Bishop Salmon to lead

fall stewardship conference

by Ana Watts

“Stewardship is boring,” says Bishop Edward Salmon. “What’s exciting is being engaged by the vision of the Gospel.”

In August of 2008 Bishop Salmon excited and engaged clergy and Diocesan Council with his spiritual and practical approach to the mission of the Church. Clergy and lay leaders will again be treated to his inspiring teachings at A New Day, a diocesan stewardship conference , Oct. 16 and 17 at Trinity Church, Sussex.

At Synod  in June, the diocese developed a strategy for transformational change. Teaching to prepare clergy and lay leaders for such change, and a major stewardship initiative are two of the highest strategic priorities identified by synod. This conference addresses both.

On Friday afternoon and evening (Oct. 16) parish clergy will Prepare for a New Day (dinner provided) with Bishop Salmon (retired) of South Carolina. On Saturday (Oct. 17) two lay leaders sent by each parish will join the clergy for an all day session on Building the Team for The New Day.

This stewardship conference is such an important part of the diocese’s commitment to transformational change, the Stewardship Team will provide overnight accommodations for clergy who travel from a distance to attend. Billets can also be arranged for lay participants who want to travel the evening before their conference session.

When Bishop Salmon set out to transform his own struggling diocese he started at the parish level because he believes healthy parishes are the foundation of a healthy diocese. His dedication to mission, expert leadership training, relationship hygiene, stewardship and preaching the Gospel of "Jesus the Risk of God," was embraced by his diocese and contributed to its successful transformation — spiritual, numerical and financial— during his 18-year episcopacy.

This October’s stewardship conference focuses on the combination of expert leadership training and devotion to stewardship. Parishes are asked to choose lay participants (one should be a warden) to this important conference carefully. All participants are asked to make attendance at this event a high priority. The knowledge they gain and the tools they develop will enable them to begin the work that leads to the transformational change necessary for the Church to continue to fulfill its mission in this diocese.

A registration fee of $25 per participant includes meals and breaks. Parish corporations are encouraged to cover the costs for participants from their parishes. On-line registration is available.

 

 

 

Diocesan Communications

01 September 2009