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The
Cathedral Church
of Saint John
Ten Concord Ave.
Wilmington
Delaware
19802

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fax: (302) 777-5789

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What's the long-term future of the Cathedral Church of Saint John? — Dean's Letter to the Parish

June, 2008
Episcopal Cathedral Church
of Saint John
Wilmington, Delaware

Dear Friends in Christ,

I begin with a thank-you to the following: Tim Koob, Anita Manning, Debbie Layton, Norwood Coleman, Linda O’Connor, Terry Walbert, Charisse Rodgers, Anne Kauffman, all of the Cathedral, and to Maureen Lyons, Ron Truitt, Felice Jo Lamden, Dana Robertson, the Reverend Ed Godden, Rufus Miller, the Reverend Anna Waid, all representing the Diocese of Delaware. These fifteen people are the members of the Working Group and have been, since November past, working on behalf of all of us to, in the words of its goal:

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 members of the Working Group have put in a great many hours over the winter and through the spring. They have focused on five key areas in pursuit of the goal:

  1. Building infrastructure/Alternate Use,
  2. Real estate analysis,
  3. Ministry audit,
  4. Alternate church models, and
  5. Finance review.

Financial support from the Diocesan Trustees has made it possible for the Working Group to secure the services of professional consultants in such areas as engineering, real estate, and alternative and compatible uses of buildings and property.

The Working Group plans to have its recommendations to the Vestry and the Bishop and Standing Committee ready by the start of the church program year in September. Meanwhile, its work is far enough along that it has given preliminary reports to the Diocesan Council, the Standing Committee of the Diocese, and the Cathedral’s Vestry. Such a report will be given to all of you at the Annual Meeting on Sunday the 15th of June following the 10:30 a.m. liturgy. Meanwhile, members of the Cathedral parish have received a letter from Tim Koob, Senior Warden, containing a summary of Vestry action taken to secure the present in order to realize the promise of the future.

As I have followed the Working Group’s process and listened to its preliminary report, both have affirmed what I have believed from the beginning, we are working for and talking about life, not death. We are talking about the life and work of the Episcopal Church in the Brandywine Village that goes on today, will go on tomorrow, and will continue into the future. A key message from the Working Group is that, THERE IS A LONG TERM!

I have every confidence that each of you will continue in your commitment to the life and work of the Cathedral even as that life and work may change and move in directions that we may not as of yet even thought about. It is a privilege for me to be with you in this stage of the “Journey to Tomorrow.”

Faithfully,
The Very Reverend William B. Lane

Dean’s Sermons:

Cathedral Call Letters from the Dean

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