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Commission on Ministry Bishop Church House Staff Contact The report below represents the Annual Report for 2004, presented to Council at the January 2005 Diocesan Convention and printed in the 2005 Journal and Directory. Diocese of Washington The Diocese of Washington was the first diocese in the Episcopal Church to have a Commission on Ministry. Now a requirement of the national canons, the Commission serves at the appointment of the Bishop, with the consent of the Diocesan Convention. The members of the Commission in 2004 were Ms. Bonita Bantom (St. Mary's, DC), the Rev. Virginia Brown-Nolan (St. Luke's, DC) the Rev. Patricia Downing (Good Shepherd, Silver Spring), Mr. Matthew Gobush (Christ Church, Georgetown), the Rev. Vincent P. Harris (St .George's, DC), the Rev. John T. W. Harmon (Trinity, DC), Ms. Sandra Kolb (St. Thomas', DC), Mr. Emerson Markham (Nativity, Camp Springs), Ms. Lynette Mattheson-Graham (St. Michael and All Angels, Silver Spring), and the Rev. William M. Shand, III (St. Francis, Potomac), chair. The Rev. Canon Nan A. Peete is staff liaison to the Commission. Much of the past year was taken up in consideration of the sweeping revisions to Title III in the national canons. This revision, undertaken at the 2003 General Convention, substantially added to the scope of the COM's existing work, as well as adding new responsibilities. The COM continues to have oversight, with the Bishop, over the process of discernment by those who are examining God's call to ministry, be it ordained or lay. Under the new canon, that oversight will include assuming some of the primary duties of the Standing Committee with respect to examination of persons applying for Candidacy and subsequently ordination. The Standing Committee is not relieved of this role, but their primary responsibility has been lessened. Another new responsibility for the COM will be the oversight of continuing education opportunities for clergy within the diocese. At the same time, Canon 4 of Title III now charges the COM with oversight of those "Licensed Ministries" such as Eucharistic Minister, Eucharistic Visitor, Catechist, or other pastoral leaders. For the immediate future, this work continues as before, but the COM is aware of the need to bring the diocese into compliance with the expectations of the national canon. To that end, the Commission anticipates some reorganization of its structure, including availing itself of sub-committees of the COM to deal with specific areas. This would have the advantages of not only sharing the work load, but also broadening the diocesan representation on this important commission. In the meantime, the Commission has continued with its primary work to encourage the ministries of all the baptized. In 2004, the Baptismal Ministry grant program continued, with individual grants of $500 to each of four applicants. The COM continue to believe this is a resource underutilized in our diocese, and hopes that more effective notice of the grants will increase their visibility. Likewise, the COM has worked with those who in are in the process of discernment. At present, there are 15 persons listed either as Postulants or Candidates. (Some are in seminary; some have completed seminary but are now in different stages in the ordination process.) Shortly after this convention meets, another discernment conference will be held to identify those who will continue on the path to ordination or who will pursue various lay ministries. These conferences rely on the hard work of faithful committees at the parish level, men and women who meet with the discerners for extensive reflection over the course of a full year. The work of these parish committees is essential, and the Bishop and COM receive their findings with much gratitude and confidence. While the practice of this diocese has worked well in the past, the COM remains open to revisions which will enhance the COM's ability to assist the Bishop in this crucial responsibility he holds. The Commission is deeply grateful for the guidance of Canon Nan Peete . She is the direct link to the Bishop, and her knowledge of the demands of ordained ministry is rich. In 2004 the COM welcomed Mr. George McConnell as Canon Peete's new Administrative Assistant, and he has fast become a reliable asset, assuming this work when Ms. Kim Sanders assumed other duties at Church House. Sheryl Wilcox has offered gracious hospitality at our major functions. Their work is greatly appreciated. Our final word of gratitude, however, is reserved for Ms. Lisa Dressler . For many years under Bishops Haines, Dixon, and Chane, Lisa was the "go-to" person: The person the Bishop would go to for records; the person the Chair of the COM would go to for clarification of any question; the person seminarians would go to when the Bishop or the Chair did not have the answers; the person the COM would go to for matters too numerous to mention. She has earned her retirement from her post, but she also has earned the lasting gratitude of all who were involved in "The Process" through this diocese. The Rev. William M. Shand, III, Chair
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