Requiem or Renaissance

An intentional discernment process

"I am about to do a new thing;

now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?"

Isaiah 43:19

From the Office of the Bishop

Dear Friends in Christ,

We are a Christ-shaped people seeking to transform our communities and our world to reflect God's loving purpose. As followers of Jesus, united in baptism, we have been received into the household of God and incorporated into the story of God's love made real in the grief of Good Friday and the joy of Easter. We are a people of death and resurrection; of letting go and being renewed.

As we journey together as the household of the Diocese of Missouri, I would like to welcome you as part of the first gathering of a ministry of intentional discernment and discovery called Requiem or Renaissance. Requiem or Renaissance is a required 18-month discernment and skills-building program for all congregations currently receiving some form of diocesan financial assistance. Please join Canon Whitney Rice and myself on Tuesday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. for a Zoom meeting in which we will further explain this effort and answer any questions you may have.

In this ministry program, communities of faith will enter an intentional discernment process that will help each community to determine God's call: towards a Requiem, a holy ending of this congregation's ministry in this location at this time; or towards a Renaissance, a church re-plant with a new vision and renewed purpose. We want each community that makes up the diocesan household to walk into their futures with a clear sense of self-determination -- not be forced into fewer and fewer options by declining money and membership.

You and your unique ministries are a gift to the communities you serve and to our diocesan household -- and we are grateful to partner with you to make those gifts even more present and alive.

May God's peace be ours today and always.

Yours in Christ,

The Rt. Rev. Deon K. Johnson

Eleventh Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

Frequently Asked Questions:

Does the Diocese want to close my church? Is that what this program is about?

Absolutely not. Bishop Deon is committed to every congregation in this program engaging in a robust process of self-determination to discern their call, as well as supporting you in living it out. Although we cannot tell where the Spirit will lead, our hope is that most, if not all, of our congregations will remain in active ministry, perhaps in new and different ways.

Who from my congregation participates in this program?

Each congregation will form a team consisting of your priest (if you have one) and 4-5 lay leaders, at least two of whom should be members of the Vestry/Bishop's Committee. This team will attend the meetings and lead the congregation in completing the work.

What kind of commitment will this program require?

There will be six sessions, one Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. once a quarter, with some work to complete in between sessions. There will be two cohorts, one beginning in January 2022 and one beginning in June 2022.

Where will we be meeting?

Four congregations across the diocese will host us for those teams who decide to attend in-person. There will be an option to attend virtually as well.

We don't have much energy to spare as a congregation right now -- how can we take this on?

It can feel overwhelming to take on something like this when budgets and people-power are stretched thin. But our goal with this program is to build your capacity and spiritual strength through walking this path with other congregations who have similar challenges and gifts to yours.

Who else in our diocese is participating?

All congregations on diocesan financial aid or otherwise in need of a discernment process, who are not already participating in a similar program. We will have 18 congregations total in the program.

Who can I contact for more information?

Canon Whitney Rice, Canon for Evangelism & Discipleship Development, is available to answer additional questions and support you in all your work in this program. You can reach her at wrice@diocesemo.org.

Download the Bishop's Letter

Download the FAQs

Join October 26 informational Zoom meeting (no registration required)

The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

314-231-1220

DioceseMo.org