Former Diocese of NJ Canon for Communications to help launch new on-demand subscription offering
Invite Welcome Connect, the ministry founded by Mary Foster Parmer to help congregations grow through evangelism, hospitality, and belonging, has named Steve Welch, former Canon for Communications of the Diocese of New Jersey as Executive Director. Parmer remains on board as Founder, workshop facilitator, and strategic consultant.
The move comes as part of a new strategic plan to expand the 14-year-old ministry for a post-pandemic world, offering enhanced online resources and coaching services in addition to face-to-face workshops, webinars and online training. Earlier this year, the organization obtained authorization as an independent 501(c)3 non-profit. Invite Welcome Connect On Demand—with online materials available by subscription for dioceses and individual congregations—is scheduled to launch in January 2025 on the ministry's website.
Before serving nearly six years as Canon for Communications for the Diocese of New Jersey, Welch had a long, successful career as a publisher of textbooks and online continuing education course programs. He also serves on the Board of Directors of American Mensa. Welch is a graduate of the Texas Christian University Bob Schieffer School of Journalism and the New Jersey School for Ministry. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, the Rev. Geraldine Welch, deacon.
Guided by the gospel imperative to “Go and make disciples of all nations,” the ministry of Invite Welcome Connect equips and empowers individuals and congregations to practice evangelism, hospitality, and belonging This ministry is adaptable to all size congregations. Churches that fully embrace the practices of Invite Welcome Connect experience both a renewed sense of discipleship and often marked growth in membership and attendance. To date, 67 Episcopal dioceses—as well as universities, seminaries, Anglican and Lutheran groups, and others—have taken part in Invite Welcome Connect workshops.
Former Presiding Bishop MIchael Curry has said of this ministry, “Invite Welcome Connect is something we as Episcopalians can do. It's a way of evangelism that reflects who we are, 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, Welcome, and Connect others to that life-giving reality.”
Welch said, “I first encountered Invite Welcome Connect in a diocesan workshop given by Mary Foster Parmer in 2016. It hooked me, this notion that we who are sometimes called ‘the frozen chosen’ could practice a form of Episcopal Evangelism, a ministry to speak our stories unashamedly, to welcome new people into our churches, and then to truly connect with these new people, and help them connect to the living, loving, and eternal God that we all know. I am thrilled beyond measure to be able to work with Founder Mary Foster Parmer and the dedicated Board of Invite Welcome Connect to help bring this essential ministry into its next stages.”
“I feel blessed to have Steve step in as Executive Director as I transition my role with Invite Welcome Connect,” Parmer said. “The Holy Spirit has brought us the right person at the right time to help us expand this ministry that has already helped so many congregations adopt the Gospel principles of Invite Welcome Connect.
The Rev. Frank Allen, President of the Invite Welcome Connect Board of Directors, added, “Invite Welcome Connect is poised to expand enormously, to help many more congregations adopt its principles of evangelism, hospitality, and belonging. We are blessed to have Steve join us to help lead that expansion, working with Mary Parmer and the rest of the Board. Through God’s grace, we’re excited for the future of our ministry.”
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