is the Canon to the Ordinary, which involves being an assistant to the Bishop, working in congregational development, assisting congregations with transitions in clergy leadership, and working with communications, clergy conferences, and a variety of diocesan ministries. Before joining the diocesan staff she served at St. John’s Cathedral. She's a former journalist, a mom and grandmother and enjoys photography, travel and outdoor activities. Kristi Philip
is the Canon to the Ordinary, which involves being an assistant to the Bishop, working in congregational development, assisting congregations with transitions in clergy leadership, and working with communications, clergy conferences, and a variety of diocesan ministries. Before joining the diocesan staff she served at St. John’s Cathedral. She's a former journalist, a mom and grandmother and enjoys photography, travel and outdoor activities. General Convention
A glimpse at a bigger picture
The General Convention marathon is pushing toward the finish line — just three more days of legislation to complete our work. These long days of talking and listening are producing some good and thoughtful results. By this time in the life of a convention, the House of Deputies seems hopelessly behind in its [...]
General Convention
Browsing and legislating
Sunday was a more relaxing day at General Convention — the sabbath. That didn’t mean a complete day of rest, but it did mean a more leisurely pace. Church at 10, some time to sit down and enjoy lunch and then a shortened legislative session in the afternoon from 3 to 6. I will [...]
General Convention
The Day Before…
Los Angeles was buzzing with activity today as Michael Jackson’s funeral unfolded at the Staples Center. Local news was filled with reports. But in Anaheim there was a lot of activity, too. A lot of work going on in the background as we worked our way toward the start of the 76th General [...]
General Convention
Countdown to GC
My bag is almost packed for General Convention in Anaheim and I’m bracing for the early morning flight on Monday. Amid all the usual things in my suitcase is a folder of notes and a collection of advance reading material that deputies have been using to prepare for the wide-ranging [...]
Congregational Development
Clergy focus on emerging questions
Clergy are often seen as the “answer” people for churches, so it may seem a little odd to say that our diocesan clergy spent a whole afternoon at their annual conference generating question after question.
But, after all, the theme of the conference was “No Longer Business as Usual.”
Those questions had to do [...]
General Convention
Deputies are preparing
Eight of Spokane’s 10 deputies and first alternates and Bishop Waggoner held a final preparation session June 25 before leaving for the July 8-17 General Convention in Anaheim. There is a lot of homework to do before we leave: digesting a phone book-sized compendium of reports and a book on a convention theme [...]
Congregational Development
Living Stones group grapples with ministry issues
I hadn’t really planned to spend five days in Des Moines, Iowa in February. But I’m glad I did.
It wasn’t the lure of Des Moines’ annual skywalk miniature golf tournament; or the excitement of sharing a hotel with hundreds of Methodist youth; or even the amazement
of being in a city where the hockey team’s mascot [...]
Congregational Development
Diocesan group to study best ways to communicate
I was driving across the Diocese recently and heard some shocking news on the radio: two major daily newspapers were swamped with financial problems—on shaky ground for sure. Our local Spokane newspaper, the Spokesman-Review, had also announced layoffs, putting a number of people out of work.
The world of communications is changing and shifting. Newspapers are [...]
Congregational Development
Motor scooter rides open window on Advent awareness
Beware, keep alert, for you do not know when the time will come. Mark 13:33.
We’re heading into that “awareness” season again. Advent always is a call to “wake up.” To be attentive. To wait for the Lord to come.
The late Anthony DeMello, priest, retreat leader and writer, often said that most of us go through [...]
Congregational Development
Flying high—with wings and without them
I have two current favorites on television these days – one commercial and one half-hour program. The commercial, surprisingly enough, is for the Washington State Lottery.
In it a group of men with hang gliders goes flying with some flightless birds, penguins, chickens and an emu. As the birds dangle from their bird-sized riggings, both men [...]
