On Saturday, March 8, members of the Diocesan Council, Standing Committee, Trustees of Diocesan Funds, and diocesan staff gathered with Bishop Brown at St. Luke’s Cathedral for a Governance Retreat—the first retreat convened by the bishop for all four governing bodies together. Not only did some members travel to Portland from the far reaches of Maine, but two devoted trustees came an even greater distance; the Rev. Tim Boggs flew in from France, and Elizabeth McMullan made the trip from Florida.
Following coffee and informal conversation, attendees were seated at round tables, organized so that members of each body were equally represented to encourage connection and information sharing. Bishop Brown launched the meeting with an address that laid out his vision for the diocese: “To be disciples who make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world,” and that his mandate for the governing bodies is leadership focused on service to clergy and congregations—and sparking joy. The day’s agenda also included table discussions of scripture, and presentations from each of the governing bodies outlining their distinctive missions, ministries, and operations, as well as a panel discussion moderated by the bishop. When asked to name the blessings of the day before the Rev. Mark Furlow, canon to the ordinary, delivered a closing prayer, all seemed to agree that the overall goals of the gathering were met: “To unite ourselves in faith; to get acquainted with each other; to catch the vision and inspire hope for the future; and to set expectations by learning about the canonical responsibilities of each body.”