From the Rector
Dear Friends in Christ,
If you’ve been in the church office or in any of the meeting rooms you will have seen a flyer inviting you to participate in the RenewalWorks survey—along with a QR code to access it. The survey will be available for only one more week; after midnight on Sunday, February 18, it will become defunct.
RenewalWorks is a ministry of Forward Movement which, in turn, is a ministry of the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Diocese of Texas conducted an interview with the leaders of both ministries, and I’ve pasted it below. The conversation took place in 2018 but the overall message remains current.
Interview
Episcopalians want to grow spiritually. Research from more than 200 congregations and 12,000 Episcopalians conducted by Forward Movement is summarized in a recently published paper rooted in extensive work on spiritual growth and vitality.
The RenewalWorks ministry, which is focused on spiritual vitality and fostering a culture of discipleship, has revealed much about the spiritual life of the Episcopal Church.
“We have learned that there is great spiritual hunger among Episcopalians,” says The Rev’d Jay Sidebotham, director of RenewalWorks. “And we are discovering catalysts that can address that hunger. Basic spiritual practices such as daily prayer, scripture study, worship attendance, and serving the poor will lead to transformation.”
The research paper is available for free download at www.renewalworks.org/researchsummary. There is also a graphic with some of the key findings on that download page.
The research summary outlines what we are learning about the spiritual life of the Episcopal Church, including the stages of spiritual growth and practices that lead to transformation.
Among key findings:
Exploring Christians include 18% of Episcopalians. This stage includes seekers and new Christians. But in the Episcopal Church, some people who have attended church for decades are also at this stage.
Growing Christians is a stage where people have committed to their spiritual growth. 55% of Episcopalians fit in this stage.
Deepening Christians are those who articulate a personal relationship with God and whose life bears significant marks of their faith. This is 23% of Episcopalians.
Christ-Centered represents just 4% of Episcopalians. For this small group, a personal relationship with God in Christ is the most important relationship in their lives.
“Our research also shows specific catalysts that are likely to move people from one stage to the next,” says The Rev’d Canon Scott Gunn, executive director of Forward Movement. “So if we want our congregations to be places where spiritual growth is happening, we need to teach and to nurture spiritual practices such as prayer, worship, study, and service.”
The research also shows the importance of the leader’s heart. “The spiritual health of the leader in the congregation is key,” Sidebotham says. “Too often clergy lose touch with their first love, with the reasons that they were drawn to ordained ministry. These challenges can have a negative effect on a church’s vitality.”
The data for the report come from the congregations who have taken part in the RenewalWorks process. This process
Invites congregants to take an extensive online survey of their beliefs, attitudes, and practices
Leads a team through four workshops to understand the findings and to implement a plan in response
Empowers leaders to create a culture of discipleship in their congregations
“What’s brilliant about RenewalWorks is that it is diagnostic, not prescriptive,” Gunn says. “There’s no gimmick here. The process tells leaders where people are, and then lay and clergy leaders can work together to offer opportunities for growth and depth.”
Yours in Christ’s Love,
—Fr Robert