BUILDING BRIDGES : AFFINITY GROUP CONVERSATIONS
Delegates at convention engage in intentional conversations with their table groups. In the last section of this update from the Building Bridges Steering Committee, a summary of the submitted responses is provided for all to review.
BI-DIOCESAN AFFINITY GROUP CONVERSATIONS
At its roots, the Building Bridges process is about our two dioceses exploring ways to collaborate. Collaboration is relational, it involves knowing one another. So the Building Bridges Steering Committee is inviting you to participate in a conversation with other people from across our two dioceses who are involved in a similar ministry or church context.
What we heard from many of our delegates in the Building Bridges conversation at convention and in recent Clericus discussions is the importance of one’s local culture and wondering how a potential junction between our dioceses might change that culture. Therefore, in this round of intentional conversations we want to discuss, share, and learn about our own culture and that of our partnering diocese. The questions we will discuss at each of these affinity group sessions are:
- What are the core values that inform my ministry?
- What are the most important traditions within my ministry, church, and diocese?
- What, if any, similarities and/or differences have I heard between the two dioceses tonight?
Each conversation will be from 7:00-8:30pm. Please read below for the specific dates and ministry/affinity groupings. We ask that you register for one meeting, even if you may share ministries with several groups. Two of the sessions are open to all in case your particular ministry is not listed or you have a personal conflict on the night(s) you would sign up for otherwise.
RSVP FOR AN AFFINITY GROUP CONVERSATION
Monday, March 7th – Youth/Children’s Formation Leaders
RSVP
Tuesday, March 8th – Adult Formation and Spirituality Leaders
RSVP
Wednesday, March 9th – Current and Recent Vestry Wardens
RSVP
Thursday, March 10th – Deacons
RSVP
Monday, March 14th – Music Directors, Musicians, Choir Members
RSVP
Tuesday, March 15th – Outreach Ministry Leaders and Committee Members
RSVP
Wednesday, March 16th – Church Administrators, Treasurers, Finance Leaders
RSVP
Thursday, March 17th – Open Session
(Open to all unable to participate in another session)
RSVP
Monday, March 21st – Clergy and members in urban/suburban communities
RSVP
Tuesday, March 22nd – Clergy and members in small-town/rural communities
RSVP
Wednesday, March 23rd – Clergy and members of majority Black, Hispanic/Latino Parishes
(Spanish translation is available in-person at St. John’s, Grand Haven)
RSVP
Thursday, March 24th – Clergy and members of congregations in resort communities
RSVP
Monday, March 28th – Open Session
(Open to all unable to participate in another session)
RSVP
REPORTING OUT: CONVENTION CONVERSATIONS
As part of our recent joint diocesan convention held in Lansing in October, the Internal Conversations subcommittee of the Building Bridges Steering Committee facilitated small group conversations amongst the gathered delegates, clergy, and visitors. With specific prompts, the participants discussed the questions amongst their assigned, mixed tables and were asked to respond to a form (available both written and online) to document their reflections back to the Steering Committee and to the wider dioceses.
