The Liturgy of Belonging was created by the Revs. Jim Nelson and Kevin Wittmayer when they served congregations in Oklahoma. It was designed to be a way to help new members of a congregation be introduced, affirmed, and welcomed into the life of a church. The Rev. Mark McKone-Sweet, rector at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Chesapeake, Virginia, discusses his church's use of "The Liturgy of Belonging" to publicly bring new members into the congregation.
Video Transcript
Hello, my name is Mark McKone-Sweet. I'm the rector here at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Chesapeake, Virginia, and the Diocese of Southern Virginia. When I arrived at St. Thomas two and a half years ago, the lights didn't work.
There were about half the light bulbs literally were not on. And then slowly we began to do the work. We reached out to Invite Welcome Connect.
We got the leadership and then some members of the parish who had a fire for welcoming and engaging folks. And then slowly the lights literally started to come on. As we, the light went on in our hearts.
And we began to realize we had the opportunity to be a beacon here in the Chesapeake area. Today all the lights work. And so that led to a new problem.
We didn't have a bishop visitation every year, in particular last year. So we borrowed the Liturgy of Belonging from the Diocese of Texas and our bishop signed off on it. And we applied it twice, once in June and once in October.
Just a moving experience to watch 35, 38 people walk forward, stand in front of the altar, face the congregation, and proclaim their love for Jesus and their understanding that God has called them to serve here at St. Thomas, that they belong here in God's house. And the congregation gets to shout out, just like our Baptism of Promise, and say, we will, we welcome you, we will support you, we will walk with you, we'll learn from you, and we will build the kingdom of God, made real and tangible, right here, right now.
Video of Liturgy of Belonging at St. Thomas
Is it your wish to make this community of faith, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, as your church family, who are people with whom you will share your journey of faith, is this the place and are these the people with whom you will seek to make sense of the issues of your life, your dreams, your faith, and who God calls you to be? Will you, who are members of this faith community, and are witnessing the promises of these persons, share their joys and sorrows, do all in your power support these persons in their life in Christ? Will you welcome these persons before us, into this family of St. Thomas, embrace their gifts, their needs, their dreams, and recognize their presence and participation, which will change the shape of this body and help us grow in new ways? We will.
And will you support them in their journeys and assist them in their ministries? We will. Together, loving God, send your Holy Spirit among us, wanting to help us to grow, love, and support each other, that by our common life in this community, we may come to know and serve you and all our sisters and brothers. In Christ's name we pray.
Amen. As rector and head pastor of this congregation, and speaking on behalf of the vestry and all everyone present and those who consider themselves members of this church, I welcome you as active members of St. Thomas. Yes!
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Our banner out front says all welcome, no exceptions.
And it has been an exceptional time here at the Ministry of St. Thomas. I invite you to try on the liturgy of belonging. God bless.
And don't forget to turn the lights on.
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