Do not…consider the things of old.
I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
— Isaiah 43:18-19
The Communities for Spiritual Vitality is an initiative of the Diocese of Vermont and the Diocese of Massachusetts to foster a spirit of depth and abundance among our lay leadership community during a time of vigorous change in the reality of “church”.
The Communities for Spiritual Vitality is an emerging ministry building on:
the continued growth of the Green Mountain Online Abbey, an online congregation created by Bishop Shannon MacVean-Brown during the early days of the pandemic
the development of congregational networks in both the Dioceses of Vermont and Massachusetts
practices that have contributed to the vitality of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Brattleboro, Vermont.
The Green Mountain Online Abbey, in particular, has become a vibrant space of connection and spiritual growth for people who would not otherwise know each other or gather together, as it continues to pray twice daily, seven days a week.
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As Vicar of the Abbey and with the blessings of the bishop, The Reverend Adwoa Wilson began to build on the vitality of that community by creating seasonal devotionals which expanded over time to include writings from clergy and lay people from both dioceses – Vermont and Massachusetts. The enthusiastic response to these common experiences for people in both dioceses led Vicar Wilson, Bishop Gates and Bishop MacVean-Brown to develop the Communities for Spiritual Vitality as a collaborative initiative primarily serving lay people in parishes with little clergy support. With funding from the two dioceses and the Lilly Endowment, the Communities will work with 3 cohorts of these lay people over 5 years to help their congregations thrive.
This new initiative is but another way that the passion in both dioceses for collaboration, mission grounded in spiritual depth, and commitment to nurture the gifts and dignity of smaller contexts is being realized. While this phase of the Communities focuses primarily on sustained support for cohorts of lay leaders, we hope that you will find many resources on this website to nourish your own spiritual vitality in community, wherever and whoever you may be.
Why This
What narratives have you internalized about the Church in recent years? What stories do you have about your own spiritual life? Are they ones of abundance or lack? Of loss or of new possibilities? Of spaciousness or one of urgency? Of works or of God’s unrelenting grace?
Chances are, it is a combination of both but in this cultural moment of scarcity and fear, we truly need each other as people of faith, to maintain our trust that God is very near to us in times of uncertainty or crisis. We need to know that we can share our tenderness openly, even while we renew our practices of spiritual reliance and hope. God is doing a new thing in uncertain times and vulnerable places. Especially now, God is calling us to lean into [Him], ourselves, and one another, again.
Why Now
The Need for Spiritual Support and Leadership
In this cultural and church moment of uncertainty and shift, it is vital to attend to our spiritual and relational needs. This is especially true for lay leaders who carry greater responsibilities in their parishes, and for all lay people who are reflections of Christ to an urgent, aching world.
The Communities for Spiritual Vitality offers a positive return to the biblical, theological and social foundations of abundant life and hope, that were core to the original movement of Jesus’ following.
Our plan is to:
Offer care, support and appreciation to those who serve with dedication among us.
Support our lay leadership as they grapple with burnout and disenchantment.
Recognize and foster lay leaders’ own gifts of spiritual leadership, supporting and encouraging them to bring abundance and inspiration to their own congregations
Cultivate a Christ-centered mission of loving service that does not judge its worth by outward success.
Fostering Community and Shared Spiritual Growth
Through bringing together peers from across many parishes and contexts, we aim to break perceptions of isolation, bear witness to the abundance and strength of Christ within us as a whole, and offer closer pastoral contact for those lay people, who are the heart of the church. Through this initiative, we expect to perceive the new thing God is doing as we strengthen our own spiritual disciplines and develop intimacy with others who share this walk with us.
Key offerings:
Over the course of a year, lay people will be nourished through in-person and online community, pastoral support including spiritual direction, and practices to build their self-awareness as spiritual leaders.
A second year will offer coaching for those who wish to bring these practices back to their home parishes.
We are offering annual cohorts of 20-30 lay leaders face to face and online inspiration, tools and resources to give them the courage and confidence to express themselves and find their own pathway as spiritual leaders.