Dean and Senior Warden's Letter to the Parish

October 2007
Episcopal Cathedral Church
of Saint John
Wilmington, Delaware

Dear Friends in Christ,

I am writing this for you with the concurrence of Tim Koob, the Cathedral’s Senior Warden. This letter is to inform you about the process that has been established to discern both the future shape of the life and work of the Cathedral Church of Saint John and the resources needed to support that life and work. Putting it another way, what should the Church be about here at Concord and Market and how do we make that happen.

This process is being conducted by a Working Group and the membership of the Working Group consists of representatives of both the Cathedral and the Diocese. The Cathedral’s representatives are to be appointed by the Vestry and the Diocesan representatives are appointed by the Bishop. The Working Group will report regularly to the Vestry and to the Bishop and Standing Committee of the Diocese. The Vestry will keep the people of the Cathedral informed and involved through written reports and informational meetings. The goal is for the process to be completed and a proposal ready no later than the first of May 2008. The proposal will be presented to the Vestry and the Bishop and Standing Committee. The implementation of this proposal will be determined in consultation by Cathedral and Diocese.

Formally stated, the goal for this process is: To develop the 21st Century Paradigm – a financially sustainable operating model for the Episcopal Church in the Brandywine Village, that maintains the presence of the Church in mission and ministry through the continuation of a worshiping community. The Cathedral’s vision is that the Cathedral Church of Saint John be a welcoming community of faith and action that embraces diversity, nurtures spiritual growth, and inspires the work of Christ in the world.

It is likely that there are as many hopes for what the Working Group’s proposal will say as there are people reading this letter. We need not jettison our hopes, but we do need to trustfully and prayerfully let the process go forward without imposing those hopes on it. If the Working Group remains mindful of the goal for the process and the vision for the Cathedral, then the proposal that comes from its work has every chance of exciting and challenging us.

Now, while this process is underway, the life and work of the Cathedral continues. We will gather for worship and fellowship, we will serve the community and the Diocese of Delaware, and we will affirm the “dignity of every human being.” The vitality and dedication of the people of the Cathedral and the value of its work in the world have never been of question and we will not let them be now. As members of the Cathedral, we will continue to be reminded that we are stewards of our time, talent, and treasure for the mission and ministry of the Holy Church of God in this place and in the world.

So we keep the faith and journey on, perhaps mindful of those wonderful words in the Hymnal. I know not where the road will lead I follow day by day, or where it ends: I only know I walk the King’s highway. The road we walk is the King’s highway and it is the road traveled by patriarchs and prophets, by Jesus and the Apostles, and by all the saints of God. Brothers and sisters, we travel in good company.

Faithfully,
The Very Rev. William B. Lane, Interim Dean
Timothy Koob, Senior Warden

DEAN'S DIRECTORY:

• A recent sermon by the Dean
• The Dean's Letter of Welcome
• Meet the Dean

Cathedral Call Letters

• 2008: January | March
• 2007: September | October | November | December