Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, Mpls
The Very Rev. Paul J. Lebens-Englund, Dean
06 May 2022
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light:
Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery;
by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation;
let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up,
and things which had grown old are being made new,
and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him
through whom all things were made,
your Son Jesus Christ our Lord…
Dear Saint Markans & Friends,
Greetings to each and every one of you! I pray this note finds you and yours well, as we celebrate the great fifty days of Easter and savor the lengthening days of spring.
Perhaps this note finds you, like me, experiencing a ‘re-awakening’ to some of life’s familiar patterns and rhythms – cautiously re-engaging the people, places, and practices we’ve largely put on hold these past two years. There’s a palpable sense that, though we’re by no means out of the proverbial woods, we can nonetheless begin to take up parts of our lives we had set down for a season.
In my own life, I’m finding that I bring to this vast inventory of deferred activity a mix of both anticipation and dread, excitement and exhaustion – not to mention the simple fact of clumsiness that accompanies months of hibernation and relative inactivity. I’ll just admit, much of my own muscle memory – both physical and emotional – has dimmed and will take some time to re-orient and re-engage. So, I hope we can be gentle with one another as we re-emerge again to the life we share at Saint Mark’s.
Despite our personal experience, however, the natural and organizational rhythms within which we live and serve continue uninterrupted – the thawing, brightening, and greening of the garden coupled with the digging, trimming, and preparing of the gardener. Each new spring brings the promise of new life, but not without the inevitable aches and pains that accompany the hard labor of stewarding this small piece of creation in our care. It’s to that stewardship I now turn.
Many of you will recall from my annual report to the congregation on January 30th that Saint Mark’s received generous funding from the Cathedral Foundation to pursue our second phase of major organization redevelopment beginning in fiscal year 2022. Whereas phase one, which began in the fall of 2019, focused on redeveloping the business side of cathedral life, this second phase aims to redevelop the pastoral and program side of cathedral life – everything from worship to fellowship to formation to mission to communication. Significant change is afoot in all these important areas, the inevitable evolution of a congregation that is growing and changing. Of course, the possibility for change within these various realms of ministry would be impossible without the important and invaluable work our staff, clergy, council, and ministry leads have done laying the foundation for what’s next. A reality for which I know we are all deeply mindful and profoundly grateful.
The organizational structure that brought us to this point, however, is not the structure we need to sustain it, nor to grow beyond it. So, this spring and summer, I will be making multiple organizational changes to streamline our staff and increase continuity across our many areas of ministry.
These key areas include:
- Restructuring and re-allocating resources related to Cathedral Communications and the Dean’s Assistant;
- Restructuring Youth Ministry and Family Ministry into a single full-time ‘Cradle to Career’ Associate;
- Restructuring and re-focusing our Office for Community Engagement; and, soon,
- Exploring the desirability and feasibility of a second ‘Canon Pastor’ for program, worship, and pastoral care.
Again, it’s essential to note that we would not even be in a position to have this conversation were it not for the incredible work done within these areas of ministry over the past eight years, as well as the sacrificial pledged financial commitments made by our annual supporters and the generous investment in growth by our Cathedral Foundation.
When I arrived to Saint Mark’s in 2014, we barely had funds to pay for the Dean’s position. So, it was with great creativity and faith that we cobbled together an amazing team of individuals to fill multiple part-time positions to create a staff capable of covering the many areas of congregational life. As the Cathedral has now stabilized financially and shown sustained signs of growth, both in terms of new membership and annual pledged giving, it’s time to structure ourselves for our next chapter in ministry by consolidating positions, streamlining the org chart, and increasing coherence and long-term stability.
As with every organizational restructure, real lives are impacted. In this case, three very dedicated, very gifted staff members, all of whom have served alongside me for the majority of my time at Saint Mark’s, will be affected by this re-organization: Carrie Thomas, Anna Ostenso Moore, and Rena Turnham. Each of these three have enriched our common life and have left an indelible mark on this chapter of Saint Mark’s individual and collective history. And, speaking personally, they have been a gift and joy to serve alongside through some of our greatest challenges as a Cathedral congregation. Please join me in giving thanks for their many years of faithful service in their current Cathedral roles, and please extend with me your prayers for their discernment of next steps and new opportunities. I will share staffing updates with the congregation as they unfold.
As we look to life beyond the acute COVID crisis, it’s clear to me that major rebuilding will be required in multiple ministry areas beyond these staffing re-configurations. At Saint Mark’s, as across the entire Episcopal Church, the pandemic sped the resignations of long-time ministry leaders, particularly congregational elders, and further exacerbated the challenge of on-boarding newer, younger members into formal ministry activities. Without the participation of Cathedral Members, working alongside paid Staff and Clergy, we simply do not have the hearts, minds, and hands to fulfill the mission, nor even the corporate obligations, of this Cathedral congregation. The work of ministry belongs to us all, so please hear this as an ‘all hands on deck’ call to participate in whatever ways you feel uniquely gifted, called, and committed to serve in the months and years ahead.
At this writing, the most acute areas of need are as follows:
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Cathedral Council, Committees, and Commissions – this is Saint Mark’s governing Board, which fulfills our corporate obligations of oversight and best-practice, develops resources to support our mission and ministry, enlists and develops long-term leadership competency, and shares with clergy and staff in discerning and responding to God’s persistent, evolving guidance in our congregational life. At this time, the Cathedral Council is in need of expertise on both sides of the ledger: resource and program. As to resource, we’re seeking expertise in the areas of legal, financial, and property. As to program, we’re seeking expertise in the areas of greeting & hospitality, events, and community engagement. Our next elections aren’t until the end of January 2023, but if you’d like to discuss opportunities or discern an interim appointment before then, please contact our Senior Warden, Mr. Brian Childs, at seniorwarden@ourcathedral.org or Dean Paul at paulle@ourcathedral.org;
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Children, Youth, Young Adults, & Young Families – along with greeting and ushering, this is one of Saint Mark’s most volunteer-intensive ministry areas, requiring many hands at each developmental level, each uniquely gifted, trained, and credentialed for ministry with young people. As we re-emerge from the pandemic and begin re-building for the fall program, please be on the look-out for an informational session and an invitation to serve;
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Greeters & Ushers – along with CYYA ministries, this is another of Saint Mark’s most volunteer-intensive ministry areas because, of course, many hands make light work. For all major events at Saint Mark’s, we ensure we have members available at all entryways and throughout the campus to ensure easy wayfinding and quick answers to basic questions. And for all Cathedral worship gatherings, we ensure there’s a team of gifted ushers available to welcome and assist our guests and members. Any time we host events at Saint Mark’s, it’s our warm and competent hospitality that leaves the biggest impression, so if you’ve got the gift, please consider contacting Mrs. Sally Cuningham (greeters) at corlies@comcast.net or Mr. Dave Albrecht (ushers) at davidalbrecht1964@hotmail.com; and
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Altar Guild – let’s be honest, a worshiping community cannot function without a gifted and committed altar guild, the team of ‘holy hands’ who set-up and take-down for all Cathedral worship services. The altar guild is split into teams, each working one month at a time for a few months each year. In addition to the regular cycle of weekly worship preparation, there are also seasonal teams with expertise related to specific holidays and other cathedral, diocesan, and community events. If you love to handle holy hardware and have an eye for detail and love to support the worship experience of others and have a good sense of humor, please consider reaching out to our Cathedral Sacristan, Deacon Terry Erickson, at terrye@ourcathedral.org.
The Easter season reminds us that renewal is hard work – that it requires clear purpose, thoughtful planning, and committed people. And, even with our best efforts, the process of leading change is always imperfect. As such, it requires we extend ample grace to one another as we feel our way forward across unfamiliar terrain. Though our next horizon is coming into view, the path from here to there is only gradually taking shape. So, as with all great journeys, travel light, let each step be peace, and keep the love of God ever before us.
Know that you remain in my prayers as God brings all things to their perfection, one season, one step at a time.
Grace & Peace,
Paul+
