Dear Friends in Christ,
What’s your why?
This question has surfaced among vestry, staff, and others in recent months. Why are we doing the things we do? What’s our goal? How does that goal connect with our identity?
Like many organizations, Grace Church uses a mission statement to help us focus these questions. Our current statement—which dates to the 1990s—is ready to be updated. The vestry has spent time at its last few meetings having conversations towards a new one.
To some extent, we already have the framework. The catechism in the Book of Common Prayer explains our why: “The mission of the church is to restore all people to unity with God and with each other in Christ.” We know the reason Church as an institution exists.
But our church? That’s our work now: to explain why Grace Church matters in this present time and place. We have a call from God that makes us unique. What is it?
The answer is spiritual—but it’s not a mystery. Grace has done enough self-reflection in recent years that we know ourselves and our particularities. This is a place defined by eucharistic worship. This is a place that values authentic community and belonging. And this is a place that is motivated by a deep concern for the world. Whatever statement we come to will incorporate these elements.
In the coming weeks, I am working with individual members of the vestry to create several drafts, and we hope the vestry will have a new mission statement to share at Shrine Mont.
If you are curious about this process—or if you have ideas—please reach out and let me know your thoughts.
Yours in Christ,
Anne