A Bold New Adventure
Who are we as the parish of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia?
- According to our mission statement, we describe our function as “to know Christ and to make him known through the power of the Holy Spirit, devotion to Christ, fellowship within the church, and revelation of God’s nature in word and deed” (Bylaws, Article I, section 1).
- Over the years, on the basis of this mission statement, we have articulated our vision as being a “sending church,” a community of Jesus whose purpose is to use all its resources to the end of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with the world.
- Since 2004, we have spoken of ourselves as a “missional church.” As such, we are a community that is called to “announce and demonstrate the purpose and direction of God in the world through Jesus Christ” (from The Gospel and Our Culture Network).
It is clear then that we understand ourselves to be a community that is focused on mission and following our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
In the past, the congregation of St. Matthew's has demonstrated strength in several mission areas:
- funding missions and ministries through the Outreach Committee process as well as special designations of plate and endowment funds;
- providing occasional manpower for various ministries from Habitat for Humanity and CARITAS in Richmond to Mission to the World in Belize;
- birthing, through the Reverend Tad de Bordenave, the mission agency, Anglican Frontier Missions;
- sending a number of our members and lay staff into full time Christian vocations, including the ordained ministry; and
- keeping, as a priority, the designation of 20% of our parish income to ministries beyond our walls.
The one thing that appears to be lacking, however, is a parish identity with a specific mission.
The importance of a “signature” mission became apparent when I visited communities in the diocese and wider church where there is an excitement generated by a specific mission identity. Such an identity enables the members of these communities to focus their resources, prayers and activities in a concerted effort to make a difference for the kingdom and the world.
Based on that experience, I have set as a goal for 2010 to establish a Missions Committee.
- This committee will be distinct from the Outreach Committee.
- The members will have the task of researching and identifying a specific mission for our parish.
- The raw materials for their labors will be the specific circumstances and gifts that we have as a community.
The God-given resources of the congregation must play a major role in the discernment of the shape of our “signature” mission. We tend to think of the local parish and its members when we read St. Paul’s teachings on the Church as the Body of Christ. However, I believe that his teaching also applies to the Church universal. Different local congregations have different gifts to contribute to the success of the overall mission of the Body. Our challenge is discerning how we can bring together our Spirit-given gifts and a spiritual need in the world so that God’s redeeming love might be made known.
As members of the St. Matthew’s community, you are invited to participate in this exciting initiative immediately. I solicit your prayers, your suggestions and your commitment to being not only hearers of the word, but doers also (James 1:22) and would be happy to have you come by the office to discuss with me this bold new adventure for St. Matthew’s.