Comments on: Mission, Vision, and Strategy

By: Kevin E Martin

Kevin E Martin — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 12:54:56 +0000

Let’s be clear. Vision is about who we are or identity. Mission is about what we do because of who we are, so consequently good mission statements have strong active verbs. Jonathan’s article illustrates this well.

The task of leaders is to understand both of these for the local community. I’ve helped hundreds of congregations work to clarify these. When asked if I think every parish should have a written mission statement, I reply that every church should have a mission. If writing a statement helps identify the people’s passion, then write it, but having it written isn’t the goal. Having the passion and commitment is! Stroking that passion is the primary work of leaders.

By: Christopher R Seitz

Christopher R Seitz — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 21:14:32 +0000

“In 1969 the Diocese of Central Florida, the Diocese of Southeast Florida, and the Diocese of Southwest Florida were created out of a division of the large Diocese of South Florida. Bishop Henry I. Louttit, Bishop of South Florida, presided over the primary Conventions of each new diocese for the purpose of electing their Diocesan Bishops.”

By: Christopher R Seitz

Christopher R Seitz — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 19:24:33 +0000

It was the general practice across TEC/PECUSA that Morning Prayer was the principal service on Sundays, with an 8 a.m. service of Holy Communion. With the new BCP (1979) that would change. There were some dioceses and parishes that departed from this, and my memory of Central Florida does not go back this far.

Orlando in the ’60s may still have been part of the single Diocese of Florida. Henry Louttit was high church, but the practice of parishes wasn’t necessarily Holy Communion every Sunday. Someone in the present Central Florida diocese should know this.

If all this is correct, I wonder what “low church” meant? Virginia churchmanship? Cassock and surplice? Much of the churchmanship in this era turned on where the diocese sent their aspirants and what kind of churchmanship was inculcated.

I went from Orlando to Virginia Theological Seminary in the late ’70s, but my memory was a predilection for the erstwhile Seabury-Western and Nashotah. The former wasn’t necessarily “high church.” I guess all this is to say that the culture changed significantly in the ’70s with liturgical renewal (various experimental books) headed toward the 1979 BCP.

By: Jeff Endean

Jeff Endean — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 17:18:58 +0000

I expect it may often be easier for a low-church parish to live along a trajectory set by its original parishioners than for a high-church parish if the spikiness involves maintenance of building, fixtures and equipment that are treasured by some alumni but that have, frankly, outlived their usefulness and financial viability.

I believe Fr.—er—Mr. Turtle is on the right track.