Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Fall 2012 Issue | Page 22

Ecumenical Partnerships Enhance Ministries, Fulfill Mission
Paula Neely
From cooking classes to youth groups, from worship services to hypothermia
clinics, congregations throughout Virginia are partnering with churches from
other denominations to identify community needs, tap into area resources,
broaden the reach of their ministries and get to know each other better.

The Rev. Dr. Chris Agnew and
the Rev. Diane Carroll, leaders of the
diocesan Committee on Ecumenical
and Interfaith Partnerships, said the
Episcopal Church has been at the
forefront of ecumenical partnerships
for about 150 years.

Agnew and Carroll said the
partnerships are important because
they help fulfill the Church’s mission to
reconcile all people under God. They also
help fulfill the prayer that Jesus offered
at the Last Supper: “That they all may be
one,” according to John’s Gospel.

Agnew added that the second part
of Jesus’ prayer, “That the world might
believe,” is equally important. “If we
act as one and demonstrate love for
each other, then people are more likely
to believe.”

The committee represents the
Diocese on ecumenical and interfaith
partnerships and serves as a resource
for congregations. It has been involved
in Virginia Council of Churches since
World War II and supports ministries
such as the Migrant Head Start Ministry
and Refugee Resettlement.

Here are a few examples of other
partnerships throughout the Diocese
of Virginia.

St. Alban’s, Annandale has
successfully partnered with Peace
Lutheran Church on a combined youth
group for the past three years. The
Rev. Jeff Shankles said that Peace did
not have enough young people to have
a youth group, whereas St. Alban’s
had about 15 young people, so they
have offered one youth group for both
congregations.

“We make sure that the kids from
Peace feel 100 percent part of it – that
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Virginia Episcopalian / Fall 2012

they are not just along for the ride,”
Shankles said. For instance, Lutheran
customs and traditions are included in
discussions and activities, and each year
they go on a mission trip to Appalachia
and report back to both congregations.

Many congregations partner with
neighboring churches from a variety
of denominations for worship services
during Thanksgiving, Lent, Holy Week,
the National Day of Prayer and
other occasions.

For example, Trinity, Highland
Springs partners with Presbyterian,
Catholic, Methodist and Friends
churches each year during Lent. A
brief noon service is offered each
Wednesday at a different church with
a different preacher. Afterwards, the
host church serves lunch. Proceeds
from the collection and lunch go to an
area food pantry.

On Good Friday, they have a
community Stations of the Cross walk
that starts at one church and ends
at another. Trinity’s senior warden
Traci Parsley said the only challenge is
creating the schedule.

St. Luke’s, Alex