Parish Partnership in Ministry
Parishes of Greenwich, Grand Bay, Ketepec and Westfield
Diocese of Fredericton

VISION BROCHURE
as circulated to the parishes 23 March 2003

Then David blessed the Lord
in the presence of the whole assembly,
praying in these words:
"Blessed may you be, O Lord,
God of Israel our father,
from eternity to eternity.
"Yours, O Lord, are grandeur and power,
majesty, splendour, and glory.
For all in heaven and on earth is yours;
yours, O Lord, is the sovereignty;
you are exalted as head over all.
But who am I, and who are my people, that we should have the means to
contribute so freely? For everything is from you, and we only give you what
we have received from you. "
- 1 Chronicles 29:10-11, 14

Greetings from the Parish Partnership
in Ministry Stage 4 Steering Group!

This brochure is information for parishioners as we approach parish meetings as scheduled on Sunday, March 30th, 2003, in the parishes of Grand Bay, Greenwich, Ketepec and Westfield.

Included here are: the motion all will be asked to consider; Canon XX "Amalgamation, Division or Setting Off of Parishes;" and a brief summary of the Vision based, in part, on insights and recorded comments and discussions from the visioning meetings held November 24th and December 1st, 2002.

Introduction
Please review this information carefully in preparation for a ballot vote on 30 March. If you have any questions, please ask your parish Steering Group members.

The discussions, ideas, dreams and concerns have been considered by the Steering Group representing a vision of a new parish ministry and worship facility. The vote on Sunday, March 30th, is your advice to your parish corporation on a petitioning of our Bishop, at his request, to begin the process of amalgamation of the four partner parishes into one new parish.

Your vote will indicate your personal wishes as to the continuation of your parish in the Partnership Project and becoming one. Your parish corporation will then make the decision to request that the Bishop begin the amalgamation process. As always, the Bishop will make the final decision with the information available to him, his goal being the best arrangements for all involved.

Once the amalgamation process has begun Canon XX outlines a three month period during which objection may be made to the Bishop in writing by parish corporations or any group of at least ten parishioners (eligible to vote at parish meetings). The current intention is that we:
• begin regular worship together as one parish, at one central worship point as soon as possible.
• continue to use St. Paul's Church, Oak Point as a rural mission point of the new parish due to considerations of distances involved
• Begin planning for decisions on the appointment and election of leadership (Stage 5) for the proposed new parish.

At the end of the required three months (July 2003?) the new parish will be formed, a new corporation elected and the process of closing existing worship points will proceed as planning continues for the new worship and outreach facility.

Six Stages of the Parish Partnership in Ministry Project

1. Exploration stage (completed by vestries Sept 2001)
2. Structural Feasibility Stage - exploration of the current assets, resources and facilities available for use in partnering in a joint facility (church/Anglican Centre) for the Grand Bay-Westfield area.
3. Congregational Decision Stage - Congregations of the three parishes involved, with the information on feasibility in hand, vote on proceeding with the process.
4. Community Stage - Assuming that the feasibility study shows a positive result and agreement has been reached on proceeding, this stage involves growing together within a new community including parishioners from the partner parishes. During this time all congregations will participate but keep their present structure.
5. Leadership Stage - Assuming all vestries and parishes vote in favour of a joint future, the appointment of a Rector for the new parish will be made.
6. Building Stage - Construction of a new facility for worship and educational purposes.

The Vision. The Future.

"To be a unified, faith-driven, growing Anglican Church proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, serving the community in traditional and innovative Spirit-led ministries."

The Stage 4 Steering Group is excited to present to you this summary of a new parish vision. It is drafted based on the work of the Parish Partnership Project from its beginning. The results of that work is complemented with information, dreams, and concerns shared during visioning meetings with parishioners during the latter part of 2002.

Communicating who we are
Who we are tells the tale of what we are. Holy Scripture reminds us we are: the People of God, the Body of Christ; vessels of the Holy Spirit, people of faith. Our vision includes developing individual profiles and inventories of our parish membership including: our likes and dislikes, where we live in relation to one another, our family membership, photo directory, interests, skills, and involvement with the Church. Information inventories both physical and spiritual will assist as we plan parish programming, transportation needs, outreach and ministry to the wider community as well as the inreach to those who are the current membership. A well-defined network of communication will facilitate effective ministry among us and help us to realize the effective proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Where we have been
Our history helps define our own particular story and character as a people of God. For that reason we will need to incorporate in design as much as possible from dismantled churches using those material things we now know and appreciate. If not structurally part of a new building, a memorial room could contain items and a record of our memories with specific spaces fashioned after our former worship facilities. Cemeteries are a reminder of our history and those existing will be maintained as part of the new parish. We all will need to be sensitive to our losses and help one another see them as gain. Our traditions and past are a valuable part of who we are.

Youth
Ministry with young people will need to be specifically and intentionally addressed. The church can be a place where young people want to be. An activity centre, computer lab or access centre would attract youth and provide a space to encourage youth community. Computer / communications technology, sporting facilities and music are all attractive to young people. Let's hear and encourage their music! The youth will need dedicated leadership, mentors, and a trained and competent youth minister. Our vision involves encouraging the creative and innovative approaches to connecting with young and old alike.

Leadership, ministry, worship
A minimum of two clergy, a part or full-time youth minister, part-time administrative, music and custodial support staff is the goal of the new parish formation. A new corporation will be constituted by way of the amalgamation with a customary elected complement of lay leadership: wardens, vestry clerk, treasurer, envelope secretary and members of vestry. Considerations as to geographic representation, number of vestry, roles and responsibilities will be determined during the interim period before amalgamation. Two worship points will exist: one rural and one centrally located within the geographic/demographic boundaries of the new parish. An interim place of worship will be needed until such time as the new proposed facility is available for use.

Management of our resources
Our responsibility is not only to the past and present, but also to the future. Through faithful stewardship of our combined resources we will facilitate the creation of a strong vibrant parish. We will be fiscally responsible while remaining true to the vision of what we can be if we apply ourselves to that which God calls us. Many giving options are available to individuals as we build our financial base and prepare for future ministry opportunities and challenges. Numerous ways of supporting the Church, including planned giving alternatives, exist in addition to regular weekly offerings. Information about these possibilities will be organized and presented as we begin to lay the foundation for the Church of the future. Effective stewardship is lived out in an atmosphere of true thanks-giving.

New facilities and church building
Design, timing, and location are important as we consider what we need and where it should be. Although the building is important, we need to remember that the building is not "the church." A new construction must be multi-purpose and flexible; a place to be not just one day a week, but busy and used each day of the week. Strategically located, accommodating, and accessible to both young and old, our new worship centre and meeting facility will become an important part of the surrounding community and its life. Visible and identifiable in the Anglican way, the church will continue to be a visible sign of the presence of the living God among us.

Community is key
As a friendly and outgoing people we can open our doors and plan to serve one another as well as those outside of our Christian community. Design will need to include office space, meeting space, church, equipped kitchen and a multi-purpose spaces. Community activities such as variety nights, exercise clubs, worship, learning events, dinners, music activities, craft groups, performing arts, youth and seniors groups are all part of what could make the building "hum" seven days a week. Our vision and mission involves our Christian community serving the wider community in which we live.

Working and praying together, a new parish and ministry will be a reality!

MOTION: "I recommend that our Parish Corporation petition the Bishop of Fredericton to begin the three month process of the amalgamation of the Parishes of Grand Bay, Greenwich, Ketepec and Westfield according to Canon XX."