Setting down my vision, and a "platform" as such has been a challenging job!  I have tried to be candid in expressing the essentials, but this is also a road which is made as we journey together.  I would love to hear from you... your own hopes and vision, and discussion around mine!  FEEDBACK

This is the shorter version, if you want the longer version with narrative click here

My expectations and hope for myself and the church in my service as Moderator:

- Serving together with all to be faithful and energetic in meeting with all, listening carefully to all, and praying with all for the peace, unity, and purity of our church. I will encourage sacred space, a place of safety and togetherness to speak in whole terms that which is on our hearts – our most sincere beliefs and longings.

- Serving together with all to encourage us to move beyond a dutiful toleration and forbearance of our deepest differences, toward a willingness to unite in love around those things which are essential and precious to us all – even our life and commitment to Jesus and the deep desire we share for authoritative evangelism and world-transforming mission.

- Serving together with all to challenge our ways of being a church, emphasizing the need for candid, authentic, and sincere building of relationships and seeking communion among us as a people.

- Serving together with all to challenge us to put all forms, traditions, and ways on the table, and to take what is best and meaningful as the basis of for new ways of being church and doing mission.


If I am elected Moderator, this is how I envision the church to be different at the end of two years:

More diverse: particularly extending the boundaries of our community to be more inclusive of persons who struggle at the margins of society: persons who have experienced homelessness, persons struggling to survive on low-incomes, those who are dispossessed or alienated from church and society.

More unified in being missional: extending the boundaries of what we mean by "parish" and "community" - focusing on creative and energizing mission, redemptive service that makes a difference in the lives of persons who are hurting, commitment to a more just society in economics, environment, social dignity, and equality of rights - including the right to housing, education, healthcare, and the right to live with dignity by one's own means.

More committed to creative mission, based on justice: mission that brings the gospel and the power alive in a mutuality of service. One that includes those being served in service, and gives to all equally the power to be givers as well as receivers. Mission that is focused on building community and relationships, not simply providing goods and services. Mission that transforms the church as well as the lives of all persons involved.ion

More radical in its message: moving forward to our roots - to the person of Jesus, the power of the Gospel, and our unity in these.