The Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi | Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi

A MESSAGE FROM BISHOP GRAY

Welcome to Diocese of Mississippi web site.

July 3, 2008

My dear friends:

For several years you have heard me talk about the reality of being “one church.” That, of course, is not unique to our diocesan vision, but rather speaks to our understanding of the way the church has been ordered by God. The bishop is essential to our unity and our common mission, but the question for each generation is how best to organize ourselves for mission and ministry that is faithful to God and our own theological understanding and tradition.

The Diocesan Task Force for Reorganization has presented me with recommendations for a significant redesign of our diocesan ministry. As a first step toward the implementation of many of their ideas, I am asking that we spend a season in conversation about the way we, as Episcopalians, understand the role and function of the ministry of the bishop, the diocesan staff and broader diocesan ministries.

I am absolutely convinced that the transformational work of the gospel takes place within and through the local congregation. Thus, an essential role of the bishop, the diocesan staff and the various ministries of the diocese is to assist and support congregational ministries. Our discussion will be about how best to do this.

There will be several steps in this conversation. First, a diocesan-wide survey will be available on-line at:

Click here to take the Diocesan Survey online (preferred method)

We are also asking local clergy to post the link on their congregation’s websites and make "hard copies" of the survey available to those who need them. This survey – open to all – will ask your thoughts about the breadth of diocesan ministries. It will be accessible on-line until August 15, 2008.

After gathering this data from around the diocese, the second step in this conversation will be visitations by members of the Executive Committee to local vestries and mission committees to deepen the conversation begun with the survey. These visitations will take place this fall and winter, but will be limited to a representative sample of 30-35 congregations. Though the specific congregations chosen for visitation will be chosen carefully for balance, any congregation that wishes to receive a visitation will be accommodated by the Executive Committee.

It is my hope that this intentional conversation about mission can be an instrument of renewal of our common life and push us ever deeper into our understanding of what it means to be One Church in Mission: Inviting, Transforming, Reconciling.

Thank you so very much for entering fully into this conversation. May God guide and direct us.

Faithfully,