In the early weeks following my consecration as your bishop on the Feast of Pentecost in 2020, we were in lockdown, and I was limited to meetings and visits by Zoom. I was drawn to consider a weekly podcast to connect me with the people of our diocese—and to connect people with one another. So began 15 episodes of “ADO on the Move” with moments of great fun, serious reflection, and appreciation of the scope and diversity of our diocesan church (the entire series is still available at https://adonthemove.buzzsprout.com/ and most interesting to listen to).
Since those early days of my episcopate, we have, as bishop, people and clergy, guided change to give new shape and direction to our Diocese—with clearly expressed priorities focused on helping our parish ministries and community ministries thrive. We have agreed to refresh and renew our priorities using a triennial cycle managed by Diocesan Council and to establish corresponding triennial budgets to achieve the results God has called us to seek.
In this, the second year of our 2024-2026 triennium, we will evaluate the work we are doing to achieve our current priorities and revise our approach as required. In the third year of this triennium, we will work collaboratively to frame our priorities and budget for the next triennium (2027-2029).
A key component our current priorities is to develop and deploy our central financial resources in order to leave more money in our parishes, while increasing practical supports from Ascension House for both arms of our diocesan church: our parish ministries and our community ministries.
Importantly, our current priorities also involve actively convening and collecting the wide range of talents and knowledge held by the clergy and people of our diocese into our Learning Commons. The Learning Commons will provide training, tools, and resources to develop the eight essential parts of a parish’s life and ministry: worship; spiritual growth; community; pastoral care; contextual mission; leadership & governance; financial stewardship & management; and property management & maintenance. Each part is important because all eight work together to help a parish thrive. At Synod in October, we will see how the Learning Commons has been substantially developed to serve us.
As I reflect back on the last five years of serving as your bishop, I do so with an abiding sense of thanksgiving. When I was preparing for my consecration, I made myself the wooden crozier I carry on all parish visits. I wrote earlier about how the parts of the crozier came from several different places.
The main staff was cut in 1978 on the Carp Ridge, between the villages of Dunrobin and Carp. My brother Barry and I were hired to build a cedar log cabin, and a number of young ironwood trees on the site had to be cleared—and one of them became my walking staff. Barry and I lived in tents at the cabin site for many weeks, and the staff remained with me as a memento of those days.
The crook is made from the limb of a cherry tree felled by a beaver near Sawmill Creek by Brookfield Road in Ottawa, a familiar place for my brothers and me. The sections of threaded steel tubing are from what my brothers and I call “the mall” (known to everyone else as the curb on garbage night).
I called the crozier “Brother Thankful” because the parts of it are strongly associated with my brothers, and because I feel profoundly thankful to God for calling me to a ministry which has allowed me to offer all that I am, and all that I have learned, to serving with each of you as we faithfully guide change and make our beloved Diocese thrive.
From our Bishop
An abiding sense of thanksgiving
In the early weeks following my consecration as your bishop on the Feast of Pentecost in 2020, we were in lockdown, and I was limited to meetings and visits by Zoom. I was drawn to consider a weekly podcast to connect me with the people of our diocese—and to connect people with one another. So began 15 episodes of “ADO on the Move” with moments of great fun, serious reflection, and appreciation of the scope and diversity of our diocesan church (the entire series is still available at https://adonthemove.buzzsprout.com/ and most interesting to listen to).
Since those early days of my episcopate, we have, as bishop, people and clergy, guided change to give new shape and direction to our Diocese—with clearly expressed priorities focused on helping our parish ministries and community ministries thrive. We have agreed to refresh and renew our priorities using a triennial cycle managed by Diocesan Council and to establish corresponding triennial budgets to achieve the results God has called us to seek.
In this, the second year of our 2024-2026 triennium, we will evaluate the work we are doing to achieve our current priorities and revise our approach as required. In the third year of this triennium, we will work collaboratively to frame our priorities and budget for the next triennium (2027-2029).
A key component our current priorities is to develop and deploy our central financial resources in order to leave more money in our parishes, while increasing practical supports from Ascension House for both arms of our diocesan church: our parish ministries and our community ministries.
Importantly, our current priorities also involve actively convening and collecting the wide range of talents and knowledge held by the clergy and people of our diocese into our Learning Commons. The Learning Commons will provide training, tools, and resources to develop the eight essential parts of a parish’s life and ministry: worship; spiritual growth; community; pastoral care; contextual mission; leadership & governance; financial stewardship & management; and property management & maintenance. Each part is important because all eight work together to help a parish thrive. At Synod in October, we will see how the Learning Commons has been substantially developed to serve us.
As I reflect back on the last five years of serving as your bishop, I do so with an abiding sense of thanksgiving. When I was preparing for my consecration, I made myself the wooden crozier I carry on all parish visits. I wrote earlier about how the parts of the crozier came from several different places.
The main staff was cut in 1978 on the Carp Ridge, between the villages of Dunrobin and Carp. My brother Barry and I were hired to build a cedar log cabin, and a number of young ironwood trees on the site had to be cleared—and one of them became my walking staff. Barry and I lived in tents at the cabin site for many weeks, and the staff remained with me as a memento of those days.
The crook is made from the limb of a cherry tree felled by a beaver near Sawmill Creek by Brookfield Road in Ottawa, a familiar place for my brothers and me. The sections of threaded steel tubing are from what my brothers and I call “the mall” (known to everyone else as the curb on garbage night).
I called the crozier “Brother Thankful” because the parts of it are strongly associated with my brothers, and because I feel profoundly thankful to God for calling me to a ministry which has allowed me to offer all that I am, and all that I have learned, to serving with each of you as we faithfully guide change and make our beloved Diocese thrive.
The Rt. Rev. Shane Parker is the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa.
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