Explanation

It has become more commonplace for a clergy vacancy within local congregations of a diocese to prompt a time of discernment beyond that particular congregation. Dioceses are encouraging individual congregations to look for synergies and opportunities within a wider missional area as a matter of practice – and separately from the existence of a vacancy in the clergy leadership. Through the work of partnerships, shared ministry, and regional teams, individual congregations whose resources to stand alone may be insufficient have found and are finding new models for combination and collaboration and for being the Church in their mission field(s). A missional review process would prompt a diocese to engage in a comparable discernment and reflection process, regardless of an anticipated or existing episcopal vacancy.