In recent months, the diocesan staff team has welcomed several new faces to its offices at Cathedral Place, as several longstanding and devoted staff decided that it was time for them to retire or to move on to another season of their lives.
As a result, “a process of prayerful discernment and consultation has been undertaken about where God might be leading us in the coming years,” says Archdeacon Bill Mous, executive officer and secretary of synod. “Our diocesan Mission Action Plan has rooted this discernment; supporting the implementation of the visionary work and important objectives that were discerned by hundreds of people across the diocese.”
Through all of this, the diocesan leadership team is looking at new ways of working and new ways of serving the people and parishes of the diocese.
“Our intention is not only to realign ourselves with regard to capacity but to realign ourselves with the realities of the rest of the diocesan budget as well – while still keeping our eye firmly fixed on God’s mission,” says Bishop Bell.
To do so, some roles and responsibilities will be shifted and while others will be reorganized into new positions. The diocesan senior leadership team will be more focused and some vacancies will not be filled, in order to expand diocesan capacity for frontline ministry and support.
“It’s exciting to think of the new possibilities: drawing together volunteer corps, innovatively sharing our Gospel stories, and abundantly resourcing our dreams and visions for ministry,” says Archdeacon Mous.
Among the new faces at Cathedral Place, Kemi Okwelum joined the senior leadership team as treasuerer and director of finance; Abiola Dayo-Alao has joined the finance team as accounts receivable and accounts payable administrator; and Carrie McFarland has begun her ministry as diocesan personnel and volunteer coordinator. In the coming weeks a communications coordinator, and a stewardship coordinator are expected to also join the diocesan staff alongside a missioner or two too.
“We’ve assessed our present needs and tried ever so carefully to see around the corner to the Church of the future,” notes Bishop Bell.
“All told, we hope this process will find us better placed to support parishes in responding to ministry needs, while also being fiscally responsible,” says Archdeacon Mous.
It will, of course, take us some time to get where we need to be, and so I want to ask for your prayers and your understanding as we navigate this significant period of transition and renewal.
This work is all about mobilizing our whole diocese for mission as we lean into the next chapter of our ministry. It’s important work, hard work, but it most especially it is Spirit-led work as we equip ourselves to explore the new ways to which our diocese is being called to life and compelled to love.
