Bishop’s Note: April 23, 2015 – DSJ Strategic Goals Cont.

Bishop Eric Menees

Alleluia Christ is risen!  The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia!

As we continue in Eastertide, we want to take seriously Jesus’ command to go into all the world baptizing in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28) Our strategic goals are set in an attempt to assist us in being obedient to Jesus’ Great Commission.

S2: “To continuously improve administration, communication, and ministries of this Diocese.”

In 2010/2011 the Diocese of San Joaquin downsized big time – cutting the Bishop’s staff to its current status of a full time Administrative Assistant and Bookkeeper and a quarter time IT/R receptionist. At the 2011 Diocesan Convention we moved away from an 18% assessment to the 10% tithe. These actions I applaud and support.

Still, there is more to do in making the administration of the Diocese of San Joaquin more effective for making disciples and training them to bring people to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

We are especially desirous of improving our communication with you, the brothers and sisters of the Diocese of San Joaquin. We have our monthly electronic newsletter, the San Joaquin Anglican. Unfortunately, we do not find all that many people checking out the Anglican. What are we doing about that? Starting last week, we are placing a hyperlink to the Anglican in the “Bishop’s Note.” This is being done in an effort to push the information forward, rather than trying to pull people in - to quote an idea from Fr. Richard James.

We learned, just last week, that our program for sending out the “Bishop’s Note” was eliminating email addresses – presumably, when people don’t click on the email a few times the address is taken off the list. So if you are reading this “Bishop’s Note:” Thank you for opening it up ☺!

Of course, communication is a two-way street. The diocesan leadership and I can make the information available, but you - the brothers and sisters of the diocese - need to take advantage of this information AND let us know what information you’d like, or more importantly, what information will make you more effective as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

May the Lord bless you and keep you!

Bishop Menees

Catechism Questions 100 - 102

100.    How is the communion of the saints practiced?

It is practiced by mutual love, care and service, and by worshiping together where the word of the Gospel is preached and the sacraments of the Gospel are administered.

101.    How are the Church on earth and the Church in Heaven joined?

All the worship of the Church on earth is a participating in the eternal worship of the Church in heaven. (Hebrews 12:22-24)

102.    What is a sacrament?

A sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. God gives us the sign as a means whereby we receive that grace, and as a tangible assurance that we do in fact receive it. (1662 Catechism)