The General Convention Advisory Group on Church Planting has announced a series of initiatives designed to place church-planting efforts into motion for The Episcopal Church.

The Advisory Group was established through Resolution D005 of the 78th General Convention in July 2015 and called for the creation of “a church-wide network for planting congregations, training and recruiting planters; and establishing new congregations each triennium.” See full text here 

The Advisory Group is also working closely with Latino Ministries to support and develop new Spanish-speaking and bilingual congregations. Additionally the group has been charged with the distribution of further funding for Missional Enterprise Zones.  

“We are building a new community,” Advisory Group member the Rev. Zack Nyein, noted.  “We are developing a community of church planters and those interested in the work of church planting.”

Information on Church Planting initiative is here.  

Contest

To that end, the Advisory Group has announced a design contest for a new logo to depict church planting for The Episcopal Church.

“We invite artists and dreamers from throughout The Episcopal Church to participate in the visioning process,” Erendira Jimenez-Pike said.  “A $500 cash prize will be awarded to the most inspiring title and logo for a renewed church planting movement across the church.”

Submission instructions and image specifics are located here.  Deadline is May 1.

For information contact   

Members

Members of the Advisory Group and their dioceses are:

The Rev. Jane Gerdsen, chairperson, Southern Ohio; the Rev. Valerie Bailey Fischer, Newark; Erendira Jimenez-Pike, Kentucky; the Rev. Michael Michie, Dallas; the Rev. Alex Montes Vela, Texas; the Rev. Katie Nakamura Rengers, Alabama; the Rev. Zachary Nyein, East Tennessee; the Rev. David Perkins, Lexington; the Rev. Canon Jesus Reyes, El Camino Real; Bishop George Sumner, Jr., Dallas; the Rev. Canon Janet Waggoner, Fort Worth. The Rev. Canon Frank Logue of Georgia and the Rev. Canon Tanya Wallace of Western Massachusetts are Liaisons from Executive Council.  Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and President of the House of Deputies the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings are Ex Officio members.  The Rev. Tom Brackett is the staff liaison.

In the photo:

Top (L to R):  The Rev. Tom Brackett, staff liaison; the Rev. Michael Michie, Dallas; the Rev. Canon Janet Waggoner, Fort Worth; the Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, staff consultant; the Rev. Zack Nyein, East Tennessee; Bishop George Sumner, Jr., Dallas; the Rev. Katie Nakamura Rengers, Alabama. Bottom (L to R): The Rev. Canon Frank Logue, Georgia, Executive Council Liaison;  the Rev. Valerie Bailey Fischer, Newark; the Rev. Jane Gerdsen, chairperson, Southern Ohio; Erendira Jimenez-Pike, Kentucky;  the Rev. Canon Jesus Reyes, El Camino Real; the Rev. Alex Montes Vela, Texas; the Rev. David Perkins, Lexington. Not pictured is the Rev. Canon Tanya Wallace of Western Massachusetts who serves as Executive Council Liaison.  Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and President of the House of Deputies the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings are Ex Officio members.