“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
Plans to prosper you,
Not to harm you,
Plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11

For the past two and a half years, I have been working with the Diocesan Commission of Congregational Development (CCD). First as a “grant writer” for a Mustard Seed Grant to get our Parish Nurse Ministry started and then as a member on the Commission. According to this Commission’s operating principles, “the CCD works with parishes around the diocese of Virginia with the mission of strengthening existing parishes to better equip them to carry out the mission and ministries to which they are called. Strengthening existing parishes may include expanding facilities and improvements, programmatic expansion, leadership development and technology enhancements. It is good work. It is creative and fun work. And, sometimes it is long and tedious work.

Part of the process of the grant application is to get to know the people of the parish who are submitting the application. We, on the CCD, are always impressed with the sincerity of the parishes desiring ‘to do the work God has given them to do.’ It is rather refreshing during these times of the ‘current unpleasantness’ in the Church to find people of God who strive to spread the Good News with the gifts that have been bestowed on them. And, they are going to find a way to do what is being asked of them.

As a whole, the CCD has begun a process of examining other aspects of our mission and areas we need to extend our energies. One area we felt called to was that of leadership development. The CCD has sponsored one conference – Andy Weeks’ “The Magnetic Church.” Here Episcopalians learned that they too could be evangelists without strapping sandwich boards over their shoulders. Ann Poad participated in this conference.

Our next venture into the realm of leadership development is a workshop keynoted by Luther Snow on March 24 and 25 at Shrine Mont. Mr. Snow is a developer, facilitator trainer, speaker, and writer who specializes in asset based development. He has written The Power of Asset Mapping: How Your Congregation Can Act on Its Gifts. His approach is grounded in the theology of abundance and affinity. Mr. Snow asserts that “when we look at the “half full cup” we recognize our assets and the abundance of God’s gifts. We soon discover that our own gifts are made more valuable by connecting them to the gifts of others. Together we discover unexpected opportunities, and a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.” Those who have attended a workshop and worked with his concept of asset mapping find it practical and steeped in Holy Scripture. It is more than story boarding. It helps build community and helps assist a faith community in doing the work God has given them to do in their church and in their community.

The theology of abundance is something we need to hear more of in our hectic lives. One of my goals this year is to be thankful for the abundance God has bestowed on me - to just be thankful and not anxious or fearful. Remember the cup is half full.