Life-changing worship – an excerpt from our Ministry Covenant

The Ministry Covenant entered into in January 2011 between our Bishop, Priest-in-charge and lay leaders guides our work together over the first twelve to eighteen months. The Covenant’s goal and strategies under the worship umbrella are excerpted below so that we can hold ourselves accountable to our plans and celebrate the progress we are making.

It is our goal to sustain and build upon the Church of the Incarnation’s tradition of innovative and progressive worship, grounded in the spiritual journeys of worshippers and responsive to the spiritual needs of the community in which we witness and serve.

Towards this goal, the diocese will continue to:

• encourage the development, use and evaluation of innovative liturgies and resources; and,
• provide mechanisms for requesting and obtaining episcopal approval for new liturgical texts.

Towards this goal, the Priest-in-charge will:

• exercise the Bishop’s delegated authority over worship conducted in the parish;
• attend to and promote good conduct of worship;
• promote spiritual growth and wholeness of members through preaching, teaching, planning and conduct of worship;
• facilitate wide and broad involvement by parishioners in planning and leadership of worship;
• facilitate the review of and assist in the articulation and clarification of the respective roles of the Priest-in-charge, Music Director, Worship Planning group,
• Altar Preparation and Décor group and Music Selection group;
• enable and support the resulting parish liturgy planning and preparation groups and persons;
• assist in developing job descriptions for staff;
• share in the support and oversight of lay staff.

Towards this goal, the Wardens will:

• encourage transparency and directness of communications with the Priest-in-charge re: worship matters;
• assist in developing job descriptions for staff; and,
• share in the support and oversight of lay staff.

Towards this goal, the various relevant worship groups will be asked to:

• assist in the review, articulation and clarification of the worship leadership roles of clergy, lay staff and groups;
• invite, enable and engage input, ideas and constructive feedback about worship from the wider worshipping community;
• assist in recruiting, training for and support of worship leaders (anyone exercising a role in the planning or conduct of worship); and,
• respect the contributions and the potential diversity of perspectives of various worship leaders and groups.

Towards this goal, all active members of the Church of the Incarnation will be invited to:

• worship regularly and actively;
• take part in the discernment of worship directions and development of worship plans; and,
• share in worship leadership roles.