Almost 2 Years As A Nomad

After our 2012 Diocesan Convention, “Living Our Baptism”, I accepted a call to join a group seeking God’s mission-oriented future for the Diocese of Olympia. It was called “Outside Church Walls.” It has been meeting once a month since December 2012 in the Seattle area that is not within our church walls.

In my professional life I worked several years as a marine industry consultant working in the Middle East and Korea, so I did have some idea of working outside of normal U.S. working atmosphere and conditions, absorbing a little bit of nomadic life.

Our task has been to work with Bishop Greg trying to come up with ideas that would make our Diocese of Olympia and the 100 Episcopal Churches within, more involved to carry out our God given charge, as individuals and congregations into our communities, the Mission of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

To say the least, it has been an interesting adventure that has allowed me to visit many locations in the Puget Sound area that I never would have been to other- wise. I have met some wonderful people and organizations that are, in different ways, carrying out God’s Mission on a regular basis. I’ve gotten to work with and know 13 members of our Diocese, both Lay and Priests, that I can say have worked hard, prayed hard, anguished about how to live into our Baptismal Vows, and carry out the Lord’s will in the Diocese of Olympia.

I felt good about the surveys we did in our congregations, communities, and the interviews with community leaders that led to our forum and program at the 2013 Diocesan Convention. Our forum with the Community Interview Packet was filled to overflowing on Saturday morning, but the follow-ups with individual congregations after Convention did not create the enthusiasm we had hoped with the exceptions of a few congregations.

Yes, we were disappointed, but felt we should carry on with sharing information from many other Dioceses’ and congregations across the Episcopal and Anglican Churches across, not just the U.S., but around the World.

“Outside Church Walls” will be bringing the ideas and concerns of the past two years to the 104th Convention of the Diocese of Olympia in November 2014.

Our August meeting was held at “Seattle Tilth”, Rainier Valley site, in a garden setting. We were served a fantastic meal by Elders from East African immigrant communities who work the gardens with the Lord’s help...very powerful.

It was at this meeting that we tried to summarize the defining themes over our time together.

1. A powerful personal faith that drove our presence in our world and church.
2. A compelling purpose (a clear why?) growing out of that faith.
3. A meaningful action that comes from 1 & 2.
4. Leadership and accountability from Lay, Clergy and Congregations that will provide the dynamic for 1,2,& 3.

Yes, OCW was a bit Nomadic in our wandering! We argued, disagreed both passionately and faithfully, always in a Grace filled and faithful time. We prayed a lot for each other and for the Lord’s will to be done.

I was reminded of our “Deacon’s Poverty Resolution” passed at the 2012 Convention. Not to eliminate it, but to make sure that any programs in our churches would consider poverty in our communities and actions...What Would Jesus Do? That was on every agenda of our meetings and might be one of the vehicals between congregations and communities that will make a difference in carrying out our Lord’s work, both inside and outside our Church walls. Amen



Chuck