Dear priests and deacons,
It is only weeks until we meet in San Clemente for our spring retreat. I hope you are looking forward to a real time of rich fellowship and prayerful work as I am. For some time now we have been dealing with the issue of the size and age of our church congregations in the United States. The new patriarch has appointed father Chris Keough as the head of a national committee on church growth and church planting. It is my pleasure and privilege to be appointed to that committee and working with Chris towards growing our churches larger in this and all other dioceses in America.
Because of this extreme emphasis in our house of bishops meetings and the obvious need we all feel, I have asked Fr. Chris to consider attending our fall retreat to teach us all firsthand how to grow our churches larger. Because of the tremendous need I intend to address church growth issues again this spring and probably every retreat in the future until such time as were all leading large, booming congregations. Please be prepared to discuss what you are doing in your area and any ideas which you can bring to the discussion. As well as exchanging ideas and we will be developing our strategy to move forward in our diocese. This will begin as it should, in prayer, so be prepared to prayer.
If you have a subject which you wish to report on, or have addressed, please notify me as soon as possible. I have a lot of good news to share with you and I'm sure you do as well. Father David Anderson will be contacting you very soon with the schedule, details, the vestments to bring in colors, etc.
His and yours to serve,
Bishop Doug