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2007 MINISTRY PRIORITIES

The Vestry of St. Francis has established five St. Francis Ministry Priorities for 2007. Increases in the 2007 budget will primarily be focused on these areas:

1. Focus on Ministry to Children - Children are God's greatest gift to the world. At St. Francis, we regard the care and nurture of children as one of our most challenging responsibilities and precious opportunities for ministry. New birth and phenomenal growth require additional space for infants and toddlers. Expanded Sunday School, music classes and other activities minister to "the whole child" addressing spiritual, physical and emotional needs with developmentally appropriate programming. Creating a safe atmosphere and healthy environment for growth is important for the St. Francis family and the greater community as well. The Children's Ministry, Pastoral Care and Community Ministries Teams as well as clergy and staff are committed to making a positive difference in the lives of a generation of children in Central Georgia. More and better ministry to children will require more staff, more space, more supplies... more money.

2. Haitian School Lunch Project - As our relationship with the people of St. Marc's, Trouin deepens, our commitment to partnership increases. After the recent visit of the St. Francis Mission Team (a.k.a. "The Franciscan Four") to Haiti, we have committed to build and fund a kitchen for a lunch program at St. Marc's School. Many of the children have nothing to eat all day, despite walking great distances to and from school. The on-going school lunch program after the kitchen is ready, will cost $7,200 per year.

3. Expanded Pastoral Care - St. Francis has long been known for its loving care for members of the community, and as the congregation grows, the need for a more comprehensive pastoral ministry grows as well. Through the new Pastoral Care Team, St. Francis will empower members of the congregation to celebrate births, recognize significant life transitions, comfort families and individuals in times of sorrow and be companions to those in crisis and poor health. The Pastoral Care Team is brand new and will become fully functional in 2007.

4. Habitat for Humanity House Project - We have to reclaim Linwood Estates, a poor neighborhood here in the Macon area. Partnering with other local churches and Habitat for Humanity, St. Francis will build a house in Lynmore Estates and provide comfortable housing for an area family. This project requires a $5,000 commitment.

5. Pastoral Assistant - St. Francis has become too actively engaged in too many worthy missions for one priest to provide all the pastoral leadership. So this year, we added a half-time pastoral assistant, John Mark Parker. While we have paid John Mark half time (with no health insurance or other benefits), he has worked nearly double time. In addition to pastoral care, counseling, taking people to the doctor, taking people grocery shopping, helping with child care, etc., he has already become well-known throughout the diocese, and even nationally, for his work with Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation, Episcopal Relief and Development, and Episcopal Charities Foundation. John Mark has taught multiple workshops in Safeguarding God's Children. He has personally stabilized and revitalized Children's Church, and he has brought together the strongest team of Children's Sunday School Teachers we have ever had. The cost of actually paying John Mark full time with modest benefits will call for a budget increase of $20,000.

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