Discussion of baptismal ministry (or total ministry, or mutual ministry, or ministry of all the baptized) began in earnest in Oregon at our 1993 Diocesan Convention. A task force was formed in mid-1995, about the same time as a revisioning group formed on the southern Oregon coast. Several congregations are now seriously involved in re-examining how they "do ministry," both within and outside the congregation. That examination involves re-discovering who we are, by telling our stories and discovering our gifts (see the article by Jack Hilyard), learning about and appropriating the theology expressed in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer (see Barbara Ross’s article), and re-learning that Christians are called to be "ministering communities, not communities gathered around a minister," in the words of the late Wes Frensdorff.

    Sonja Miller offers a brief recent history of total ministry, and Helen Richard admonishes us (with tongue firmly in cheek) to avoid discerning or developing our gifts for ministry. Barbara Ross gives us a survey of important educational programs and processes to develop our gifts, and Bradley Zuke gives a more detailed insight into one educational program. Michael McFettridge shows us what the baptismal initiation process looks like in his parish, and Steve Norcross shares his thoughts on total ministry from the perspective of an ordained person. For the first time in recent memory, we include a poetic offering – MicKa Leal’s musings on being gifted and called to ministry.

    Re-discovering who we are as baptized persons, gifted and called to ministry, is risky business. But, as in all parts of the Christian life, it is the dying to old ways that leads to new life. We in the diocese of Oregon, like our sisters and brothers throughout Province VIII, and around the country (and the Anglican Communion) are beginning to see the Resurrection light as we wrestle and argue and struggle with new ways of "being church." And we are being richly blessed. May you be blessed as well in this season of new birth.