Together, the members of St. Michael and All Angels form a caring and dynamic community that worships God and continues Jesus’ ministry in the world. We are guided and strengthened by living out the promises and covenant of baptism. Because our baptismal vows are so central to our parish mission, the vestry committed to engage in the process of Ministry Of All The Baptized about two years ago. Members of the diocesan task force visited the congregation and presented an overview of the theology, the process, and the resources available to parishes. Energized and excited by the possibilities, a planning committee formed to begin the educating the congregation and guiding the process.

    In the fall of 1997, two members of the task force, Linda Martin and Katharine Jefferts Schori, conducted a Saturday workshop on gifts discernment. Two small groups formed for further study and support. We used materials provided by the diocese, books suggested by the task force, and books provided by members of the groups. One group met weekly for three months and the other bi-weekly over a period of several months. Although people expressed disappointment that individual gifts were not clearly revealed, we learned more about ourselves and supported each other through shared stories. As a follow-up to gifts discernment, a member of the congregation conducted a workshop using the Myers-Briggs personality profile and will present a workshop on the enneagram in the spring.

    Throughout the past year, we have sought to make "Ministry of All The Baptized" a meaningful phrase for the congregation. We have heard several sermons on the subject of ministry and the baptismal covenant. They emphasized awareness of ministry as a part of our daily lives, our work, our home, our community, and our leisure. Members of the congregation presented adult education forums and shared their stories about the opportunities for ministry in their lives.

    Recently the planning committee stopped and took stock of what we have accomplished thus far and what we hope to accomplish in the future. We have created an atmosphere in which ministry is claimed by everyone and the congregation is openly talking about their individual commitments. We have agreed that there is no end-point at which we can say that we have completed Ministry of all the Baptized. We see those involved now as the "pebble in the pond," the beginning point of an ever-widening circle of awareness of ministry and its meaning.

    As of September 1998, the planning committee adopted three goals for the continuation of the process: 1) Educate the congregation to understand that ministry is an attitude; that living out the baptismal covenant is central to how we live our lives as Christians; 2) Promote opportunities which keep the message in people's minds; preach sermons, sing hymns, fly banners, and talk about ministry at committee meetings and gatherings; 3) Provide structured programs to assist in awareness and to support living out the covenant; acknowledge current ministries, form small interest groups or guilds, and intentionally include new people in the process.

    We do not know what Ministry of All The Baptized will look like at St. Michael's a year from now or five years from now, but our hope is that every member of the congregation will be living fuller, richer lives in covenant with their parish and their community.

© 2001, Diocese of Oregon
updated 05/03/2003 16:24
contact: kylew@diocese-oregon.org