What are we looking for?

[Rex McKee]

How can the diocesan staff best nurture and support grass-roots, bottom up ministry, focusing on vibrant congregations and investing time and resources in growing ministries that are strategic?

[Rob Leduc]

I would like to see the bishop (the office - not nec. referring to the incumbent) be more involved with local issues in Minnesota. I know there is much to be done at the national church level and the Communion level these days, but I feel some distance between our local focus of unity and what is going on in my life.

The great exception was the bishop's stance on the conceal and carry law, which I applaud.

In a less thrilling example, our church was active in supporting striking AFSCME workers at the U of M. We felt very strongly about this as a social justice issue for a variety of reasons. I tried contacting the diocesan office to get some sort of solidarity statement from the diocese, but the bishop had been too busy with a House of Bishops meeting to get involved. Understandable, given the current tensions, but the strike went on some weeks. It would have been nice to get something at some point.

I understand some will find it difficult to believe that a bishop might give a statement during a strike, especially if it might be supporting one side or another. I might disagree, pointing out that Catholic social theology is quite progressive on this point. However, even some sort of soft statement urging a quick and just resolution for both sides would have been something.

We've got to proclaim the gospel locally - we don't have an alternative. While individuals, lay and clerical, or even congregations can do this, it is something else to have the bishop as our local focus of unity make such statements. While press releases may be a dime a dozen, they tend to be noncontroversial. I think we will make a greater impact proclaiming the gospel locally in areas of controversy. These days, the gospel does seem both highly relevant and controversial for some reason.

Are we going to associate the church with necessary but unpopular stands, or will we only kibbutz from our middle class refuge?

[Rex McKee]

Rob Leduc said:

I would like to see the bishop (the office - not nec. referring to the incumbent) be more involved with local issues in Minnesota. I know there is much to be done at the national church level and the Communion level these days, but I feel some distance between our local focus of unity and what is going on in my life.

The great exception was the bishop's stance on the conceal and carry law, which I applaud.

In a less thrilling example, our church was active in supporting striking AFSCME workers at the U of M. We felt very strongly about this as a social justice issue for a variety of reasons. I tried contacting the diocesan office to get some sort of solidarity statement from the diocese, but the bishop had been too busy with a House of Bishops meeting to get involved. Understandable, given the current tensions, but the strike went on some weeks. It would have been nice to get something at some point.

I understand some will find it difficult to believe that a bishop might give a statement during a strike, especially if it might be supporting one side or another. I might disagree, pointing out that Catholic social theology is quite progressive on this point. However, even some sort of soft statement urging a quick and just resolution for both sides would have been something.

We've got to proclaim the gospel locally - we don't have an alternative. While individuals, lay and clerical, or even congregations can do this, it is something else to have the bishop as our local focus of unity make such statements. While press releases may be a dime a dozen, they tend to be noncontroversial. I think we will make a greater impact proclaiming the gospel locally in areas of controversy. These days, the gospel does seem both highly relevant and controversial for some reason.

Are we going to associate the church with necessary but unpopular stands, or will we only kibbutz from our middle class refuge?

[Rex McKee]

Rob...thanks for your thoughts....peace, Rex

[Newell Searle]

I agree with Rob Leduc's general statement. The level of local engagement by the office of bishop hasn't been highly visible on many social issues such as poverty, hunger and immigration -- which are often intertwined. Much of the "witnessing" to the Gospel issues is done by secular organizations rather than the church. It's tempting to survive by being inoffensive but that isn't true to the Gospel ... of what use is the salt when it has lost its taste? On a practical level, we must pick our battles, but we must pick! Welcoming and advocating for immigrants (of which we have a variety) would seem natural and also a source of strength. Welcoming the stranger is the oldest of biblical commandments, for which Abraham was blessed. It's a good place to start.