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. Congregational Development
Deep sense of thanksgiving nurtures our generosity
If the only prayer you say in your life is ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.
-Meister Eckhart
Like many of you, I will be filling out at least one pledge card this fall during what we’ve come to know as “stewardship season.” That’s the time in the fall when most churches, planning and budgeting for the coming [...]
Congregational Development
Meditating moose renews our perspective
You know it’s going to be an interesting week when someone in your office says on Monday morning, “Did you know there’s a moose in the meditation garden?” And, indeed, there is.
A young cow moose found her way to Paulsen House late in July and was having a nice time munching on the raspberries and [...]
Congregational Development
What’s next for women in ministry?
What does the ministry of women look like in your neck of the woods? That might be a hard question to answer, because the ministry of women could embrace pretty much every form of ministry in the Church these days. After all, our Presiding Bishop is a woman. Women are rectors and vicars and wardens [...]
Congregational Development
Habitat team builds new friendships
Music blared from speakers inside the small concrete block house in Coatatelco, Mexico, as we celebrated the end of our Habitat for Humanity building project in May. Our group of three adults and 10 Gonzaga University students had joined with a young family and other villagers to add three rooms to an existing house where [...]
Congregational Development
Sometimes evangelism means just showing up
I finished my first Bloomsday race ever a few weeks ago. This was my 22nd Bloomsday in Spokane and I had never experienced this huge Spokane event – a 12k race that begins and ends downtown.
I had some very good reasons for not participating before. For instance, it is a Sunday morning event and most [...]
Congregational Development
Your church and your community: what’s going on out there?
I rolled into Colville the afternoon of Maundy Thursday after a drive up Highway 395 through snow squalls. It had been more than a year since I’d visited Colville and, since I had a little extra time, I drove through town.
The first thing I noticed was new traffic circles where stop lights used to be. [...]
Congregational Development
Generational differences offer change and promise
One of the most baffling issues for churches these days seems to be how to build a ministry with young adults. There is no lack of information on the topic. The lives of people from their late teens to their early 30s are the subject of a growing number of books, some of which focus [...]
Congregational Development
New mission strategy for diocese and congregations
“Build dynamic, growing communities of faith.” “Think big and bold – innovative – open to risk – failure or success.”
Those audacious thoughts come from the Mission Strategy Committee of Diocesan Council. They emerged after a couple days of retreat last year when members, meeting with Bishop Waggoner, dreamed and strategized about strengthening all communities of [...]
Congregational Development
Using good books to feed our prayer habit
I suspect that I own way too many books on praying. But this time of the year, when we hear those familiar words on Ash Wednesday that Lent is a time of self-examination and repentance, prayer and fasting, I’m glad I have them.
I have some real classics like “St. Augustine’s Prayer Book,” “The Imitation of [...]
Congregational Development
Resolutions of different sort have impact on whole diocese
I usually take the plunge into the new year with some new resolve about doing something healthy, losing some weight, exercising more, eating better, praying more, taking time off.
If my conversations with folks are any indication, there are a lot of people who would like to pray more, but are looking for some structure as [...]
