Perhaps it will be of interest even to those outside of Upper South Carolina . . . there are some helpful thoughts and insights, I think, even from some summary notes.
These are in no particular order, though I have clustered them by candidate.
Michell
Intro to group: “I do not bring a vision to you.” He has one, we have one and do they match? He has a passion for the Gospel, a focus on mission, wants to reduce diocesan assessments, work on congregational development and church planting, relates experience.
Q1 Common question how to educate and empower others to be leaders esp youth.
Ans: 2 parts Leadership vs growth in faith. “Leadership is influence” to “move people in ways they may not have moved on their own.” Prayer with leadership and for them, would like to have more workshops even in convocations.
Q4 Where will you cut the budget?
Ans: First need to prioritize based on strategic paln. Dio of Dallas 20% goes to planting.
He is very concerned about the decline of participation and membership in TEC. He says that it began in 1965 because the Episcopal Church has not been excited about the Gospel. We need to teach congregations to be passionate about the Gospel.
What is the central focus of his ministry? Leadership development and congregational development.
First missionary bishop to Dallas came from South Carolina . . .
Developed a course for new vicars and rectors . . . annual vestry and warden's conference, evangelism conference, stewardship conference, and rural conferences
Has recently hired a full-time Canon for Church Planting
New clergy -- five under age of 30, four more under age of 40
How to reduce trend in numbers decline. "Not been passionate enough about preaching the Gospel." Aim to to help churches grow. TEC has "bonzi theory of churches - keep them small & root bound." Strong diocese leads to strong chruches.
Lots of church planting. Said 20% of budget goes to church planting.
What have you done to develop staff and leadership? He differentiates between leadership and spiritual development - there are leaders who are not spiritual and there are spiritual people who are not leaders. Leadership is not a job title or description; It is influence - the ability to move one/people in a better direction than they are currently in, being transparent about their faith, the ability to pray with people because at that level, Christianity is better caught than taught.- Mentoring and coaching/using the book The Great Commission.
How to reunite parishes as his experience in Dallas. Describe your management style - When priests become bishops, not like a large church. He teaches by example - pastored people. Has been interim rector where the rector left and took the people with him. He gave permission to people to talk about issues. Has developed staff of the diocese. Has given people permission to fail and succeed. He will bring grace to love the clergy.Said he had seen the priests at their very best and their very worst - he's a realist. He understood holding things in tension - knew his guiding principles.
Experience w/ Parish growth - has been decon in charge, priest in charge and rector. From 15-55 people; from 115 - 155; planted a church; had 02 ASA to 275 - just bought 8 acres - he helps others understand how to lead a church to grow. Diocese of Dallas committed to plant churches - Korean, Spanish seminary, hispanic, etc.Has growth stats in all areas. He will learn by failure and success.
What is Episcopalian Evangelism? There is no need to be ashamed of evangelism. Philip said "Come and See - at best, we invite people to experience risen Christ among us. Term is not an oxymoron. He does not want to BE a bishop. He wants to DO bishop. TEC has lost 60,000 people in two years. "Good news is worth sharing"
-passion for the gospel
-would reduce assessments
-real experience in parish development/renewal/planting
Q. How would you management style differ as a bishop than as a priest?
A. One main difference is that some priests that become bishops, treat the diocese as a large parish, bu it is not.
In response to the general question about leadership and spiritual direction asked of all candidates, he talked about the necessity of having good leadership skills, and being spiritually grounded in the Christian faith to exercise servant leadership within a diocese.
In response to a question about Episcopal Evangelicalism, he quoted Mark Twain’s response to the question “Do you believe in infant baptism? Believe in it! I’ve actually seen it!. Episcopal evangelism is the embodiment of invitation: “Come see! Come experience the risen Christ!
Michell: develops leaders and congregations. Mission orientated. Relational, especially with clergy.
Nouwen principle: Movement from solitude, to community, to ministry -- to know that we are beloved
Question on books and writing: Three books in my computer -- 1) leadership for people in ministry, 2) core values in Anglicanism -- Celtic missionary expansion -- missional & catholic and 3) confirmation
Jesus as the only way to the Father -- we have the testimony of the early Church, the testimony of the Apostles, we are inheritors of their teaching, it is what caused the church to grow until it infiltrated even Caesar's palace, the gospel changes lives
Diocese of Dallas started a Spanish-speaking seminary
Presently teach Anglican History at School for Ministry in Dallas
More deacons are needed; would like to see one in each church
When asked about his top three priorities, Fr. Michell began with “developing community” by visiting and listening, next mentioned using congregational and leadership development to focus on congregations as the primary reason the diocese exists, and concluded with helping to shift budget priorities to move more resources to the congregations. In his closing remarks, Fr. Michell quoted someone who had contrasted the person who wants to be president with the one who wants to do the job of president. Said Fr. Michell, “I don’t want to be your bishop.” He detailed the shrinking of TEC membership, likening the shrinkage to the loss of several dioceses across the Southeast, then said he would not be a bishop “who would simply bless this decline.” He’s committed to mission, ministry, and growth of EDUSC.
Burwell
Q1 Common question on building leadership.
Ans: “bottom up Principle” empower people to know the Bible, the BCP, the Lord. Describes typical staff meetings and use of Bible study in staff meetings as well as 30 min of prayer
Q3 What about small mission churches?
Ans: They all can grow. First remember what our purpose is. The church exists for those who are not yet members. Accept people where they are. It is about relationships not religion.
Goals: Driving desire to build up churches, reverse declining trends, raise up Episcopalians, lessen financial burdens, develop world class leadership -- some say future is shared scarcity, I say different.
He opened his presentation with a prayer and he closed with prayer.
He spoke without any notes. He replied to the question of how to get or instill leadership and faith by saying that he meets with his 27 member staff weekly in bible study and prayer. In 1997 he insisted on hiring a youth minister. At that time they had only 6 teens. Now they have 250 teens and 3 youth ministers.
1. Prayer and bible study - beautiful opening prayer - praying is wonderful.
How have you developed staff. Staff meeting every Tuesday. Bible study on lectionalry - then agenda -then 30 minutes of prayer - prayer fuels Church of the Holy Cross. In 1997 had six teenagers, now has 350.
He believes in bottom up ministry, not top down.
2. Numbers - from 75 members to 1800. 350 new members on Daniel Island..started at zero! experience Much i church plants and parish development.
3. Growth - his 7 principles to increase attendance - church exists for those who are not Christians - Holy Spirit will do with him - get him in church - god will take people wherever they are - get them in .- all in God's timetable. Relationally . We would be welcoming - going out to welcome.
Example of parish in Darlington -- average age was 60, wanted to lower that, noticed that everybody in community played softball -- went to grill out at softball games -- added 15 families
Some still stuck back in the 60s when everybody went to church -- we don't have to die out -- God has not called TEC to die out
4. Definition of Episcopalian Evangelist - good news of Jesus Christ. Bring a light to the nations. All are in need of a Savior. Evangalism is sharing where the bread is.
Closing - Excited by the Diocese of USC. Wants to grow DUSC. Feels it is dynamic. Went in to a parish where the junior and senior warden were suing each, and HE STAYED. Situation of conflict where he dealt w/ it.
Q2: What experience do you have with parish growth, church planting, and parish leadership development? Please share examples.
Cited growth at Holy Cross from 75 to 1800
Second location church on Daniel Island
Wrote leadership development manual for the Diocese of South Carolina
Taught leadership in many dioceses
Q3: What programs or procedures would you use to increase church attendance?
7 Basic Premises used at Holy Cross:
The church exists for those who are not yet members
The church accepts you wherever you are on your faith journey
Relationships: people want relationships, not religion
Outward focus vs. inward focus
Would like to use 30 years of experience to work with the EDUSC
Opportunity to work with 60+ congregations, to help them grow
Stockton Williams
Core belief- God is at the center, loves us, came to Earth to be born and to die, He is here constantly working in your life, make it known, His name is Jesus.
Common Q1 What have you done to develop leadership esp youth.
Ans: Look to past performance, identify the quiet types , talked about his love of youth, his all time favorite job is working with “Happening.” He believes that Bible study and discerning peoples gifts are both needed to develop leaders.
Opened with statement of core beliefs. God is at the heart of the universe. God aches for us to respond to his love as he loves us. He is in our lives right now and His name is Exalted.
Then he said a short prayer.
In response to the leadership question he spoke of spiritual gift inventories. That is, trying to help individuals understand what their gifts are and encourage them to respond and develop them. Supports Happening and finds it a good way to get young leaders. He is on the National board for Happening. He also supports Alpha, EFM, and several other programs. Says that it is dealing with spiritual issues, not just an administrative thing.
Leadershhip is key. Modelled on Christ. Want leaders with the mind of Christ.
On church planting said we tend to worry about facility first then people. Needs to be other way around.
Experienced in leading growth in his parishes. Evangelicalism – “one beggar showing another where the bread is”.
Williams: Good match to EDUSC profile, vision.
Q1: What have you done to develop and strengthen Christian faith among staff, laity, and youth; how have you identified, educated and empowered these people for ministry?
Leadership is key; watch for the “quiet” ones
Diocesan Spiritual Director for Happening, on national Happening Board
Discovery Weekends, Alpha, EFM
People formed in the heart and mind of Christ
Q5: List your priorities if you were bishop. Would you use Bishop Payne’s book?
Listen and learn
Start with the top 3 priorities on the diocesan profile: youth, intergenerational relations, growth
Likes Payne’s book
CS Lewis: we come to God through the cross -- cannot come saying what you have done -- a part of us nationally are drifting towards Unitarian faith rather than robust Trinitarianism
Question about diocese and parishes relationship: There are things we can do better as groups -- camps and conferences, Happening, pensions and insurance, social services [example of this in San Antonio]
He opened by declaring his “core beliefs” with emphasis on God’s love, His aching to be in a relationship with us, and his unbroken presence in our lives. One of his questions was submitted by my wife, who asked him to comment on the statement that “some of the Old Testament are just plain bloody books.” Fr. W’s reply: “I disagree.” He went on to say that “they’re sacred books, divinely inspired. God still speaks to us today through the Old Testament.” He concluded by saying, “Because it’s difficult doesn’t mean I jettison the Old Testament.”
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Comments:
One phrase rang out from all these posts: PASSION FOR THE GOSPEL! Love it! If Mitchell truly has it, keeps it, lives it and promotes it, that’s the way a true church should go!