Here's the latest news from General Convention about evangelism and 20/20 resolutions passed (as of 7 August, the penultimate day of legislation)
Evangelism and 20/20 (Resolution numbers are in parentheses)
_Called on every Episcopalian to be
able to articulate his or her faith story
and urged dioceses and congregations to
create opportunities for the stories to be
told (A083).
_Asked the church to reach out to
groups who have felt unwelcome or
alienated, particularly those who
identify themselves as the “new majority”
characterized by diversity of race,
ethnicity, language, disability and sexual
orientation (C006). [This came from diocal]
_Directed the Standing Committee
on Domestic Mission and Evangelism
to develop strategic plans to meet
measurable goals of the 20/20 vision
and to report annually to Executive
Council and the church at large about
progress toward the 20/20 vision in
each of the nine areas: leadership,
spirituality, prayer and worship, research,
new congregation development,
vital congregations, next generations,
communication, funding and reporting
(A084).
_Urged the presiding bishop and
Executive Council to establish a Mission
Funding Office for the church and
that this office initiate a discernment
process for a church-wide mission
funding effort focused on, but not
limited to, the 20/20 initiatives (A140).
FLASH!
Ad campaign approved
In communications, the convention approved the launch of a $1.5 million
national ad campaign. It also directed the national Church Center to
prepare materials in other languages, including Spanish and French, and
to provide closed captioning for the deaf. (See the earlier blog entry on diocal ads for more info)
Writing in the latest issue of Congregational Builder, Charles Fulton, head of condev at the national Church center, had a great practical suggestion for enlarging our congregations.
He writes: "In 2001 the Average Sunday Attendance for the Episcopal Church was 853,000. That amounts to one third of one percent of the population of the United States. There is tremendous opportunity for the Episcopal Church beyond one third of one percent. It is estimated that only twenty percent of the general population has any weekly contact with a faith community. Each of us knows, works with, socializes with and lives next door to people who hunger spiritually and have not heard us speak of our faith and the difference it makes in our lives."
Charles suggests that we do the obvious: invite those folks to church! He goes on to say:
". ...Of course, the congregations would have to be open to receiving the people invited, a claim easier to make than to honor and deliver because new people will challenge congregational norms."
4% annual growth is all it takes for us to meet the 20/20 goal of doubling the size of the Episcopal Church by the year 2020.