Dear Friends and Companions on the Journey-

We are all on a journey into the Kingdom of God. In our diocese we have named this particular part of our journey together “Transition Planning”. Its focus is to develop a shared vision of how God is leading us into God’s future. We seek to determine our role in bringing God’s Kingdom into reality now, moving from words to actions. Remember our diocesan Vision/Mission statement: We are one in baptism – our call to discipleship – to be the hands and heart of Jesus in the world. Transition Planning seeks to make our Vision/Mission statement a living experience which not only touches others but shapes our life together
now and into the future.

So, how are we moving ahead? We began this conversation bout God’s leading in our midst and how we ight discern and follow where God leads in January. Our
Diocesan Council spent a day identifying several areas of ur common life they wanted to focus on – Leadership, ommunication, and Worship. During the “Alleluia” season mmediately following Easter your congregation was asked to have a conversation among yourselves about those activities and experiences which have created life and energy individually and as a community of faith. Those who participated in this work identified a rich tapestry of experiences
and events that give life to individuals and our congregations.

In early May all were invited to attend Seeing Beyond Tomorrow, a glorious Easter event held in Twin Falls, to share, ponder and celebrate how God’s call energizes and empowers us as a diocese as we move into our future. Those attending felt excited about both our common and individual calls from God. This conversation added other important areas of focus, in addition to those already identified by Diocesan Council, for our consideration in discerning the future.

This important work of Transition Planning cannot be done by a few individuals and/or groups. Each of us holds an important piece of the picture, our own idea about God’s call to us as disciples of Jesus living in the Episcopal Diocese of Idaho. And so as we look toward the future, asking each other what God’s call is, imagine what can happen! There are at least 6,000 of us who have gifts and ideas to offer as we develop the picture of God’s dream for us. We
are like a pointillist, the artist who creates the masterpiece one dot after another until the picture comes into focus. Every dot, every person and idea is important.

In the next few months your congregation will be asked for more ideas and comments, another opportunity for conversation. At our diocesan convention this October we will engage in further conversation about our corporate future. And we expect to repeat the process next winter as well, with the hope that by next spring, together we will have developed a clear picture of where God is calling us to go, how we will move into God’s future, and what kind of leadership and resources we need to do this work well.

Transition Planning, being on journey into God’s future, happens individually and corporately. Each of us needs to consider continuously where God is leading us and what leadership gifts we need for the journey. Last month I celebrated both the 40th anniversary of my ordination as deacon and the 9th anniversary of my consecration as your bishop. While I can serve until my 72nd birthday, it is now my intention to resign as Bishop of Idaho, effective with the consecration of my successor. I have asked the Presiding Bishop to be with us for that purpose in November 2008. At that time I will be 69 years old and will have served in
our diocese for ten and a half years. 

We have journeyed a long way over these past few years. For me it has been a journey of grace, filled with both challenge and opportunity. You have graciously ministered to me and taught me. Through it all I have known the Holy Spirit present in your gifts of friendship, leadership, and time, talent, and treasure for the spread of God’s Kingdom in our congregations and diocese. It is my privilege to serve in this portion of God’s vineyard, and I look forward to the journey we have yet to share. We can give no greater gift to one another than to engage in the work of transition that firmly fixes our direction toward tomorrow and invites each of us, the next bishop included, to offer his/her gifts to further the mission to which God calls us as disciples of Jesus in the Diocese of Idaho.
I look forward to the next year and half with hope and expectation. May God continue to bless our journey together.