Invite Welcome Connect: The Journey So Far

Introduction to Invite Welcome Connect

“All creativity is discovery: creating is discovering something you did not know before which has sprung from the things you know very well.”—Willie Morris, My Mississippi

This quote from Southern writer Willie Morris captures the essence of Invite Welcome Connect—a transformational ministry of evangelism, hospitality, and belonging that is reshaping Episcopal communities across the country.

Born out of the lived experience of its founder, Mary Foster Parmer, and grounded in the stories of everyday Episcopalians, Invite Welcome Connect emerged in response to a simple but profound truth: Episcopalians love their Church deeply, but often struggle to articulate and share their faith with others. While comfortable with tradition, liturgy, and the intellectual depth of the Episcopal ethos, many are less comfortable with the relational and invitational aspects of Christian community.

Invite Welcome Connect responds to that gap with a ministry of discovery—one that empowers individuals and congregations to reimagine how they live out the Baptismal Covenant and embody the way of Jesus in everyday life.

Evangelism That Fits Our Identity

The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry and Invite Welcome Connect Founder Mary Foster Parmer

In his Foreword to Founder Mary Foster Parmer's book, Invite Welcome Connect, the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, former Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, affirms the ministry’s power to help Episcopalians engage authentically in evangelism:

“As Episcopalians, we are not God’s frozen. We are God’s introverted people. We tend to be shy and polite. We are not pushy people—that’s not our way. And I don’t think we need to pretend to be that way.”

Rather than pressuring Episcopalians to become something they’re not, Invite Welcome Connect offers a pathway that is faithful to the Episcopal identity—rooted in hospitality, relational faith, and incarnational theology.

“It’s a way of evangelism that reflects who we are,” Curry continues, “that doesn’t have us trying to be somebody we aren’t, but actually calls us to be exactly who we are in Jesus Christ, and to invite, and welcome, and connect others to that life-giving reality.”

This ministry is not about programs or marketing. It’s about formation. It’s about culture change. It’s about building a Church that lives into its proclamation: “The Episcopal Church Welcomes You.”

The Three Pillars: Invite, Welcome, Connect

At the heart of the ministry are three interconnected practices:

Invite

Encouraging and equipping individuals to invite others into a relationship with Jesus Christ and into the life of the Church. This begins not with strategies, but with personal stories, spiritual curiosity, and faithful courage.

Welcome

Creating intentional, genuine, and gracious environments where all people feel seen, known, and loved. Episcopal congregations already know how to throw a good party—but this ministry helps deepen that hospitality into a spiritual practice of inclusion.

Connect

Ensuring that new and existing members alike are nurtured in relationships, gifts discernment, and belonging. Connecting means incorporation into the Body of Christ—not just attendance on Sunday.

These three pillars are not steps to complete, but a way of being Church. They are designed to be adapted to the size, context, and culture of any congregation, whether rural or urban, large or small.

A Movement with Multiple Access Points

Invite Welcome Connect has grown into a dynamic, multi-platform ministry that meets congregations where they are. Whether you're exploring the ministry for the first time or seeking to deepen its impact in your community, there are multiple ways to engage:

Workshop Participants in a vibrant idea-generation session

🏛️ Workshops

Workshops are immersive formation experiences offered in-person or virtually. Facilitated by trained leaders, these events combine storytelling, theological grounding, and hands-on exercises to spark creativity and collaboration. They are ideal for congregations or dioceses looking to ignite a culture of invitation and belonging.

Workshops offer an entry point into the heart of the ministry and provide a shared experience that energizes vestries, staff teams, and lay leaders alike.

👉 Learn more about Workshops

🤝 Coaching

Coaching provides personalized guidance and accountability to congregations ready to implement Invite Welcome Connect in context. Coaches help teams identify obstacles, assess congregational culture, and develop tailored strategies for sustainable growth and transformation.

Coaching is available in short-term formats or as an ongoing companion relationship. It’s particularly helpful for congregations undergoing change, seeking renewal, or preparing for a fresh season of ministry.

👉 Book a Coach

Invite Welcome Connect On Demand offers dioceses and congregations 24/7 access to a huge array of training resources to build and grow their ministries of evangelism, hospitality, and belonging

🎥 On Demand Training

The Invite Welcome Connect On Demand platform brings the core teachings of the ministry to your screen—anytime, anywhere. With accessible video modules, downloadable tools, and reflective exercises, On Demand training makes formation possible for vestries, newcomers, ministry teams, and individuals at all stages of engagement.

This platform is especially helpful for congregations looking to:

• Train leaders and ministry teams

• Offer formation resources on a flexible schedule

• Reengage with the ministry after initial exposure

The content is practical, flexible, and deeply rooted in Episcopal theology and practice.

👉 Access On Demand Training

A Call to Courageous Imagination

During a season of recovery from surgery, Mary Foster Parmer found unexpected inspiration while watching Fixer Upper, a home renovation show where the hosts often ask, “Do you have the guts to take on a fixer-upper?”

The question stuck.

It’s a question for the Episcopal Church today: Do we have the courage to take on the work of reimagining what our congregations can be?

In her reflections, Parmer writes:

“Either we live fearlessly into who we proclaim to be—the Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement—or we wallow and hand-wring, enslaved by the sins of despair, complacency, and fear.”

Invite Welcome Connect is an invitation to courageous, hope-filled leadership. It is a call to let go of outdated models and embrace a new way of being Church—relational, generous, creative, and faithful.

Join the Movement

This is not a short-term fix. This is a long-term journey of spiritual and cultural transformation.

“Invite Welcome Connect… helps to inculcate a way of life that actually reflects the way of welcome of Jesus of Nazareth,” writes Bishop Curry.

Across The Episcopal Church, congregations that have embraced this ministry are experiencing renewed vitality—not because of a flashy program, but because of a shared commitment to the simple, powerful practices of invitation, welcome, and connection.

Whether you're a clergy leader, lay minister, or curious seeker, you are invited into this transformative work. The tools are here. The stories are here. The support is here.

All that remains is the question:Do you have the guts to take on this holy renovation?

Let’s build the future of the Church—together.