

As I drove home with Carol, revisiting the play with it’s unorthodox-set, costumes, humor, music and
variously-gifted performers, it dawned on me: This is exactly what we in Huron are trying to do with our Diocese. We are trying to get our Diocesan Family to better communicate the Gospel of Jesus, in this our time, in this our context, on this our stage.

When Bishop Bruce wrote to me, asking if I would join a “leadership team”, which would seek to move
the ‘Diocesan make-over’ process forward, I said “Yes!”. I said ‘Yes!’, largely because I was curious to see if our Diocese could tolerate some systemic-change. What I have discovered, through the Imagine Huron process, is, not only can this great Diocese of ours tolerate such a change, but, you have indicated that you are more than ready for such changes, in how we traditionally do ministry and mission. We are ready to communicate the Gospel differently.

How do I know this? Well, it began two years ago when we invited Congregations and Parishes to
engage in an process called ‘Appreciative Inquiry’. Stories, of when ‘Church’ was a powerful and positive influence in your life, were remembered and shared. Hopes and Dreams were articulated. And then, an array of ‘Wishes’ for your Church’ were collected.

It was immediately apparent to your Imagine Huron Committee, that Holy Spirit was stirring the pot and directly involved in the process. The level of ‘imaginative-wish-making’ was high. There were literally hundreds of wishes sent forward. As well, expectations were high. Energy levels at these gatherings were so extravagant, that wishes did not wait for an extended process and new ministries were created and began with gusto. In local settings, the Gospel was being communicated in news ways, with a new energy.

The wishes, that were generated by Congregations and Parishes, were then drawn together and a group of other “A” personalities (along with some help from some “B” and “C”personalities) gathered these wishes and grouped them into thematic ‘batches’. These ‘batches’ were then brought together to a ‘Diocesan Visioning-Day’. Here, a dedicated group of folks produced ‘Sixteen Vision Statements’. Following this, a series of what were called ‘Open Space Meetings’ were held last spring. It was here that folks around our Diocese, shaped agendas, that generated proposals for concrete actions and priorities. There were over 260 suggestions submitted.

In the next step of the process, all sixteen ‘Vision Statements’ and all the ‘suggested-proposals for
concrete-actions’ were delivered to the Imagine Huron Committee to be added to the mountain of Wishes you created. It was right about then, that the majority of the committee members considered joining the ‘United Methodists’. We had prayed that Holy Spirit would act in Huron through this process. Once more we learned the hard lesson: ‘Be careful what you pray for’. I think the best way to describe the ‘aura’ of your Committee, was ‘overwhelmed’. There was a staggering amount of work that had been done and a staggering amount of information to be digested and synthesized. It became readily apparent to us, that the only way to stay true to the process was to keep going back to the raw data, to keep ourselves grounded in the tone and temper of the basic hopes and aspirations and wishes and priorities initially generated by the folks of Huron.

On January 19 and 20th of this year, the Imagine Huron Committee was locked away at Medaille House and were not allowed out until a rough draft of a Report was forth-coming. In a nut shell, it happened. The sixteen ‘Vision Statements’ were summarized into six, manageable, broad, ‘Goal Statements’. Again, we went back to Your ‘wishes’ and ‘expectations’ and ‘priorities’, and sought to discern appropriate tasks and people who could undertake leadership-responsibility. We then proposed flexible, time-lines, and a way to measure the degree of success for each initiative. The ‘Table-format’ we chose to use, was intended to allow easy access into the ‘Goal-areas’ and the 60-some-odd ‘Tasks’, that were synthesized from the 260-plus suggestions’ which you recommended, through your collected proposals for concrete actions.

When the doors of Medaille House were unlocked and we were allow to leave, we had the first rough
draft of a Report. Over the next few weeks, the rough edges were smoothed out and the Final Report now sits before you: with a Preamble, with Tables, with Appendices, and there is even a quote from Walter Brueggemann (who I’m not so sure is even an Anglican).

I could hardly wait for my copy of the final-report. It was like waiting for the arrival of my new granddaughter. (Who am I kidding, it wasn’t like that at all!) But I was excited. I wanted to see this baby in the flesh or at least on high grade paper.

Then it arrived! I opened up my e-mail and printed off a copy. When the blue smoke slowly cleared
from my printer, I laid all 37 pages out on my desk and with a cry of terror, I hollered: “Holy Smokes! Are you crazy? This is nuts! It’s too big! It’s too much work! I’ll be burned at the stake at the next Archdeacons’ residential! The Imagine Huron Committee Members better look up how to spell ‘Methodist!”.

When my irregular heart-beat settled into a calmer irregularity. I remembered our
Committee’s mantra: “Be faithful!”. Be faithful to Holy Spirit! Be faithful to the raw data! Be faithful to the inspired dreams and priorities which Huron Folks offered!

What this Report reflects is your keen desire to ‘shift our Attitudes’ about how we undertake ministry.

First of all, it is your Bishop’s desire to become ministerially ‘pro-active’, in a world were there is a real temptation to be ‘re-active’. Financial budgetary tensions, Litigation-drain, Settlement Fund uncertainties, shifting demographics, and theological/doctrinal/pastoral debates, (wrapped up in a fast becoming post- Christian cultural-era), all conspire to draw us into a ‘reactive-style’ of ministry and mission-discernment. The further temptation is to ‘entrench’ or ‘retrench’. Bishop Bruce has made it clear that this is not good enough!

You have said in your gatherings and consultations and through your recommendations, that this is not good enough! Holy Spirit is calling us to something larger, something more creative and dynamic. And this Holy, spiritual-animation shows itself in the way implementation of ministry has already begun in various Parish settings. Last year this Synod went so far as to be pro-active in directing your Diocese to move in finding the resources and personnel to bring a ‘Diocesan Children and Youth Co-ordinator’-ministry on stream.

One of the ‘key’ ingredients to such a ‘shift in ministry and mission-attitude’ is to identify the
leadership-group which has the gifts to undertake such a change. The real irony of this Imagine Huron Report, is that there are really no surprises about this. The ‘Leadership group’ is YOU! You Synod representatives and the Clergy of this great Diocese are a powerful-spiritually gifted body of ministers. All the ministerial-goodies we need are right here in this room. And there are abundantly more of these spiritual gifts in our larger Diocesan-Family. And one of the natural, built-in regular gathering places for leadership in our Diocese, is what we now call ‘Deanery Councils’.

One of the most exciting, concrete-actions proposed, came in a variety of ways when folks started
talking about our ‘Youth’ and our ‘Congregations’. Folks intuitively knew that we, in this Diocese and in our individual Deaneries, are rich beyond reckoning with gifts and talents and resources with which Holy Spirit has blessed us. What is needed is to get to know our corporate gifts better, not just at the Parish level, but as well in our wider Deanery-Families. It’s the result of this intuitive-discernment, that the goal about Leadership, placed a newer, higher profile on the leadership-ministry and mission of the Deanery Councils.

The notion is this: when the Deanery-family begins to discern and share ministerial gifts and directions, this will support and empower, not only the local Parishes, but as well foster a new ‘partnership’ with our Diocesan leadership. This will, in turn, cultivate and empower a more pro-active style of ministry in our larger world-context.

What is implied in the first goal-area on Ministry, Leadership and Communication is the challenge to
“re-imagine the role, ministry and inter-relationships of Parishes, Deanery Councils and Church House, with a clear emphasis on the ‘ministry of all the Baptized”.

The language used to describe this ‘re-imagining’ of leadership, ministry and mission, is ‘Partnership’.
‘Partner-Leadership’ is a different way of approaching ministry. The fundamental, underlying notion of a ‘Partnership Ministry’ is that it is ‘Gift-Based’. Holy Spirit has blessed this Diocese with every gift we require to undertake the ministry and mission to which Jesus is calling us. Our job is to first, discern these gifts, become familiar with them, and get ready to share them. The second job is basically to ask the question: “How does Holy Spirit want us to spend these gifts, so that we might glorify God! And then, dare to be extravagant in spending these gifts, just as God is extravagant!”. The key ingredient, to this style of Partnership-ministry and mission, is the conviction that God has blessed us with everything we need. At one level, the whole of this Report hinges on this kind of partnership with God and with each other.

The ‘Report’ itself, with its ‘tables and appendices’ and run-on page numbers, suggests a ‘linearapproach’ to Imagining our Diocese. When I think back to the Godspell production, (did I happen to mention my Nephew Drew had the lead role), I now realize I would have been bored to tears, if the script had exactly followed Matthew’s Gospel-composition. What made the show ‘communicate’, was that it was very human and touched all the senses.

So too is the end product of this Imagining-work. The Report is less a document to be followed,
verbatim, and more of a human adventure to be engaged in. This Report is a compilation of very human, human-beings, coming together, and, (not always in very neat and tidy ways), sharing their stories, gifts and aspirations for our Diocese. You, along with your sisters and brothers across this Diocese, have made this a living-document.

Thus, how this material is used is intended to be very human as well. There are six ‘Goal Areas’. When you become familiar with them, you are invited to dive in where it best suits. Goal-area One was place were it is, because it proposes a ‘basic shift’ in how we raise up and share leadership. But if Holy Spirit calls you to other ‘Goal Areas’ such as Youth, Inclusive Community, Hospitality, Social Justice, Communication, Worship and Prayer or Stewardship, then get up and get going at it! God, through Holy Spirit has this habit of giving us gifts which are to bring us joy and delight and pleasure as we serve Jesus. If you’re not having fun yet, in this business of God’s Kingdom, then try out one of your other gifts for size, just for the joy of it! So with this Report.

You will notice that a motion, coming in a moment or two, requests the Bishop to create a ‘Diocesan
Implementation Group’. The ministry of this group will be to oversee the implementation of the suggested tasks of the report and partner with those taking leadership in the various ministry undertakings.

One of the concerns that have been expressed about the Report itself and the work it proposes, goes
something like this: “Holy Smokes! Are you crazy? This is nuts! It’s too big! It’s too much work!
Someone should be burned at a stake! It would have been better if this thing had never been born!”.
The short answer is “Yes!’. There is a lot of work that You have set for Yourselves. And there seems to be key individuals who are being specifically called to offer their gifts of ‘Leadership’: Synod Delegates, Deanery Co-Chairs, Regional Deans, Clergy, Members of Deanery Councils and local Parish Councils, Archdeacons and a Bishop or two. But the work of this ministry and mission is not overwhelming, when it is set into the context of our larger, gifted Diocesan Family. The Implementation Group’ and the ‘Leadership Group’ are not alone. There is a whole Diocese of gifted people ready and eager to partner with each other!

Over and again, through out this Imagining process, your Committee witnessed an energy being
released, when folks responded to Holy Spirit’s call to dream and vision and imagine the possibilities for this Diocese of Huron. That energy and spiritual keenness has not diminished. Our primary job as ‘Leaders’, is to partner with Holy Spirit, partner with each other and allow opportunities for this spiritual energy to be released to serve God. What we have set before ourselves, is not so much ‘hard work’ as ‘Holy Work’. And there are a lot of holy, spiritually-energized people in this Diocese, ready and keen to share their gifts and skills and talents. Our job as Leaders is to invite these folks to turn their gifts loose. And yes, it will no doubt get a tad messy every once and a while. Why? Well, because we are so very human. And for some reason, God loves us exactly this way, and as a matter of fact, thought it was a good idea to come and live among us!

By the way, did you hear what Saint Paul wrote:“Be transformed by the renewal of your mind!”. What
in the world is he ‘nattering-on’ about now? Be transform to what? Renew my mind how?
Well, for you and I here in this Diocese of Huron, maybe it means daring to partner with Holy Spirit in a new adventure of faith.

Maybe it’s like those great kids who stepped out on that Godspell-stage. They dared to imagine, chose
to work hard, and then communicated a new vision of our Lord’s Good News to their larger community. It lifted people to their feet in joy and delight and in a renewal of faith! ‘Good Tiding’ were given! And ‘Good Tiding’ were received!

Or, maybe it means Imagining the Diocese of Huron, as Jesus Imagines this Diocese; a people who are
passionate to Glorify God in all our ways!

The Imagine Huron Committee offers this report, your report, in Jesus name! “Thanks be to God!”
Bishop Bruce, with your permission, it is moved by myself and seconded by Ms. Betty Livingston: “Be
it resolved that the Report of the Imagine Huron Committee be received by this Synod!”.