The Mission Task Force wants to hear from you, on facebook.

What is important to you, as a Rhode Island Episcopalian? What were you doing when you felt most alive in the spirit? What does your congregation do that you could share with other congregations?

The Mission Task Force is asking, and they have set up a Facebook group to make it easy for you to answer.

The Mission Task Force was established last October by Diocesan Convention, to review and evaluate the mission priorities of our diocese. Our mission priorities have long been the Hispanic Ministry, Episcopal Camp and Conference Center (ECC)), Congregational Development, and Christian Formation, but it has been some time since these programs and focus areas were reviewed. It has also been some time since Rhode Island Episcopalians have been asked as a whole what they feel is most important.

The Mission Task force is spending this year asking just that. You are the diocese and they want to know what you think this diocese as a whole is doing or could do in the future to bring us together as RI Episcopalians and make a difference in the community. They want to hear you reflect and express your sense of purpose, meaning and mission as Christians in the community and the world.

The Task force has created various opportunities to listen to what you think. In April and May of this year the Task Force held several “Listening Gatherings” across the state to provide space for parishioners and clergy to reflect together in person. Nearly 150 people came to these meetings, but in a diocese of over 20,000 Episcopalians from 56 congregations, that is a relatively small sampling of our collective voice!

In addition to the listening gatherings, the Task Force has set up their Facebook group to facilitate discussion among people who might not have been able to attend any of the listening gatherings. 87 people have joined the Facebook group so far and there has been some lively discussion around topics such as the importance of ministering to our youth, the effectiveness of current programs such as the Episcopal Conference Center, and what in general draws RI Episcopalians closest to God.

You can join in the online discussion too. Share what is important to you, and you will help form and guide the future of your diocese! Join the facebook groupto comment on any of the current discussions or even start your own new topic. Your voice matters.