Dear friends in Christ: We welcome Jason Sierra, chair of the Forward Movement Board of Directors, as our guest author this week.
Last week the Forward Movement governing board gathered in Cincinnati for one of our two annual in-person meetings. It’s always wonderful to be on Forward Movement’s home turf as we inevitably get face time with a staff member or two. This time, however, our visit overlapped with the annual in-person gathering of the entire, much-expanded Forward Movement team. Team members, many of whom we had not yet met, flew in from locations scattered across the country for two days together and a half day with us.
My main takeaway from that time was how fortunate we are to have such a highly skilled and dedicated group of individuals working to serve our church. This team brings together skills as varied as finance and vocational discernment and experience to match. It was evident from our short time together how well this team works to maximize the impact of each individual.
During our morning together we prayed and then we had the chance to reflect on where we are and where we are going. While the staff is focused on the day-to-day work of the organization, it is the board’s job to think further out. It is our job to make sure the organization is prepared to weather the risks and jump on the opportunities that will come our way in the next 3, 5, even 10 years. But you can see much better with 35 pairs of eyes than just the 12 represented by the board. So together we asked ourselves:
- What are you most excited about in this moment in the life of Forward Movement?
- What do you find most challenging?
- How do you expect these realities to be the same or different in 4 years (fall of 2030)?
We discussed technology and infrastructure, processes and products, but much of the conversation focused on the way the world around us is changing and evolving. We talked about the rise of AI, the breakdown of some social bonds and institutions, the busyness of modern life and how mediated it is by our technology at every step. We talked about the challenges for parents and caregivers and the uncertainty we are all facing. And we talked about who the church is called to be in this moment, how the world is hungering for connection, reconciliation, and rootedness. For me it also reassured me that we are on the path to which we are called.
Last year the board adopted 4 strategic priorities, and the dialogue with the staff reassured me we are on the right track to serve the church as it is and as it is being called to become. The staff is making incredible strides in achieving our goals, and the call we heard from the staff and each other last week was to stay the course:
- Diversify its resources in format to make them more accessible to more people in more circumstances. The good news is the good news, but how we are able to receive it may vary based on many factors. We are taking our resources and developing videos, courses, and study guides to provide avenues to connection and learning. Check out the new expanded second edition of Signs of Life which now includes more resources for getting others engaged including an eight session group study guide.
- Support leaders, both lay and ordained, as they maintain their own discipleship and lead through these times. Look for more resources for leaders coming soon.
- Look beyond our own authors, editors and content producers to partner with DFMS and dioceses across the Episcopal Church to raise up what’s working. We are excited to have taken on both generative new work as well as to have the opportunity to partner on the outstanding work of others, like Signs and Grace, a free three session course on the sacraments.
- Create resources and communities for individuals to take the next steps to deepen their discipleship through the CEDAR initiative and the generosity of Chris Flowers. Consider joining us for Renewing Discipleship, our first conference coming out of the initiative this January in Houston.
While we cannot predict the future, together we strive to be servants preparing the church for the world we live in and the one that’s coming. Please continue to pray for us as we continue our ministry.
Yours faithfully,
Jason Sierra
More from our ministry:
How can we support parents in their life of discipleship? Do your church’s formation offerings focus on the church itself, or do they point back to Jesus? Explore these topics and more at our upcoming Renewing Discipleship conference. We’re introducing two new presenters this week: The Rev. Miguel Escobar and the Rev. Taylor Devine. Preview their workshops here, or register for the conference today!
“Jesus never simply asked people to understand him. He said, Follow me.” On the Cedar blog this week, Todd Blackham discusses the faith we catch along the way.
Suggested reading: HELL YEAH! A series of zines on the horror of the Bible, from our friends at Church of the Advent in Cincinnati