34th Diocesan Synod:
Bishop’s Address (Part 3)
“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, donot hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. Foryou will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendantswill dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.”(Isaiah 54:2-3)
Last week, we have read the six (6) imperatives/strategies to
reach
Beyond the Horizon.
1. BEYOND THE HORIZON OF LOVE
2. BEYOND THE HORIZON OF WORSHIP
3. BEYOND THE HORIZON OF MISSION & EVANGELISM
4. BEYOND THE HORIZON OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
5. BEYOND THE HORIZON OF SOCIAL SERVICE
6. BEYOND THE HORIZON OF GIVING
Bishop Melter ends his Synod Address with the following charge:
As ONE DIOCESE, we also need to cultivate a spirit of sharedresponsibility.
When one Area Diocese is blessed, the whole Diocese is blessed.
When one Area Diocese needs support, the whole Diocese should
respond where possible. When one Area Diocese develops a
successful ministry model, the whole Diocese learns from it.
We do not merely to represent our individual churches - We represent the whole Diocese.
We do not ask: “What is best for my parish?” -
We ask: What is best for the Diocese?
We do not think about our present generation -
We think about the next generation.
We do think what we can receive -
We think what we can contribute.
We do not ask what the Diocese can do for us -
We ask: What can we do for the Diocese?
OUR COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT
WE WILL LOVE GOD AND PEOPLE -
We will strengthen our unity as one Diocese
WE WILL WORSHIP -
We will go deeper into God's presence
WE WILL GO -
We will advance mission, evangelism and MISSION 113 (2.0)
WE WILL RAISE - We will develop spiritual, godly leaders for the next generation
WE WILL SERVE - We will care for people and communities in Christ's name
WE WILL GIVE - We will excel in the grace of giving and faithfully invest in God's mission
And we will do all these things together:
ONE DIOCESE
through ADOS EAST, ADOS WEST, ADOS SOUTHwith ONE LORD, ONE MISSION, ONE FUTURE