Disciple: The Mission Strategy: Getting to Work

From the inception of the mission strategy task force in January 2020, its work on the development of the diocesan mission strategy was shared at every stage. Stating from the start the mission strategy belongs to us all, the committee’s dedication to working collaboratively enabled voices far beyond those on the task force to share suggestions, ideas, questions, critiques and requests.

The mission strategy will never be set in stone. Designed intentionally as organic and dynamic, it is built on work that has been happening in the Diocese for years and provides guidance for our work in the years to come.

[Image: The Rt. Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple concluded the mission strategy presentations with her address during the Special Convention.]

There is a lot to it. What is the mission strategy?

• It is a plan centered on the five mission priority areas of the Diocese of North Carolina: Racial Reckoning, Justice and Healing; Congregational Vitality; Collaboration and New Communities; Formation; and Creation Care.
• Each priority has a series of goals, and each goal has room for work and involvement on both church and diocesan levels.
• More importantly, each priority includes a purpose statement, so if an individual or church does not feel called to the work of a goal, their creativity can find other ways to help us accomplish priority purposes and our ultimate work of Becoming Beloved Community.

The mission strategy of the Diocese of North Carolina was the focal point of the Special Convention on March 5. Long before Convention convened, those attending were invited to familiarize themselves with the mission strategy to date and engage in conversation with their congregations about how their current calls to ministry (or ministries they wanted to see their congregation develop) were reflected in it.

On the day of Convention, the Rt. Rev. Sam Rodman began by reaffirming the theology at the heart of the mission strategy in his sermon during the opening Eucharist. Throughout the rest of the day, a series of videos highlighted the purposes and goals of the mission strategy and, more importantly, lifted up the work already happening in priority areas throughout the Diocese.

Following each video presentation, delegates were given time for conversation. Some discussed the goals outlined in the videos; others shared ideas from their own congregations or gathered inspiration from their fellow delegates. The energy and excitement around work already done and what is possible became almost palpable throughout the day.

The Rt. Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple concluded the mission strategy presentations with her own address to Special Convention. She described the infrastructure of how the work will proceed, including the support systems to be developed that include “Go Teams” and a mission strategy coordinator to support and resource the work both in progress and yet to come. Most importantly, she related how our plan for the mission strategy can be found in scripture, notably in the Gospel of Luke, when Jesus began his own ministry and sent his disciples out, first two-by-two, then later 70 more, all with intention.

“We are invited to walk in the way of love despite any prevailing winds of war, or fear of domestic strife or trepidation about future virus variants,” she said. “We will not put mission on hold but, to the contrary, continue to find ways of love that are bold, compassionate, risky and life-giving.

“We are going to build upon what is working, learn from what is not and go forth in faith. Our churches are proudly multigenerational, and, collectively, we are today’s generation of apostles filled with the Spirit of God and sent for purposes of these times. No one is too young or too old or too busy or too retired, too discouraged, too technology-challenged to have a place in God’s mission plan. If we are like those who dream, then we must also be like those who imagine and create, experiment and adapt, engage and implement fresh expressions of God’s changeless good news of reconciling love.

“If we are like those who dream, then we must be those willing to go forth humbly and yet boldly. It doesn’t have to be fast, but it does need to be intentional. We do need to be resolute, and it needs to be Spirit-driven.”

Watch Hodges-Copple’s address.