New Episcopal Communities identifies, cultivates, and supports the development of new church plants, restart churches, and new micro-church communities grounded in the core values and practices of the Episcopal Church. We also nurture the development of practitioner cohorts, leader discernment gatherings, and co-laboratory experiences.
Watch a greeting from the Rev. Joseph Kovitch, missioner for New Episcopal Communities in the Diocese of Southern Ohio:
Working Definitions of Three Types of New Episcopal Communities
Micro Church: A small gathering of people led by a lay person or clergyperson for the express purpose of community engagement around a specific affinity. These gatherings can be a precursor to a church plant or a group of spiritual creatives desiring to share faith in life for a particular season.
Restart Parish: An existing parish or parishes struggling to keep the doors open who desire to reimagine all aspects of their presence in their community. This work could take the form of what is happening in the Southeast with the four parishes in missional collaboration. Still, it also can be one parish that wants to completely reimagine its identity in the local community, leadership, the role of the priest, its facility, and its mission. A restart can take many iterations.
New Start Plant: This is a church plant (over the last 5 to 10 years, this definition has changed). This work is a much longer commitment by the diocese to establish a sustainable new parish. This parish begins as a chosen location through communication with existing local parishes, listening posts/focus groups, and partnership with members of the identified community (meeting residents, merchants, and civic leaders to identify spiritual hunger and needs). This work will require the leadership of a gifted church planter who is supported and coached, the commitment and support of the diocese, and in relationship to the national Episcopal church planting programs.
- Learn more on the Episcopal Church website.
- Download A Short Guide to Starting New Episcopal Communities for Diocesan Leaders.
Contact
Read All Things New, a blog from the Rev. Joseph Kovitch.
