Wardens appreciate insight and training
by Ana Watts
The eighth annual Warden’s Day was clearly an eye-opener for at least one diocesan warden. His/her evaluation of the event included "My first warden's day showed me many things that I need to be on top of immediately, and in my term as warden. I didn't realize there were so many canons and regulations I need to be aware of. I'll need to study them."
Another participant said, "I thought a lot about who I am as an Anglican. Geoff is a wonderful speaker." Geoff is Archdeacon Geoffrey Hall, the bishop’s executive assistant, who brought greetings from Bishop Claude Miller, who is recovering from knee surgery. Archdeacon Hall also started the day’s program with a commentary on Anglican identity.
More than 80 wardens and clergy from all over the diocese registered 
for the daylong event held at Christ Church (Parish) Church in Fredericton and sponsored by the Diocesan Council Parish Development and Support Team chaired by Hazel MacKenzie.
“More than 60 participants returned conference evaluations and they were all pleased with the day,” says Jim Morell of Fredericton who helped to facilitate the event. “Many said all the sessions were worthwhile. Those that received the most favorable individual comment were Geoffrey's talk on what it means to be Anglican and Jim Chandra's presentation on why demographic change is important to our parishes That is not to say other sessions weren't well-received. They were. It's just that these two received the most
favorable comments.”
Of the Chandra presentation one warden wrote: "I didn't realize that demographics was so important. I picked up several ideas that I can take back (to my parish)."
First on the after lunch agenda was money — a subject most Anglicans would like to avoid. Canon Fred Scott, diocesan treasurer, brought the wardens up to speed on the diocesan 2009 shared ministry budget and the challenge faced by the finance committee since parish funding has been frozen since 2007.
As difficult as the past three years have been, Canon Scott says he is excited by what he has identified as “something positive in the wind.
“I think something good is going to happen in at the synod in Saint John next June. Ever since Bishop Salmon came to talk to us, the atmosphere is different, people are working together.”
Bishop Edward Salmon, a retired bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina who turned a struggling diocese into one with an abiding sense of mission through expert leadership training, relationship hygiene, stewardship and preaching the Gospel of “Jesus the Risk of God," spent three days with clergy and a day with diocesan council in late August.
“Take care with your choice and education of synod delegates,” Canon Scott told the wardens. “Synod 2009 may be quite an event.”
The two final presentations of the day were held simultaneously and if two wardens from a parish were present, each attended one.
Andrew Logan, a warden in The Nerepis and St. John, shared the history of combining four struggling parishes to create one new and vibrant one. He included recent photos of the under construction Church of the Resurrection where the people plan to worship at Christmas.
Canon Charles Ferris, past chancellor of the diocese and a member of the constitution and canons committee, reviewed the newest and latest revisions to diocesan legislation and explained the reasons for the changes.
Archdeacon Pat Drummond ended the day with an update from the Parish Development and Support Team. The day’s evaluations gave that team a leg up for next year’s planning. The wardens identified growth-oriented strategies and programs for parishes; how to meet increasing budgets when the average income of parishioners is fixed; how to train vestry members and ensure good communication with our congregation; strategies for developing a positive working relationship between wardens and the rector; and financial issues such as tithing and fund raising as topics of discussion for next year.
The wardens also said they would like more opportunity to share their experiences with other wardens.
Diocesan Communications
11 November 2008
