Elevation

Elevation: Moving Forward Together

By Wilson Whitehurst, Senior Warden

Now is a truly exciting time in the life of St. Paul's Church. The parish is alive with a provocative and inspired sense of mission and direction. We have dynamic clergy leaders, an energetic staff, as well as eager, committed parishioners who create a strong feeling of vitality and purpose. We are the "body of Christ" poised for action. I feel privileged to serve on the Vestry of this great church, and am honored to be given a leadership role, especially at this time. I will do my best to follow Mary Kay Huss's example of confident, level-headed reasoning coupled with a thoughtful, sensitive manner rooted in a love for this church and a faithful commitment to its mission.

I believe that our current template for action, Elevation, lays out a dynamic blueprint for the future efforts of the parish. It is a list of four focus areas that are the distillation of numerous parishioner thoughts and suggestions that have been brewing for some time. This is viewed as "step 1" of a multi-step process that will continue to evolve as we work through our mission. The four areas represent a well balanced course of action -- two are inwardly focused and two are outwardly directed.

Inwardly and Outwardly Directed

Elevation calls for the Parish to Build Stronger Connections. This entails a reinvigorated commitment to pastoral care and parish life. There is a strong sense that we need to better care for each other. We need to provide effective structure for opportunities for encouragement and support. We need to offer assistance and prayers in times of difficulty as well as our presence and love in times of joy.

Elevation also denotes the need for a renewed effort to develop and enhance Small Group Ministries. This is a great way to get to know and share with fellow parishioners in more intimate settings. Many of these offerings will encourage people to go deeper into exploring and developing their faith, as well as hearing other perspectives.

Elevation also addresses the ways in which St. Paul's must confront and inspire those outside the parish. It calls for us to proactively Welcome and Incorporate newcomers into the life of the church. We must provide a structure for seeking out, embracing, and actively incorporating all those persons who express interest in becoming a part of our vibrant ministries.

Finally, Elevation spells out the desire to establish a Downtown Mission Team that seeks to celebrate the good news in our neighborhood. The purpose of this effort is to provide a means for meeting people and building relationships. It will be St. Paul's renewed emphasis on reaching out and sharing our vision and missions with others. I can not wait to see what may come next.

Time to Move Forward

With inspiring, passionate clergy leaders and an empowered laity, St. Paul's is on the brink of a renaissance. The energy is good. The ground is fertile. It is time to move forward.

This article originally appeared in the May 2010 Epistle newsletter.