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We are pleased to announce that the Executive Council of the Diocese of Edmonton has approved a diocesan workplan to guide our actions as co-workers of God over the next 18 months. This is the culmination of a multi-phase consultation process, led by Anna Bubel, Another Way Consulting, inviting input from every member of the diocese.

The engagement process included online surveys, parish engagement sessions, guided conversation at the 69th Synod and a full-day work retreat and follow-up session for the Executive Council. The workplan incorporates the diverse contexts of parish communities while also unifying us as a diocesan family journeying together toward the common goal of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

“As we talked and prayed, we discerned that God is calling us into a good future, but there are challenging paths ahead,” says Bishop Stephen London.

This unprecedented collaboration will be animated by Canon to the Ordinary, the Rev. Dr. Scott Sharman, and is built upon six Guiding Principles:

1. Inviting Witness – Celebrating the Good News of Jesus Christ that is generous, hopeful, inclusive and faithful.

2. Purposeful Discipleship - Providing people of all ages and backgrounds with opportunities to practice the Way of Jesus, grow in faith, and share their gifts in ministry.

3. Vital Congregations – Supporting established and newer expressions of faith community in discerning and embracing their local callings and purpose.

4. Collaborative Community – Increasing communication between parishes and regions, working more closely as a diocesan family of churches, and building deeper relationships with ecumenical partners.

5. Innovative Stewardship – Developing diocesan financial and physical assets to encourage greater sustainability and the generation of resources that benefit all.

6. Courageous Justice – Seeking right relationships among all people, and with the whole of creation.

"One of the things this experience of wide-ranging consultation and collaborative development of the Diocesan Workplan has done is given me and many people and parishes a sense of the bigger picture of our life and ministry together in Christ as one diocesan family of churches,” says Sharman. “I believe that a deepened feeling of cohesion and enhanced vision for teamwork between local congregations and leaders are going to be really important for our witness and sustainability as churches going forward, and I hope the seeds that have been planted in that regard by this process will continue to grow and flourish in the Diocese of Edmonton in the coming years."

Details of the diocesan workplan will be made public on May 15, 6 pm, at a launch event at Wildroots Coffee House (St. Augustine of Canterbury, 6110 Fulton Road NW, Edmonton), through the Synod Scene newsletter and at Edmonton.anglican.ca.

The workplan branding, based on God’s promise in Isaiah 43:19: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland,” will be unveiled at the launch party. The free event will feature live music by local musician Aaron Parker, food and refreshments. There is no cost to attend the launch, but advance registration is required.  RSVP HERE

In addition, members of the Executive Council will offer the following online information sessions on Zoom:

Parishes are asked to encourage participation and advertise the online information sessions in their church newsletters, service bulletins and announcements. SAMPLE BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENT

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