The diocese began to explore ways to measure parish health in 2009, inviting church growth and development consultant Robert Gallagher to speak on that topic at the fall Regional Assemblies.

The Diocesan Council continued the conversation at its Dec. 8 meeting, where members shared their thoughts on two of Gallagher's key questions: "What is your diocese avoiding or running away from?" and "What are the places of joy and wonder or awe and adoration."

Council members flagged the following areas for improvement, saying the diocese needed to more aggressively claim and support its struggling parishes; initiate a robust program of church planting; use more volunteers; better align the scope of its activities with available resources; do some creative restructuring; make better use of Washington National Cathedral; and explore ways to be more relevant in today's world.

"I think sometimes we get distracted by things that are out at the margins," said Finance Committee chairman Peter Marks.

"It's ironic that we often have good speakers talk about church development, but it doesn't seem to trickle out," said the Rev. Sheila McJilton, adding that she wished more resources could be made available to congregations trying to grow.

"Focus on the health, not the disease," she said.

That said, council members found plenty of areas of awe and wonder. (Though "the words joy, wonder, awe and adoration just don't come up at the Finance Committee," Marks joked. "But my term is still young!")

Episcopal Church Women president Sarah Stowell Shapley listed Washington National Cathedral as one of the diocese's greatest assets.

"I think that's a place to come together," she said.

The Rev. Donna Brown said she was inspired by the speakers who come to the diocese and the insights they offer. "To have exposure to that, for me, helps me lead my congregation better," she said.

"Having the opportunity to sit at the feet of a number of people has been enormously enriching to me," McJilton agreed, adding that she also enjoyed "our worship together at convention." The Rev. Peter Antoci and the Rev. Carleton Hayden also mentioned worship as a highlight in the diocese.

"I always leave worship feeling inspired and uplifted and better understanding the word of God," Hayden said.

The Rev. Nancy Lee Jose said she was "in awe of the way the diocesan leadership speak authentically of their love for Christ," while Barbara Miles singled out "the lay people in the diocese who are not afraid to spread the Gospel."

Governance officer Ann Talty said she was encouraged to see parishes working together for the common good, and Rick Rutherford said he was "joyful as a result of relationships."

The Rev. Steve Huber pointed to "a spirit of welcome in the diocese and parishes – my greatest joy as a priest," and Paula Singleton enjoyed "the general community of this diocese."

Linda Freeman said she found joy in another strange place: "the governance improvements in the diocese." And John Miers pointed to the "work we've done in congregational development."

The Rev. Greg Syler said he enjoyed the dichotomy of a diocese that encompasses both rural tobacco fields and the nation's capitol. "I love this irony that we are together," he said. "But somehow, in spite of our differences, we work together – and it works."

Anthony Moore mentioned the Bishop Walker School as a particular point of pride, and the Rev. Carleton Hayden praised the diocese's companion relationships with dioceses and churches around the globe.

"How grateful I am to be in a place that despite the risk refuses to back down from the meaning of the Gospel," said the Rev. Stephanie Nagley, council moderator.

"We've walked with some congregations through some pretty tough times," Bishop John Bryson Chane said. "But we've come out of those turbulent waters in pretty good shape, for the most part. … If we look at ourselves from another perspective that is not the ‘business model,' even congregations that are really struggling have some ministries that are really reaching out, really changing people's lives. If we look at what we can do as congregations and as a diocese, we really do quite well."

The council plans to explore these issues further and formulate some specific goals at its annual retreat on Feb. 20, where the Rev. David Gortner, professor of evangelism and congregational leadership at Virginia Theological Seminary, Jim Wind, president of the Alban Institute and (possibly) Gallagher and author and commentator Diana Butler Bass will speak and lead small group discussions.

Lucy Chumbley is the editor of Washington Window, the newspaper of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington.