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 [...]
Asking Task Force Questionnaire
On June 10th the Task Force sent a letter to Senior Warden’s asking for Vestry input on three questions. Now the Askings Task Force is seeking your thoughts and comments regarding the asking process within the Diocese. This is an opportunity for you to be a part of our discussion and decision process. Upon conclusion [...]
New Askings Task Force Blog
Welcome to the Askings Task Force blog. A new blog inviting discussion about diocesan askings. In the days ahead a questionaire will be posted seeking your comments.
The Askings Task Force was formed by Bishop Waggoner in response to a request from the Diocesan Council and issues/resolutions presented at the past Diocesan Convention. In its tasking [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
