Genesis II

Genesis II is a Spirit-led, Episcopal process for parishes like Holy Comforter through which we will ponder three key questions:

• Who are we, as a parish, as Episcopalians, as God’s people?
• Where are we, meaning , what is the geographical context, the “neighborhood,” of our parish, whether that is a small area or a whole city or town?
• How is God already at work in our neighborhood, and how and where do we sense a call as a parish to join in that work?

It’s an 18-month journey we will take together, in company with some other adventurous parishes in our diocese, under the leadership of Genesis consultants from the national church office.

In simple terms, it means our Rector and Vestry have endorsed our participation in the national Episcopal church’s initiative called Genesis II. On a deeper level, it means that with the Spirit’s guidance, our parish is embarking on a journey together to re-vision and renew Holy Comforter’s unique calling to ‘be church’ for a world that needs Jesus.

Ultimately, we expect to discover a distinctively Holy Comforter blend of new and traditional ways our parish can join in God’s kingdom-making work. Together, we will explore the challenges the church faces in this new millennium, get to better know our parish neighborhood, and practice spiritual questioning and spiritual listening.

The parish will be asked (and strongly encouraged!) to participate in a wide range of Genesis activities that will vary over the course of the 18 months. These will be custom-designed to fit Holy Comforter, addressing the three key questions listed above and allowing us to practice spiritual questioning and listening. To accommodate a wide range of people’s schedules, every effort will be made to find convenient times to offer the activities. The Pathfinders circle group has been tapped to coordinate Genesis at Holy Comforter.

Here is a listing of current and upcoming events:

• Genesis Reflection of the Month
• Mapping Our Neighborhood (September, 2023)
• Walking Our Neighborhood (September, 2023)

Join/visit Pathfinders If this kind of work feeds your soul and calls to you, we’d love to talk with you or you may want to consider visiting an upcoming Pathfinders Circle Group meeting – 4th Monday every month, 6:30pm in Van Every 207 or by zoom (email us at [email protected] with subject: Zoom) – all are welcome!

It was developed by the national Episcopal church over the course of several years of work with parishes across the country, and is being brought to NC by our diocese. It aligns well with the purpose of the Pathfinders circle group, which recommended it to the Rector and Vestry, who subsequently endorsed Holy Comforter’s participation in it. Genesis II is the latest version of this national church initiative.

The process is more organic than a traditional strategic planning or visioning process and intentionally emphasizes being open to and listening for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Each participating parish has a core team of 3-6 laypersons who commit to shepherding the Genesis initiative in their own parish. About 4-8 parishes participate at the same time, with the 4-8 core teams coming together to form what is called a “Genesis cohort”.

The cohort works with Genesis consultants from the national church (Rev. Tom Brackett and Steve Matthews) and a designated diocesan clergy member (Rev. Canon Earnest Graham), to learn and share the Genesis experience together. Each parish’s experience and Genesis activities may be different, as they are designed and carried out by their own core team in the context of their parish’s specific situation, needs, and history, even as they are grounded in the same teaching, expertise, and guidance of the consultants. At Holy Comforter, Pathfinders members Vicki Bott, Beth Hardin, and Kirt Hibbits are the Genesis core team, supported by the rest of the Pathfinders circle group.

Questions? Email us at [email protected]