Episcopal Press and News

Massachusetts Sets Goal of $9.150 Million

Episcopal News Service. December 17, 1981 [81328]

Boston -- At their Nov. 7 convention at Trinity Church here 600 clerical and lay delegates of the Diocese of Massachusetts overwhelmingly adopted the diocesan mission strategy that will carry them into the 21st century. Adventure in Mission, the program approved by convention, includes a stewardship campaign with a goal of $9,150,000, and five specific commitments of time and talent. This is to date the largest dollar goal of any diocese in the Episcopal Church.

The 1980 convention mandated a year of "prayer, dialogue, and planning for the renewing of our individual and corporate ministry and mission." Adventure in Mission is the result of that year, during which every parish in the diocese, committees, commissions, and other groups focused on their mission, the corporate mission of the total diocese, and determined what they felt most urgently called to do.

One-quarter of all funds raised will be allocated to national and global mission, most of which is expected to be funded through the Venture in Mission program of the national Church. Specific allocations will be made by the convention of 1982.

The Saturday legislative session was preceded by a Festival Service of Mission on Friday evening. During that service, the Rt. Rev. John B. Coburn, Bishop of Massachusetts, gave his annual address, titled "Peace, the Poor, the Mission of Christ's Church. Coburn. called it, "an invitation -- as much to myself as to you -- to live responsibly as Christians in a disordered, disoriented and sometimes terrifying world."

This was the last diocesan convention as suffragan bishop of Massachusetts for the Rt. Rev. Morris F. Arnold. Arnold will retire on Jan. 31, 1982, ten years after his consecration as bishop.