As a continuation of an exercise begun at diocesan convention, the Rev. Canon Jack Koepke, canon to the ordinary, asks each congregation to estimate the baselines for your congregation in relation to the goals identified in the Diocesan Strategic Plan.

  

Each congregation is invited to offer an estimate of its 2012 numbers and percentages, so that information can be used to determine the base lines from which our diocesan goals will be set for the next three years.
 
Please follow this link to offer your estimate of the numbers and the corresponding percentages, using your congregation's 2011 ASA as the basis for determining the percentage.  A chart with each congregation's ASA is attached to the form for easy reference.

Examples for a congregation with an ASA of 100:
How many 20-40 year olds are in leadership? 7
What percentage of the congregation does this number represent? 7%
 
How many people in the community are impacted by our congregation's ministry? 500
What percent of our congregation does this represent? 500%
 
Remember, what is being asked for are best guess estimates for 2012. Please complete the form by January 7, 2013.
 
Questions?  Contact the Rev. canon Jack Koepke at jkoepke@diosohio.org or 800.582.1712.

  

A key recommendation from the ministry priorities process was the creation of a task force to look at new ways to structure the diocese so that it might better live into God's call for the church in the 21st century.

  

A group who serves on the fifth strategic priority - stewardship of resources - received the nominations and made recommendations to Bishop Thomas E. Breidenthal. Composition of the task force aims to reflect the diversity of the diocese, including age, race and geography.

  

The Task Force on Restructure will organize itself and begin its work in January. Task force members are:
Deborah Allsop, St. Simon of Cyrene, Lincoln Heights
The Rev. Gayle Hansen Brown, St. Andrew's, Washington Court House
Ty Buckman, Christ Church, Springfield
Frances Carr, St. Stephen's, Columbus
Paul Clever, Good Earth Farm, Athens
Carlos de Jesus, Christ Church, Glendale
The Rev. Ronny Dower, Non-parochial priest, St. James, Zanesville
Lauren Faller, St. Christopher's, Fairborn
Arnold Huckeby, St. Patrick's, Lebanon
The Rev. Meribah Mansfield, St. Alban's, Bexley; St. John's, Columbus
The Rev. Deniray Mueller, In the Garden Ministry
Susan Pace, Christ Church Cathedral
Ken Richards, Christ Church Cathedral
The Rev. Christopher Richardson, St. Andrew's, Dayton
Richard Ruud, All Saints, New Albany
The Rev. James Strader, St. James, Westwood
Tammy Taylor, Church of the Redeemer, Cincinnati
David Thomson, Christ Church Cathedral
The Rev. Theresa Thornton, Holy Trinity, Kenwood

  

In the Diocese of Southern Ohio, Explorers' Day is the entry point for the discernment process into ordained ministry. Explorer's Day provides an overview of the discernment and ordination processes as well as plenty of time for conversation about the diaconate and the priesthood. Everyone who desires to begin a formal exploration of a possible call to ordained ministry is required to attend. This year, Explorer's Day will be Feb. 2 at the Procter Center.

  

There are several considerations for Explorer's Day:
▪ Sponsoring clergy (rector, vicar, priest-in-charge) should plan to attend with their explorer(s) and the explorer's spouse/partner if applicable.
▪ Explorers should have been in serious conversation with their clergy person about their call for an extended period of time (in the neighborhood of a year). Both the clergy person and the explorer should have done some deep thinking about their vocation prior to Explorers' Day as this day assumes that intentional vocation discernment has already begun.
▪ Only those who have been confirmed or received in the Episcopal Church and have been active members of the Episcopal Church for at least two years should attend Explorers' Day.

The age limit for people entering the discernment process in Southern Ohio is 57. This age limit allows for a total of five years between Explorers' Day and possible ordination, then 10 years of ministry before the canonically mandated retirement age of 72. Exceptions will be made in rare instances and only for clear missional purposes.

  

If you have questions about the discernment process in the Diocese of Southern Ohio, please contact the Rev. Charlotte Collins Reed, chair of the Commission on Ministry, at charlotte@christ-in-springfield.org, or the Rev. Canon Lynn Carter-Edmands, canon for formation, at lcarter-edmands@diosohio.org.

  

Registration information can be found online at www.diosohio.org, under events.