engagement, at all levels. What would it be like to get to know one another at a deeper level? How might two vital dioceses partner across difference for the sake of the Gospel? How might experiences of shared engagement be a call to discern the Holy Spirit’s leading? What can we do better together? With these questions in mind, the bishops, last November, convened the Task Force for Exploring Common Mission, and the group has been meeting regularly in the months since. Their charge from the bishops is to be in dialogue and prayer for a year about what collaborations and, potentially, what more formal institutional structures might warrant more exploration. There are no foregone conclusions, and the task force will share findings with both dioceses for further discernment. The task force invites everyone’s prayers for their continuing “holy conversations” and for their commitment to walking forward together, Spirit-led. Four people from each diocese, lay and ordained, comprise the Task Force for Exploring Common Mission. Serving from the Diocese of Western Massachusetts are the Rev. Nathaniel Anderson, St. John’s Church, Williamstown, Co-Chair; the Rev. Heather Blais, Saints James and Andrew, Greenfield; Ms. Trudy Weaver Miller, Christ Church, Sheffield; and Mr. Mark Rogers, Church of the Reconciliation, Webster; with the Rev. Dr. Richard Simpson, Canon to the Ordinary, staff liaison. Serving from the Diocese of Massachusetts are Ms. Claudette Hunt, St. Andrew’s Church, Ayer, Co-Chair; the Rev. Julie Carson, St. Andrew’s Church, Framingham; the Hon. Judith Dilday, St. Cyprian’s Church, Roxbury; and the Rev. Pam Werntz, Emmanuel Church, Boston; with the Rev. Canon William Clay Parnell, Canon to the Ordinary, staff liaison. ♦
Current Collaborations • COVID Communications from the bishops • Joint Statements from all three Episcopal Bishops • BCH Camp & Conference Center (Retreats and events; WMA Board member; financial support) • Pre-Lenten Clergy Retreat • Anti-Gun-Violence Witness • Clergy Professional Development Days (2021 keynote presentation on bullying) • Loving the Questions (Lay Discernment Program; expanded from WMA) • Building Bridges (Veterans ministry program; expanded from WMA) • Creation Care Justice (The Rev. Dr. Margaret BullittJonas serves both dioceses) • Episcopal City Mission (expanded work in both dioceses) • Joint Youth Event (NorthboroughSouthborough walk and curriculum) • EYE T-shirt joint design (Other youth initiatives offered with other Province I dioceses, especially Maine) • Transition ministry/identification of interim clergy • Advent and Lenten Retreats for the Faithful (Offered online in 2020 and 2021) • Building Bridges Veterans Initiative (webinar forum with bishops; ministry moving east)
Editor’s Interview with a Member of the Task Force: The Rev. Heather Blais This interview has been edited for length. Vicki: [Exploring Common Mission] is about stewardship? Heather: Yes. The bishops invited this team together to explore how we can be better stewards of one another’s resources, how we can continue to deepen our collaborations. During these bishops’ tenures, there has been more and more collaboration. Vicki: The document that sets the grounding of the task force lists the members and a little bit of the history. What I really appreciated about it was that it wasn’t a history lesson. It was about what we’re doing in the present moment together already. Heather: Two meetings ago, with thanks to Rich and Bill, who puts their heads together, we spent some time talking about the ministries we are already doing together and there’s an actual list. We were asked at our last meeting if we would each take responsibility for signing up to have some conversation with a leader from one of these ministries. I signed up to check-in with leaders involved with the joint COVID communication policy making. Vicki: Do the meetings have a structure? What’s the dynamic? Heather: Each meeting begins with prayer, or a devotional or a Bible Study. That’s been helpful, grounding. As newcomers we don’t all know each other. It just helps to get to know one another in a different way. Then, our fearless leaders, Claudette and Nathaniel, guide us in what we’re going to focus on that day. They’ve been really wise about it. They really are intentional about... Continued on page 23 ABUNDANT TIMES
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