new church life: september/october 2014
Overseeing General Church Education, which
currently takes a quarter of his time and next year will be
allotted half his time
Providing an episcopal presence in the Church through
world-wide travel and guest preaching in Bryn Athyn and
the schools there
Administrative, such as scheduling traveling ministers
or assisting with the coordination of the clergy meetings
During brief discussion, Bishop Keith thanked Bishop
The Rev. David H. Lindrooth
spoke about the potential
Buss for what he has brought to the office.
for small groups to involve
The Rev. David H. Lindrooth’s report on General
people with the Church and
Church Outreach. He spoke first about the website
its doctrine in a new way,
upgrade at www.newchurch.org. He also spoke about the
potential for small groups to involve people with the Church and its doctrine
in a new way, and recommended the workshop scheduled for the afternoon
on this topic. Several people commented on the usefulness of the Journey
Programs, even if they need adapting from their target audience of newcomers
to a members audience in certain settings.
Before lunch, the four candidates for the ministry who were attending the
meetings as invited guests were acknowledged: Brett Buick, Jared Buss, Joel
Glenn and Judah Synnestvedt.
After lunch, we were offered a choice of a session by
General Church Outreach on “Small Groups,” or time for
reading or conversation. The presenter for the Outreach
team was Bronwen Henry, who collected a list of reasons
why people came to this session and what they were
hoping for. She reported that New Church Outreach is
experimenting with small groups as the way we “do church.”
General Church Outreach had arranged for a training
seminar in California with an expert on small groups, and
much of this session was drawn from that experience.
Bronwen Henry reported
Small groups are seen as a way to gather to look to the
that New Church Outreach
Lord, witness together, provide a network of support in
is experimenting with
small groups as the
times of need, and to serve. Several of the ministers who
way we “do church.”
had attended the training in California commented on
their experience. Mrs. Henry stressed that while you do not have to be in a
small group to be in the Church, it is a way in for many people.
Report by the Rev. Dr. Andrew M. T. Dibb, Dean of the Theological
School:, In 2014/15 there will be three students in their final year, a fourth
taking a leave of absence, and two new students. A survey of students who
went through during his tenure showed positive results.
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