A Vision for St. John's

First published in The Beloved Disciple, the monthly newsletter of St. John's Episcopal Church, Petaluma: http://www.saintjohnsepiscopalpetaluma.org/page/newsletter

People sometimes ask me what my vision is for St. John’s.  It’s been a hard question to answer because a vision takes time to develop, and time to communicate.  It is not a plan of action, but a description of where we hope our actions will take us.  It isn’t about what we will do so much as about who we will be.  As priest and pastor, it is part of my job do articulate a vision, but it can’t be just something I think up on my own—it has to be something I listen for, in what others are saying, in my own heart, and in the conversations between us.  During the four years I’ve been here we’ve had a lot of conversations about what matters most, and what we hope we are becoming.  I have tried to listen carefully to what’s been said.  And during this year’s season of discernment, I’ve made time for conversations with trusted friends about what I’ve learned and what inspires me to want to make a new commitment to the work of this congregation.  I’ve also done some listening to what is being said in the wider Episcopal Church about its challenges and opportunities for the future.

What follows is the fruit of these conversations.  It is a personal statement, and I don’t claim to speak for everyone at St. John’s.  But I offer it to you in the hope that some part or parts of it will speak to you, and illuminate your vision for the parish. 

St. John’s is a place where people are drawn by the love of God, called to seek the divine image in themselves and one another; uniting in praise and thanksgiving at Christ’s table, in contemplation and discernment, and in active works of wisdom, justice, beauty, and truth, we share here on earth in the joys of heaven.  It is a place from which each of us is sent to find the unique vocation that grows from our responsibilities and gifts, and to play our part in the mission of Christ to the world.  We are a circle from which no one who is not a danger to others is excluded, in which every voice is heard, and every truth respected, where no one is above criticism, and no one is beyond hope.

We foster a religious culture devoted to the maturation of our spiritual gifts and the satisfaction of our deepest needs by the grace of God—through taking creative risks, telling the truth, making repentance, seeking reconciliation, and empowering one another for servant-leadership in the world.  We take nourishment from the testimony of the Hebrew prophets and sages and the Apostolic communities; from the teaching and example of holy women and men of the past and present; from the riches of Christian tradition in music and the arts, mysticism, theology, and social action; from our membership in a worldwide communion of Anglican brothers and sisters, and the ecumenical body of Christ; from the rhythms of the hours and the church year, and the sacramental elements of grace.  

We are a place for joyous worship, with strong participation by people of all ages, representing the cultural diversity of our community, and bringing the talents of many leaders together in stirring, centering, prayerful, and purposeful celebrations of the Holy Spirit.  We are a learning community practicing the arts of peace—compassionate dialogue, open inquiry, and courageous discipleship.  We seek personal encounter across social, political, and religious barriers, in the shared pursuit of mutual understanding and the common good.  We offer space for a deeper and kindlier look at the world in which we live, where simplicity and faith allow us to hear the voice of the earth, of our bodies, and of the heart, and to take reverent and practical steps to restore the balance of the world.

We are wise and loving stewards of the goods we receive, cherishing the past and preparing for the future without illusions about either, but placing our trust in God’s covenant faithfulness, the truth of the Gospel, and the resilience of creation.