Pandemic and Church Renewal Survey

A Parish Survey
For the Anglican Diocese of Rupert’s Land

Our notion of stewardship has to turn in a new direction in the wake of lingering pandemic.
Stewardship has always been about greater engagement with our faith and our community.
It is all about reaching out to our parish family, to our neighbours, to humanity itself and to God.
Today’s dramatic changes usher in a new time — to reach out in new ways — that will bring about a renewed church and make disciples of us all.
We’re still wary of entering our church buildings. It’s more difficult to engage with our Christian community. But it’s more important than ever.
It takes stewardship, which is about offering ourselves in service. But many parishioners are unaware of all the ways they can serve.
Let’s take a look that — at how we might serve our God and our neighbour and our church at a time like this.
Here’s a list of several possibilities. Which of them are calling out to you?
They’re divided up into 16 categories:
Worship Prayer Parish Family Pastoral Care
Evangelism Discernment Presence Support Network
Dialogue Education Projects Cooperation
Information Building & Grounds Administration Finance
We want to consult with you. For each of these categories, we invite you to consider how you might be willing to help.
We’re not asking for any firm commitment right now. For each of these categories, we invite you to consider — in a survey below — how you might be able to help.
So let’s look at them again, thinking about what you could be doing:

WORSHIP — Keeping liturgy, scripture and ritual ongoing and vital in a time of lingering quarantine:
You could help get parish information out — about which services and activities are in church and online — and inform people about how to access them.
PRAYER — Keeping structured prayer active online:
You could encourage people to join online prayer services, prayer circles and joint prayer online — participate in them yourself — or confide with them on how to pray at a time like this.
PARISH FAMILY — Maintaining contact with your brothers and sisters in your church and beyond:
You could join or initiate get-togethers online — one-on-one or in groups — planned or spontaneous — from gab-fests to serious discussions to special occasions.
PASTORAL CARE — Providing direct personal support for those in need:
You could join a team of people reaching out or responding to those seeking personal support, in order to be there for them in a time of need.
EVANGELISM — Reaching out to seekers in troubled times:
You could join start discussions with people who are otherwise unchurched, but who are drawn in curiosity to online services or spiritual chat spaces because they are seeking some answers.
DISCERNMENT — Discovering people’s gifts and potential for discipleship:
You could discuss with people whether they feel a calling to serve in these troubled times, and consider how their dedication might be put to good use.
PRESENCE — Creating awareness of our mission and inviting engagement:
You could help get the message out about how our parish is alive and well during the current emergency, and what we have to offer in a time of semi-quarantine.
SUPPORT NETWORK — Reaching out by connecting and helping:
You could join activities in support of the vulnerable — contacting people who feel left out and alone — joining a check-in circle for parishioners — helping people meet their needs, cope with their circumstances or find services — supporting those with special needs (seniors, youth, children, parents) — providing transportation for appointments, shopping, etc. — getting people together to support each other — helping find gratitude and abundance in their lives.
DIALOGUE — Engaging individuals in conversation and exchange of ideas that advance our understanding or inspire action:
You could participate in circles of friends and associates, in large or small groups, for discussion of ideas or activities.
EDUCATION — Equipping our members and the wider community to deal with uncertain times in a spirit of worship:
You could get involved in adult formation or youth formation to educate our church family and whoever else may respond to the call.
PROJECTS — Service and charitable activities carried on in the church and beyond:
You could participate in parish projects which may include child care and schooling — support for the homeless and hungry — support for families — access to assistance and funding — participation in broader social issues — and other activities.
COOPERATION — Joint activities and campaigns with other denominations or agencies:
You could help in reaching out to other denominations or groupings or social agencies to help organize joint support and activities.
INFORMATION — Things parishioners, leaders and the community need to know:
You could help provide information, training or links to resources for parishioners and associates to help meet their needs — or help them find out what other churches are doing — or help them with technical or streaming issues.
BUILDING AND GROUNDS — Securing buildings and grounds during shutdown:
You could check on partially-closed buildings or keep buildings and grounds maintained.
ADMINISTRATION — Keeping operations coordinated and supplied:
You could be a support person for over-extended parish administrators in obtaining supplies, supporting and coordinating activities, or providing security.
FINANCE — Helping put church finances on firmer ground in a time of shutdown by presenting a healthy profile of support, pastoral care, networking, outreach and generous living, and by facilitating ongoing giving:
You could help put together a parish profile to present budgetary needs in a context of service and commitment to our community — or help develop a narrative budget to inform parishioners about how the money is distributed among our basic activities — or help craft the appeal for ongoing giving to keep our mission alive — or help set up and promote an online giving programme at a time when in-person giving is not convenient.
If any one or more of these possibilities inspire you to get involved, there is a survey form below for you indicate which ones you might find interesting. You are not making a commitment at this point, just showing your curiosity.
If you fill out the survey, you’ll be asked for your your name and email address, and the name of your parish. Your phone number is optional. This survey is currently designed only for the Anglican Diocese of Rupert’s Land. 
Please fill in one or more of the checkboxes below to indicate which activities might interest you. This form sends its results to Dr. Gary Russell in the Diocese of Rupert’s Land. There’s a Comments box at the end for any further information you’d like to add, or to indicate if you’d like your information kept confidential.

    Check one or more of the checkboxes below to indicate your interest:
    WORSHIP — I could help get parish information out — about which services and activities are in person or online — and inform people about how to access them.
    PRAYER — I could encourage people to join prayer services, prayer circles and joint prayer online or in church — participate in them myself — or confide with them on how to pray at a time like this.
    PARISH FAMILY — I could join or initiate get-togethers online or in person — one-on-one or in groups — planned or spontaneous — from gab-fests to serious discussions to special occasions.
    PASTORAL CARE — I could join a team of people reaching out or responding to those seeking personal support, in order to be there for them in a time of need.
    EVANGELISM — I could join discussion circles with people who are otherwise unchurched, but are drawn in curiosity to online services or spiritual chat spaces because they are seeking some answers.
    DISCERNMENT — I could discuss with people whether they feel a calling to serve in these troubled times, and consider how their dedication might be put to good use.
    PRESENCE — I could help get the message out about how our parish is alive and well during current limitations, and what we have to offer in a time of semi-quarantine.
    SUPPORT NETWORK — I could join activities in support of the vulnerable — contacting people who may feel left out and alone — joining a check-in circle for parishioners — helping people meet their needs, cope with their circumstances or find services — supporting those with special needs (seniors, youth, children, parents) — providing transportation for appointments, shopping, etc. — helping find gratitude and abundance in their lives.
    DIALOGUE — I could participate in circles of friends and associates, in large or small groups, for discussion of ideas or activities.
    EDUCATION — I could get involved in adult formation or youth formation to educate our church family and whoever else may respond to the call.
    PROJECTS — I could participate in parish projects which may include child care and schooling — support for the homeless and hungry — support for families — access to assistance and funding — participation in broader social issues — and other activities.
    COOPERATION — I could help in reaching out to other denominations or social agencies to help organize joint support and activities.
    INFORMATION — I could help provide information, training or links to resources for parishioners and associates to help meet their needs — or help them find out what other churches are doing — or help them with technical or streaming issues.
    BUILDING AND GROUNDS — I could check on partially closed buildings or keep buildings and grounds maintained.
    ADMINISTRATION — I could be a support person for over-extended parish administrators in obtaining supplies, supporting and coordinating activities, or providing security.
    FINANCE — I could help put together a parish profile to present budgetary needs in a context of service and commitment to our community — or help develop a narrative budget to inform parishioners about how the money is distributed among our basic activities — or help craft the appeal for ongoing giving to keep our mission alive — or help set up and promote an online giving programme at a time when in-person giving remains difficult.

    Thank you for your participation. If you have any questions,
    contact Dr. Russell at gary@gwrussell.com.

     

    Back to top