Area Ministry: What is it?
An introduction from the bishop
Area Ministry was born out of a coordinated strategic planning effort for the Diocese of California. That effort, the Beloved Community Vision, was created by means of a year long, diocese-wide planning process that involved close to 1,000 people. The major elements of the Beloved Community Vision, adopted by Diocesan Convention to guide the life of the diocese, are these:
Embodied Justice: Intentionally working against discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age; standing in solidarity with the poor and marginalized; and caring for God’s creation with reverence;
Church Vitality: Encouraging evangelism, growth, and new expressions of church; adopting missional practices of worship and outreach; collaboration between congregations; and expressing creativity and joy in the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ;
Rooted Spirituality: Through vital education and renewal ministries, communities of Christian discipleship, and formation in the Episcopal tradition with informed respect for other traditions;
Organizational Development: Emphasizing transparency, power-sharing and accountability for all diocesan leaders and structures; leadership that encompasses all orders, sorts and conditions; improving communications throughout the diocese; and revitalizing deaneries;
Inclusive Community: Incorporating all people without regard to race, class, gender, sexual orientation or disability, including meaningful participation of all ages — children, youth and elders; and being attentive to the prophetic voices among us.
In order to bring this vision, these hopes and dreams to life, the diocesan staff created Area Ministry, a pattern of Christian living, enacted by people at the local level, shaped by their energies, passions, the needs of the larger communities, and overall by the Beloved Community Vision elements.
Area Ministry encourages collaboration between congregations, embedded action in the local community, and the creation of a diverse Area Ministry Team. These three behaviors are supported by a Christian curriculum, LifeCycles, locally adapted by a writing and editing team of the Diocese of California and the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, and by the creation of a Rule of Life for each Area Ministry Team.
The Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus
Bishop of the Diocese of California
