From the Bishop

The Rt. Rev. Douglas J. Fisher IX Bishop of Western Massachusetts

In the fall of 2018, our diocese was blessed to hold a “revival” led by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. We had set that date a year before and were getting ready for it. And then in June 2018, Michael preached at the Royal Wedding of Harry and Meghan and he became an international superstar. The Presiding Bishop’s office toldus to expect three or four times as many people at the WMA Revival. How could we possibly do that? It took leaders from many congregations working together. It was all about collaboration.

The day was a tremendous success. Michael inspired us before huge crowds in Pittsfield and Worcester, and he urged us to be the Jesus Movement that is out to change the world from the nightmare it is for so many into the dream God has for us.

Many, many blessings flowed from our Revival. And none bigger than the blessing which preceded the event - churches working together in collaboration. And that spirit and practice of collaboration has just grown and grown. Our churches are no longer silos. We serve Jesus’ mission together with creativity and faith.

The spirit of collaboration does not end there. We work closely with the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Lutherans and Episcopalians have reached out to each other to share clergy and buildings. At our Diocesan Convention in 2018, we voted to intentionally do ministry with the United Church of Christ, and since then many holy ministries have begun which might not have been possible for one church alone.

You have heard me tell this story before: When Bishop Alan Gates was seated at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Boston, he invited me to preach.

After the service, many thanked me and some said “You know, we think of Western Massachusetts the same way we think of Arizona.” Alan, Bishop Gayle Harris, and I decided to look for ways we could collaborate.

Our two dioceses have issued common statements about issues of social justice. The Creation Care Missioner in Western Massachusetts, The Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, also works for the Diocese of Massachusetts (and the UCC). We have clergy retreats together. Episcopal City Mission (started in the Diocese of Massachusetts) now contributes to our urban ministries in Springfield and Worcester. Building

Bridges Veterans Initiative (started in the Diocese of Western Massachusetts) is now opening centers in the eastern half of the state. As you will read in this issue of ABUNDANT Times, the two dioceses have created a Task Force for Exploring Common Mission that is looking at other ways we can be stronger together.

During this painful year of the pandemic, our WMA churches have come together over and over again to do ministry more effectively together: Adult Ed classes shared on zoom, a diocesan confirmation preparationprogram which will culminate in a large Confirmation liturgy outdoors in June. And clergy in need of a muchdeserved break might tell their congregations to tune into a neighboring church’s Sunday liturgy.

In pre-COVID days, I used to end my Pentecost sermons by inviting the congregation to close their eyes, and all breathe in the breath of God together. “One, two three - breathe in! One, two, three- breathe out!” Then I would say “the word ‘conspire’ means ‘to breathe together.’ You have just done that. You are now part of a conspiracy. The conspiracy that is the Jesus Movement to change the world from the nightmare it is for so many into the dream God has for it.”

Let’s keep conspiring together! Jesus has given us a great mission. We need as much collaboration as we can imagine to fulfill it. ♦