Lay: List what you need from our Diocese to enable you to offer your best.

L1

Better opportunities to learn more about the Episcopal Faith and theology and to be offered more locally.

L2

Offer more to serve as an advocate for the elderly and the sick about healing mission.

L3

Opportunities to connect to the church community, especially inter—generational.

L4

More opportunities for #5 (?)

L5

Ssupport, more spiritual education

L6

Information, sense that we are all working for on goal, ideas and suggestions on how to

L7

Visibility of the diocese. We need their visibility and their work to break down us—them. The diocese needs to be viewed as more than an administrative entity.

L8

Have more communications between the parishes of the diocese, to compare programs and ideas, what is working, and what is not.

L9

Bishop to be open to new ideas; continue to heal.

L10

More communication

L11

I really feel that our diocese as it is presently functioning is inspiring us. I believe that Bishop Councell is inspiring.

L12

I need events like this that force me to understand that there are people in the diocese who are different from me but serve the diocese every bit as much as I do. I was born a snob and spent my whole life overcoming it.

L13

I would love the diocese to come out and have tea with us, because I have no idea of what the "diocese" is.

L14

Exercises like this one — bring people together from other parishes — learn from experiences of others — to be encouraged that problems at his parish are indeed faced by other parishes — how to grow over all and how to grow that active center.

L15

Rake a firmer stand on issues of social justice, especially homosexual discrimination.

L16

Good communication — can find a lot on internet but need to be more accessible to those who are not so involved. Make it easy for people to learn about deeper issues.

L17

Leadership — sharing across the parishes problems and solutions, ideas in practical issues and with faith

L18

To be able to go to seminary. I have what I need from the diocese otherwise. Get on the website to find the resources of the diocese improved!

L19

Benefits for lay ministry

L20

Anything to encourage and share more with other parishes. Help others to share more ideas and more of their Christian lives.

L21

1. Community mended and focused i.e. identify needs and mobilize membership to serve those needs 2. Make known needs and serve as a facilitator to meet needs all over the diocese — the wider world.

L22

By attending seminars and meetings like this and finding out the church is not unapproachable — but is here for even me — with aids and literature and even by conversation

L23

L24

Make hiring of a Christian Education Director a priority. Need to bring people together to talk, to share. Parishes cannot do it alone. The diocese can bring people together — a tough job, but necessary.

L25

Feels his parish should do more for the diocese because his parish is so blessed. Should partner with other parishes. Diocese can bring people together from different situations, backgrounds, etc.

L26

More programs, workshops i.e. what it means to be an Episcopalian — sharing of parish written materials e.g.. newcomers

L27

Ministry support and guidance — opportunities to meet with others in other churches — also people with various areas of expertise (knowledge) that you can consult with

L28

District events

L29

1. more youth outreach 2. more local programs 3. formation of districts 4. diocesan liaison with monthly meetings so they can report back at services

L30

Ministry support — people to help guide and consult with. More knowledge and information about missions within the church — how church is involved nationally — globally

L31

ECW — needs direction and support from Bishop. Needs more focus and updating.

L32

Better communications with diocese and other parishes; perhaps, quarterly meetings (what works in one parish might work in another). Need to get together other than annual diocesan meeting.

L33

1. More communications — informed and formal between the Diocese and individual parishes 2. Greater awareness of special concerns faced by smaller, financially shape d parishes 3. Regular visitations by members of the Diocesan Council and standing committee

L34

Have better sense of daily presence. Most do not pay attention until there is bad news. Parishes are there on their own, but a tiny little wish that we could clone the Bishop. More visible means of visible support. Also from the national church.

L35

Communication by the diocese of relevant activities — keep me informed.

L36

having more information of use of educational materials to have spiritual information to share with church members. The support and encouragement of our church members to partake in activities of our Diocese.

L37

Appreciation for what you do

L38

Continual support, willingness to listen and solve problems

L39

Better understanding of what we do; listen to us, diocese needs to learn to listen better.

L40

Support, leadership, guidance, a clear vision

L41

Continued support of inclusion. Seminars/activities to explore discernment

L42

Support present stances of inclusion and not buy into the demands of Anglican Communion Network

L43

Need it to stay in the Anglican Communion and to be willing partners in tangible acts of reconciliation. Less assessment would be great.

L44

Feels a little by herself

L45

Need direction, information, insight

L46

Wasier access to resources of Diocese, listing of resources with more and number of person to get information. Greater lead time in announcing diocesan events. Better communication between diocese and parishes. Rotate diocesan workshops around different locations in diocese.

L47

New programs for churches from the Diocese.

L48

Parish visit program — how to create better program — communication in a variety of forms to get to people technology listening. More resources consulting — available to parishes — convocation concept — do more workshops at that level. Offer my best to others by my training as an executive.

L49

Provide increased opportunity for parishes to interact at the working level

L50

Does diocese understand inherent problems of individual parishes and help in getting together — joint congregations — share personnel

L51

Needs to be more programs to get local parishes to connect, thru the diocese, to reach common goals

L52

Since I am not that familiar with what the diocese does, more information on what they do.

L53

Would like to see stewardship leadership — get off idea that money is all we need. Motivational speakers. Need focus on time — talent plus money— service is more worthwhile than $ in plate

L54

L55

L56

New people — away to entice new people to come to church

L57

Description of duties of the clergy, bishops rules

L58

Diocese needs to be encouraging the larger churches to grow by assisting the member churches with additional staff — such as an assistant priest — one priest is not sufficient to meet the day to day responsibilities.

L59

Support for how we can best get the Episcopal message out to others as simply and effective as possible.

L60

That the Diocese seeks the Lord's guidance when making decisions. Opportunities to share God's love and his word with others

L61

Prayers, more visits from the bishop

L62

More visits from Bishop.

L63

More interaction with other parishes. This would include adult and youth experiences. Ideas shared between churches.

L64

Good communication from bishop through the priest.

L65

Funnel down ways of doing things — education and communication — from the head of diocese to churches.

L66

Keep me informed of new directions and where I fit in

L67

Direction — leadership — Bishop Councell

L68

L69

Money — stewardship guidance, sympathetic ear — willingness to understand parish challenges. More communications to how what is going on in the diocese Interconnect convocations and churches. More deacons.

L70

I need a forum like this for experience what I value in church and continued support — also an interest in finding out how to breathe new life into our church, and then beyond church into the wider society.

L71

leaders in the churches to teach the ….people in

L72

Cathedral needs support from diocese— finanicial — need more than presently getting. Administrative too; need help from outside.

L73

So much of this stuff is talked about in private and in the EFM program. How about a section of the website on which people can write essays on how scripture informs them and how ties can be carried out in life. Those could be just a few lines.

L74

L75

L76

Understanding various cultures in the diocese (women, gender issues, etc.)

L77

We need better communication between the churches. Also need to work together to improve relationships and develop programs to enable us to be as one.

L78

We need support group for widows, widowers, single parents, parenting classes for young mothers and fathers.

L79

Strong leadership in the minister; willingness of clergy to take on problem and disputes and help solve them. Retreats and financial support to the church.

L80

This exercise of visioning is necessary — have retreats

L81

Regular visits from our bishops, let us know they are there

L82

Regular visits from bishop or his appointee

L83

Resources like the evangelism conference, opportunity to share with other Episcopalians … challenges create the feeling that all of us are the diocese.

L84

As a parishioner in a parish, I see the diocese as very far away and not very related to me personally. The diocese should allow each parish to have it is own personality.

L85

Christian education materials and programs to help our young people be ready to go into the world better prepared.

L86

I like this diocese.

L87

Support of community and commonality of experience — greater sense of involvement of diocese in parish.

L88

Acceptance — if there are no problems with his orientation it enables him to give back to the church. A chance to serve and a chance to help the church community.

L89

Real leadership. Hands on leadership. Thinks something wrong when we have to have a retired Bishop for confirmation class. We need to see one Bishop in every parish each year.

L90

More help with programs I want to start with youth especially older members to get programs for kids every day of the week. Need help to be able to reach out to more kids.

L91

Programs tailored to our immediate needs

L92

Focus on spirituality in worship

L93

1. Bishop being there for pastoral support and direction (a true shepherd) 2. guidance and support in areas outside of my expertise.

L94

Find a place for us to be part of. Currently at odds with where diocese is coming from now. There is a need to focus on the word of God.

L95

Network of others engaged in accomplishing similar mission

L96

Experiences such as this evening's meeting . More knowledge of the history of the church.

L97

Would like to be able to be involved in the urban, rural and suburban churches together more sharing — interaction among the youth groups. Discuss ways of maintaining the church population.

L98

Support the parish, youth programs — important to keep kids involved

L99

Opportunity for 20-somethings to be involved, to bring about the younger adult to the diocese, task to be work on specific goals

L100

organizational structure

L101

Stop telling what you won't do and telling us what you can do.

L102

L103

Need leaders that recognize the Bible as the word of God. Never changing. Better guidance from the top. Strength in conviction. Righteousness of Jesus Christ, holiness of His commands. We gain money — churches are hurting and there is nothing to help them.

L104

Studying the word, keeping God's laws and not interpreting from would point of view but from scripture. No picking and choosing.

L105

1. Diocese Vision mission 2) tragedy in urban inner cities 3. churches that are dying, to those not wealthy.

L106

More staff and better resources for supply priests. Everyone needs to give their fair share. Website needs to be improved — very un-user friendly.

L107

Diocese is not present much. We do not feel the presence. Visit every year. The diocese must be revised — it is not user friendly — need to get resources on website.

L108

Cash-strapped parishes — has to be understanding of inability to meet fair shares — state of church in NJ means not everyone can meet goals

L109

Localize and have better times for meetings (i.e. sexual awareness). Lower cost for diocese events for youth. Local events

L110

Have diocese training programs held more local — lower cost for youth events.

L111

To learn more about the theology of death. Why things happen. If I got help with this, I could talk with people in other religions about how our church feels about people passing on. It would benefit them and me because it would give us answers. Why does God let bad things happen?

L112

Information — communication from the Diocese in what I could do.

L113

Effective leadership from Trenton in assisting local parishes and more direct assistance to people in need.

L114

Continuation of on going dialogue. Need these lines of communication open, up and down. Affirming pastoral leadership and to keep it going. An ability of on going training.

L115

1. information and guidance with youth work 2. education geared to children of all ages 3. continuing leaderships, education for ministry — ways to increase commitment.

L116

Clear vision. Pick up paper. Diocese more supportive of clergy who are different.

L117

Clearer communication abut issues such as paying your fair share, issues social justice, clarity on the issues. More unified church without ignoring our differences.

L118

Orientation for working with youth

L119

Workshops in Spanish to enable the faithful

L120

Schedule things to be accessible

L121

Greater support of budget

L122

More collaboration of human resources, courses in Spanish

L123

Formation of lay leaders and of course economic support.

L124

Repair the structure of the church

L125

Participating more in what can help.

L126

More sharing economically among the brethren of the Diocese.

L127

More sharing economically among the congregations.

L128

Collaboration amongst the different churches.

L129

Formation of laypeople and Latino priests.

L130

That when we speak we get heard.

L131

Workshops in Spanish to enable the faithful at an hour and a day that accommodates we that work.

L132

More Hispanic priests

L133

Laypeople become more committed

L134

Financial resources

L135

More space for the church building

L136

More communication between the Diocese and the church.

L137

Better economic resources

L138

Workshops in Spanish to enable the faithful

L139

Attract more people to improve our Christian church.

L140

Logistical support to integrate and develop youth activities

L141

Diocese integrate more the Hispanic community, having in mind the current growth of our community.

L143

Donate equipment like air-conditioning, sound equipment, among others for better worship.

L145

Communication between the church and Diocese

L146

Coordinate program

L147

Financial support to continue ministry

L148

Chiefly economic support

L149

Economic support, for light, water, among other things

L150

More Hispanic priests, events — festival, picnic, Atlantic city trip

L151

Heat, help for a community building, a larger church

L152

First and most important — a larger building

L153

More activities for the youth

L154

We need heat.