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RISING STARS EXPERIENCE (RISE)
The Missionary Society is working
with local partners in dioceses and
congregations to implement a ritesof-passage resource to provide a
wholesome, positive learning environment for young people as an
alternative to the school-to-prison
pipeline. Approximately 200 participants include students, parents,
guardians, mentors, hospitality-team
members and volunteer presenters.
Resource leaders predict that 50
congregations will engage in RISE
by the end of 2015.
OFFICE OF PASTORAL
DEVELOPMENT
This office of the Domestic and
Foreign Missionary Society provides direct support to the Presiding Bishop and the House of
Bishops – and partners with the
College for Bishops (CfB) – in
the areas of episcopal formation
and development; pastoral care of
bishops, their families, and diocesan
systems; and mediation conflicts
between bishops and diocesan
leaders. In addition, the office
oversees all episcopal elections by
offering a manual of best practices
as well as a pool of consultants for
assisting dioceses having elections.
(On average, there are eight to 10
episcopal elections each year.)
Additionally, the Bishop for the
Office of Pastoral Development
serves as the Intake Officer for this
Church for disciplinary procedures
against bishops. The CfB offers
multiple annual programs for
bishops. These include the Living
Our Vows course for new bishops,
which comprises: the 90-Day
Companion Program (support for
the period from election to ordination), the New Bishops and Spouses/
Partners conference, monthly
coaching, and a five-day annual
residence for three years. In 2015,
the weeklong June residency, will
include more than 40 new bishops
from The Episcopal Church, New
Zealand, Mexico, Canada, and
Tanzania (1).