2022 Convention Workshops: Nov. 17
The Diocese of Missouri is pleased to invite EVERYONE in the Diocese to this year's convention workshops. Four Zoom presentations will be held Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. (the day prior to the start of convention). Each will be virtual -- so you can attend wherever you are!
We hope these workshops will provide fresh insight into topics of interest that will benefit individuals as well as ministries and congregations throughout our community of faith.
Select one of the following Zoom workshops to attend. Recordings of all the discussions will be available soon after convention.
Workshop #1
Congregational Discernment
Join the Zoom meeting for Workshop #1
What is it that really matters in your church community's life right now? Are you occasionally, or constantly, bogged down in things that seem to distract from the "real work" of the church? How do you discern the "right" thing to focus on right now? So often groups and communities are so concerned with coming up with the right answers, they forget to start with effective questions.
In this workshop we'll discover some simple tools to ask relevant and hopeful questions as a first step in taking effective action. These questions can focus on parish mission, community life or even navigating personal challenges. If you come with a team this workshop will be especially effective, but individuals are most welcome!
About the leader:
The Rev. Thomas Skillings is the transitional rector at Grace Church in Kirkwood, MO. He is also a facilitator trained by the Center for Courage and Renewal to guide retreats that equip individuals and organizations in rediscovering their values and their calling. Thomas is a recent transplant from the Diocese of California where he served in parish ministry for over 30 years.
Workshop #2
Congregational Team Trust
Join the Zoom meeting for Workshop #2
One of the key pillars for having resilience is our approach to trust. In this presentation, you will learn the two basic ways we approach trust and uncover how we apply it to our Faith, Self, and Others.
About the leader:
Mark Waight is a 2021 graduate from Eden Theological Seminary where he developed the program TReS Resilience Care, a principle-based program that takes you down a path of self-discovery for how you build resilience. He is currently pursuing ordination in the Diocese of Missouri and he attends Christ Church Cathedral. Mark is celebrating his 35th wedding anniversary with Audrey and they share the parenting of four children and two grandchildren.
Workshop #3
Community Listening
Join the Zoom meeting for Workshop #3
Who Is Our Neighbor? What does it mean to be a neighbor or to accept someone else as one’s neighbor? What does Jesus have to say about it? How can we live the answers to these questions in our parishes? Spend an hour exploring these questions and how they connect to your parish.
About the leaders:
The Rev. Laurie Anzilotti is the Vicar at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Eureka. David Luckes is in the ordination process for the diaconate and serving at St. Francis. This workshop will also be presented by parishioners from St. Francis, who have first-hand experience working successfully with their community.
Workshop #4
Missional Community
Join the Zoom meeting for Workshop #4
Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit and a heart for mission development? A new Episcopal community might be a fresh church plant, a unique worshiping body, or a missional community focused on service, justice, and mercy. These communities are grounded in faith, guided by love, and connected to our Episcopal diocese. They seek innovative ways to invite and unite individuals who seek spiritual or missional community. The leaders of Faith Christian Church of India have been doing remarkable work in the Diocese of Missouri. They share the secrets of their success.
About the leader:
The Rev. Dr. Clive Samson is the pastor of Faith Christian Church of India. He and his wife, the Rev. Sujanna Raj, started Faith Christian Church of India in 2017 and have served in the Church of South India (CSI) Diocese for more than 15 years. After getting their degrees here in Master of Theological Studies and Doctorate in ministry, they got a call to start a church for the large Indian community in the St. Louis area, that lacked a Church. They let go of everything and took up the challenge to start the first Indian Church. FCCI has been a missional community in our diocese since 2018.
Tags: News / 2022 Convention