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Dear Friends in Christ,
Having reflected the past few weeks on the three Benedictine vows of stability, obedience and conversion of life, let’s spend time this week reflecting on our mission and core values.
Whenever I look at a church website, I’m always most curious about how a parish defines itself. I want to know what they care about. What do they believe? What do they value? What is the mission that defines and drives them? Who are they and who do they hope to become?
Mission statements — which almost every church has on its website — need to be grounded in the present as they also look to the future. They need to reflect something that is already true but not yet fulfilled. They need to inspire a congregation to move forward as it seeks to become more fully who God is calling it to be.
Our new mission statement has this “already but not yet” quality. The Reimagining Team worked for months to listen to God’s call for St. Paul’s, including listening to the deepest yearnings of our parishioners. Through this discernment, they crafted a statement that proclaims who we are today and who we hope to be tomorrow. Our mission and core values invite us to make manifest in our actions who we say we are and who we wish to be.
The Mission of St. Paul’s Indy
Sharing Christ’s Love. Creating Community. Striving for Justice.
Inspired by sacred worship and Jesus’ call to love our neighbor, St. Paul’s welcomes and serves all with a commitment to justice, inclusion, and generous hospitality.
Core Values
- Thoughtful Faith: Embracing questions, engaging difference, discovering and sharing God’s love through Christ.
- Inclusive Community: Welcoming and affirming all, deepening connections and relationships with Christ and each other, fostering diversity within and beyond the church.
- Compassionate Justice: Forming relationships with our neighbors, partnering with others to create equity and peace among all people, respecting the dignity of every human being.
You’ll hear the mission and core values woven into the fabric of parish life in the coming months. In sermons, team meetings, ministry opportunities, and publications, we’ll focus on the statement to inspire us to become more intentional and faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. For now, I invite you to spend a few minutes on your own reflecting on the statement. How do our mission and core values connect with you in your life? Inspired by them, what might Jesus be inviting you to do during the next several weeks and months?
Your Friend in Christ,
The Rev. John Denson, D.Min.
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