Many of us participated in a fantastic conversation in March around healing divides in our region during the Diocese's Healing in the Heartland event. We discussed the many challenges of reconciliation in our world (especially in this election year), but also the hope in sharing our stories and committing to the work of reconciliation together.
During Healing in the Heartland, we launched Beautiful Bridges: An Initiative for Sharing the Peace. This initiative focuses on using the most powerful resource we have (each other) to aid our work in healing the divides. In this initiative congregations work across differences to create relationship, have focused formation, and develop a ministry project together that focuses on healing a particular divide in their communities that utilizes the wisdom from their time together. To support and encourage this work, participants in the program who develop a ministry project will be provided funding to launch this project and supported with training and resources throughout to help further their work in collaboration, formation, and in the development of a project.
The response has been energizing! Many of you have reached out regarding next steps for Beautiful Bridges and it's an inspiration to see so many people of faith interested in collaboration and committed to the work of reconciliation. In the joy of this Easter season and in the eagerness of finding new ways to meet the resurrected Christ in the world, we are now happy to release more information regarding the next steps for the Beautiful Bridges initiative.
Starting today, we are asking congregations to self-select into the initiative by notifying the Rev. Aaron Rogers that your congregation is going to participate by May 15. Next, we are asking each congregation to develop a team that includes at least 1 clergy member, 1 vestry member and two to three lay members to participate in the initiative and champion the work in the congregation. Lastly, the selected team from your congregation must attend (in-person) a two-hour training on listening and engagement at The Episcopal Church of St. Michael and St. George in Clayton on May 25, from 10 a.m. until noon.
Again, I want to thank you for enthusiasm and support. In a world that is often overwhelmingly polarized, we need communities like yours to witness to the wondrous reconciling love that holds us all together. There are often dangerous divides, thank you for taking the opportunity to be beautiful bridges.
Download a trifold brochure to learn more about this initiative.
Beautiful Bridges - First Steps:
- Fill out the participation form below by May 15.
- Each participating congregation should develop a team:
- 1 clergy person
- 1 Vestry/Bishop's Committee member
- 2-3 lay members - Attend May 25 training (registration coming soon)