Pastor Stewart Lucas led a working retreat for leaders collaborating in New England May 11-12 at the Barbara C. Harris Camp & Conference Center in Greenfield, New Hampshire. Fifteen clergy and leaders met with Episcopal bishops from the dioceses of Western Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, and the Lutheran bishop of the New England Synod to discuss current partnerships and wonder about future opportunities.
Topics included confirmation guidelines and a campaign to get the word out about partnership possibilities between our denominations, especially one exciting program happening in Rhode Island. Instituto Ecuménico de Ministerio Hispano is a project founded by the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island and the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America to strengthen Hispanic communities with training programs for lay and ordained leaders. Participants talked about similar language that might be included in the judicatories’ respective canons and constitutions to clarify processes around exchangeability and emerging partnerships.
The Lutheran Episcopal Coordinating Committee sponsored an evening reception to show appreciation for the leaders’ commitment to sharing ways they are working together so that other dioceses and synods might benefit from their knowledge and experience.