Loading...Work on forming regional organizations of congregations known as deaneries in the Diocese of Kentucky is progressing, and by September four new deaneries are expected to be established in addition to the existing Four Rivers Deanery.
The formation of deaneries in our diocese is set out in Section II. 1.4 of the by-laws of Trustees and Council, which states "deaneries coordinate the talents of ministries of the Episcopal congregations in certain areas."
"Just as small groups build community and enable creative mission and outreach in all of our congregations, the same potential exists within our diocese. These small groups are deaneries, providing opportunities for clergy and lay leaders to gather regularly to build community, support one another in parochial mission and ministry, and engage in new forms of ministry that can be carried out more effectively when multiple congregations pool their gifts and resources," said Bishop Terry White.
The Four Rivers Deanery was formed a few years ago in western Kentucky. It has been active in offering its congregations and clergy members pastoral and informational support, which included holding a communications workshop in social media tools earlier this year.
Following discussion at the most recent Trustees and Council meeting and at a clergy gathering last month, six priorities have been identified to guide the work of deaneries, according to Bishop White. They are:
- Coordinating mission and evangelism in deanery
- Communication
- Sharing equipment, advertising, technology costs
- Mentoring relationships for newly ordained clergy
- Coordinating pastoral care
- Establishing disaster response networks and action teams
In addition to the current Four Rivers Dean, the Very Rev. Candyce Loescher, four priests have agreed to convene the initial meetings with the clergy in their respective areas in September, when they will elect a dean. The other conveners are the Rev. Michael Blewett, rector of Christ Church, Bowling Green; the Very Rev. Mark Bourlakas, dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Louisville; the Rev. Joe Smith, rector of St. Luke's Church, Anchorage; and the Rev. Ben Maas, rector of St. Andrew's Church, Louisville). The proposed deanery configuration may be found at this link.
Bishop White plans to meet with the conveners at the end of the summer and set up a schedule for the deaneries to meet with Trustees and Council members to discuss the proposed 2012 budget before the Fall Convention in November.
The Rev. Canon Joan Smith also has sent information to the conveners for future consideration by the deaneries about a similar initiative by our companion diocese in Glasgow and Galloway, Scotland, to organize its congregations into "regions" for similar reasons.
"Some of their congregations are located in urban areas; others are spread out in rural areas. Some are located in hard-hit communities that are the equivalent of the rust-belt, and some are in prosperous communities," she said. "Each diocese has a new bishop. They feel they need to provide resources to congregations in a more intentional way than they have in the past, which we also feel. And they have identified a framework that they hope will develop mission-rich ministries in their congregations."
Smith sees possibility in our deaneries collaborating with their counterparts in Scotland, noting that "If we are doing similar things, why not talk about it along the way."
