wfn.org | [ENS] Massachusetts evangelism guide provides humorous blueprint

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

Thursday, June 23, 2005

Massachusetts evangelism guide provides humorous blueprint for church
growth

by Daphne Mack

ENS 062305-1

[Episcopal News Service] Drawing inspiration from their 2004 annual
convention theme, the Diocese of Massachusetts convention steering
committee
produced and distributed a pocket-sized resource called "A Shy Person's
Guide to the Practice of Evangelism."

"The focus on evangelism comes from our mission vision and mission
strategy
[which] in shorthand is 'Inviting, Forming, Sending, Serving,'" said
Helen
P. Netos, chief operating officer and director of Christian formation
for
the diocese. "We have 12 strategic goals that are primarily
outwardly-focused initiatives which call for both congregational
participation and coordinated diocesan-level action. We believe that
congregations which participate in these initiatives will in fact grow
as
they join God's mission, and we are supporting and encouraging that
growth
through a variety of means, like the guide, the welcome packet, special
events and training [because] we wish to increase our average Sunday
attendance by 50 percent by 2013."

Netos, a convention steering committee member, said the idea for the 3.5
x 6
booklet came out of a planning meeting where she suggested that an
"evangelism phrase book" be created to help normally taciturn New
Englanders
welcome newcomers. The "idea evolved from there" and "a subcommittee was
formed to work on it."

The Rev. Canon Steven Bonsey, of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, wrote
the
heart of the booklet. Amy McCreath, Episcopal chaplain at Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT), wrote the reflection guide, Maria Plati,
diocesan director of communication,  designed it, and Netos contributed
the
"quiz" and additional resources.

The book, in an amusing way, examines the meaning of the word
"evangelism,"
gives examples of how it is present in everyday life, and presents ideas
on
how to practice it.

"The entire subcommittee offered suggestions and edits to help create
something small and unobtrusive-as befits shy people," said Netos. "The
response has been positive and people were chuckling and laughing out
loud
on the floor of the convention as they perused the booklet."

Since then, the guide, which has been printed several thousand times,
has
been given to congregations, with at least one sending it to everyone in
the
congregation who pledged.

To obtain a copy of the guide, email hnetos@diomass.org

-- Daphne Mack is staff writer for Episcopal News Service.

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