'We All Are Ministers'
Convention Workshops: Friday, February 21
at All Saints Episcopal Church, Hilton Head Island

Download and print the registration brochure here.

Convention workshops: They’re not just for delegates! The theme of our 223rd Diocesan Convention is “We All Are Ministers.” In keeping with that theme, the Friday workshops are offered to clergy and lay people all over the diocese, not just those who are official delegates to the Convention. In fact, we’re encouraging as many people as possible to attend! Episcopalians from every congregation in the diocese will find rewarding, helpful and inspiring messages to take home to their parishes, missions and worship communities.

If you wish to do so, you may also register as a Convention Visitor and attend the Friday evening Convention Eucharist and reception afterward.

Rick Govan
Workshop Presenter
A “cradle” Episcopalian, Rick Govan is a full-time staff member of the Diocese of East Tennessee and has served as Deputy for Ministry and Congregational Development for the past 10 years. Rick has been instrumental in building the licensed lay ministry program in the Diocese of East Tennessee that aids small congregations in meeting their pastoral needs and outreach. Prior to that, he served as chair of the diocese’s Commission on Ministry for several years. He is an active lay minister at his home parish, and has served several times as delegate to diocesan conventions and once as deputy to TEC’s General Convention. Rick’s home parish is St. Paul’s Chattanooga. Rick previously worked for 30 years in sales and marketing and senior management positions for the Group Department of Provident Life & Accident Insurance Company in Chattanooga.

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Workshop 1
Call to Ministry!
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Are we volunteers or ministers? In recent years, Episcopal congregations have emphasized the importance of ministry of all the baptized. But this emphasis is really nothing new; it is the essence of the Church!

In fact, ordained ministry flows from our understanding of the role of ministry of the laity – ministry both within and beyond the parish.

This interactive workshop will explore the emerging role of the laity within TEC today.

We will discuss how the local parish, in partnership with the diocese, can intentionally affirm, support and equip its members for ministry. And, we will explore how this emphasis leads to improved congregational vitality and growth.

Lunch will be served between the sessions.


Workshop 2
Congregational 
Development Strategies
1:00-3:00 pm

Many Episcopal congregations today that were not long ago growing and energetic have become complacent and “stuck on coast mode.” Yet, others are vibrant, fruitful, and conspicuously relevant to their respective communities. How and why does that happen?

This workshop will explore the typical lifecycle of a congregation and emphasize what can and should be done to respond to those realities. We will review current congregational vitality characteristics and good practices. And we will explore the need for transformative lay and clergy leadership within the local parish today.