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November, 1998 - Vol. XXVII No. 2
Total Ministry: A New Way of Being Together

Cursorily ... From the Editor's Screen
by The Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori

This issue brings you some examples of what Total Ministry looks like in a variety of congregations, small and large, early on the journey and far down the road. You will hear from those who see Total Ministry as a way to revitalize the church (Dan Gardner, Sue Harper, Tom Moehl), the answer to God’s call to each of us at baptism (Christopher Sonsteng), and even liberation from "the earthly boss" (Ramona Rich). Total Ministry is all that and more. It applies to people of all ages, including children, and Barbara Ross makes a solid case for seeing the Children’s Charter as a model for Total Ministry. Ann Kloeppel and Ann Smith offer some organizational tools that fit well with the theology of Total Ministry. Rïse Thew-Forrester offers a maieutic (midwifing) image, and Nancy Soleim a journey metaphor for the process of living into Total Ministry.

Total Ministry is engaging the church, across the Province, across the country, and even across the Anglican Communion, reminding us that all are called to ministry at baptism. In the Diocese of Oregon, recent mission strategy discussions have led to some principles:

    1. the work of the church is to proclaim the Good News of God in Christ
    2. all Christians are called to this work at baptism
    3. regular eucharist is necessary to feed people for this work
    4. the gifts necessary for ministry in a place are already present – in the congregation and in the larger church (the diocese and/or ecumenical partners)      5. God will provide what is needed!
    6. Diocesan support will be gradually redirected, away from individual mission subsidies, and toward partnerships and regional clusters. This is an opportunity to increase partnerships between congregations in the diocese – for all congregations have something to teach as well as something to learn from others.

We are not in this alone! Learning a new way of being together as the Body of Christ is scary, it’s risky, but it’s also life-giving. We’ve wrestled with images like building the plane while we’re flying it, and sailing the boat while we’re still weaving the sail. But to me it feels most like Peter, trying to walk on the water. He does just fine until he begins to think he has to do it all by himself. We don’t quite know what it’s supposed to feel like, but we hope we’re going in the right direction, and we trust that we’re not out there on the lake all by ourselves. We know we’re going to get wet – this does begin with the water of new birth – and probably more than once!

Blessings on the journey, and Godspeed.

KJS