“Reimagining Our Church” event to commemorate anniversary

Five years after reorganizing, the people and clergy of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth have a chance to share what they’ve learned with the wider church.

On Saturday, February 8, 2014, at University Christian Church, 2720 S. University Drive, Fort Worth, TX, 76109, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church, and the Rev. Gay Jennings, president of the House of Deputies of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church, will join in the commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the reorganization of the diocese. “Reimagining Our Church” will begin at 9:30 am and end with Eucharist at 3 pm. Teens and young adults especially are invited to participate.

Registration is now available. The event cost is $25.00 and includes lunch. Please register online by Monday, February 3, as meals have to be pre-ordered. Scholarships are available. For more information, call the Rev. Canon Janet Waggoner at 817-880-1050.

On Saturday, February 7, 2009, the Special Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth began and ended in joyous worship. Delegates, called to order by Jefferts Schori, elected the Rt. Rev. Edwin F. “Ted” Gulick, Jr. to be the provisional bishop, and set to work. More than 450 people were present. Many more watched via live streaming as the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth reorganized and began a new adventure.

In the years since then, the bishops, people, and clergy of the diocese have perforce been experimenting, rebuilding, and reimagining new ways to be church.

On Saturday, February 8, participants will share the fruit of those five years of experience as they take part in the church-wide Engagement Process of the Task Force to Reimagine The Episcopal Church (TREC). The task force was established by the General Convention of The Episcopal Church in 2012 and charged with engaging the whole church in discussions about reimagining The Episcopal Church.

Schedule

Sign in will begin at 9:30 am. At 10 am, lay and clergy groups will meet separately to share their reflections on the four interview questions prepared by TREC. For the first session, Jefferts Schori will work with the lay group and Jennings will work with the clergy group. Then they will switch for the second session.

Lunch will be from 12-1:30, during which the presiding bishop will meet with diocesan youth. Other participants will be invited to gather at tables with various topics for discussion.

Following lunch, there will be a panel discussion aimed at connecting the reimagining ideas from the morning session with the Anglican Communion’s Five Marks of Mission:

• To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
• To teach, baptize and nurture new believers
• To respond to human need by loving service
• To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation
• To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth

The gathering will close with Eucharist at 3 pm. The Rt. Rev. Rayford B. High, Jr., will celebrate and the presiding bishop will preach.

Youth involvement

Youth will have significant roles for this event, including lunch and conversation with Jefferts Schori, carrying banners in worship procession, and as acolytes. Read the youth information.

Childcare- UPDATED 2/6/2014

Childcare will be available by reservation, which runs through Monday, February 3. Read the childcare details; they were UPDATED 2/6/2014.

Volunteers

Volunteers are needed for several tasks. Read how you can volunteer.

Choir

A choir is forming to be a part of the closing worship. Read about how to join it. 

Registration

Register for Reimagining Our Church by clicking here. Registration deadline is Monday, February 3, 2014

Parking

Parking information can be found here.

Sunday activities

On Sunday, Jefferts Schori will celebrate and preach at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, 223 S. Pearson Lane, Keller, TX, 76248; and Jennings will celebrate and preach at St. Luke’s in the Meadow Episcopal Church, 4301 Meadowbrook Drive, Fort Worth, TX, 76103.