Section 4: Where We Need to Grow
Deeper in Christ
Christ’s call to make disciples is a standing, primary order. The reality is, however, that too many of our members are underdeveloped disciples. Our increasingly secularized culture breeds skepticism and, at times, open hostility toward Christ and His followers, yet we are called forward as lights in the darkness and ministers among the broken lives around us. The relative wealth of our region and advanced technologies of our times can blind us to our spiritual need and lukewarm heart toward God (Rev. 3:15-19). Too often our prayer lives are thin and humility lacking. We need a strong, renewed call to repentance, to go deeper in Christ, and to draw on the Anglican tradition which affords such a rich treasure of habits, disciplines, and practices to embed us further into the One who made us.
Wider in Our Communities
We are blessed to live and work in one of the most diverse parts of the country. A vast sea of faces from across the globe can be seen on the roads, in the shops and businesses, but very few in our churches. Language and cultural barriers along with fears and bad experiences keep them from passing through our doors, but many have never been invited. Added to this are the often painful social/racial/ethnic tensions which divide our communities. We long for this to change and for us to embrace the call to ministry among and with every ethnic and racial group. Concerted prayer and fasting are needed for spiritual breakthroughs in our churches and in the communities they serve. There are heavenly powers at work in these divisions which only focused prayer can defeat. Another key is strong, godly leadership at every level. We especially need more clergy from a broad racial and ethnic range to lead in bridge building and church planting, especially in unreached urban areas. To that end, we are committed to intentional leadership development among racial and ethnic minorities, who, we pray, will lead us in evangelism and authentic Gospel witness in all the places in which diocesan churches are not presently planted.
Church Planting
Church Planting demonstrably draws the unchurched to Christ and returns the de-churched into growing faith communities. The Diocese’s Vision for 50 challenges us to plant 50 new worshiping communities by 2030, especially in the presently underserved urban areas of the DC/Baltimore metro area. While the Great Commission Committee of the Diocese is our largest program, further resources, people, and strategies are needed to elevate the energy and movement toward significant new plants.
More Clergy
We have a strong process for discernment and preparation of those who sense a call to ordained ministry. The Ordination Committee, led for many years by the late Rev. Jack Grubbs, together with the Examining Chaplains, come alongside postulants to guide them forward. Additionally, opportunities to enter the leadership pipeline are presented to promising high school age leaders as well as roles for lay and ordained individuals to learn and grow through internships and residencies. Our prayer, however, is for more clergy to take the openings created by retiring priests, as well as to lead or help to lead church plants.