Dear People of God in the Diocese of Chicago,

A lot has been happening behind the scenes since I last updated you on our Strategic Planning Process and I am pleased to be able to share with you the next milestone document, the Saison Discernment Report. Saison’s report incorporates the Holy Cow! survey feedback and information gathered from the 70+ interviews and Zoom conversations held in February, March, April and May. The volume of responses is deep and our partners at Saison Consulting have taken time to review their findings and synthesize the important themes, concerns and hopes for our diocesan life together. I invite you to read the report and please feel free to reach out to the diocesan staff with any questions you have.

It has been interesting to sit with and reflect on this preliminary information for the past few months. In my letter to the diocese in May I asked us to challenge our instinct to “rush toward solutions.” That said, diocesan governance officers, diocesan staff, and I have been inspired to find some preliminary ways to respond to the expressed needs and desires from the report at this early stage.

Some of these changes are very specific. In response to people’s desire to gather in person and our need to keep costs down, we’re trying something new by holding Diocesan Convention in two parts. We’ll have an efficient, online business session on November 18, and on November 22 we’ll gather in person for worship, fellowship, and the remainder of the business of convention, at a new venue in Rockford. This is truly an experiment for us, and we are taking to heart the goal of “connection, not perfection.” We don’t know if this will be our model for the future, but we’re giving it our best try and hope it brings joy to this essential function of diocesan governance.

Another insight from the discernment process is that people want greater access to and transparency from the diocesan budgeting process. This is something we’ve been working on since I became your bishop, but it’s clear we need to do more.  In order to bring more people into the conversation about the budget, our Finance Committee will host an educational event later this week on Zoom to explain how the diocesan budget process works, how our ministry is funded, and how the committee hopes to steer the diocese toward a sustainable budget for the future. To be clear, this is not a preview of the 2026 budget but an opportunity to gain a better understanding of how our diocesan budget is developed and approved. Learn more and register to attend the July 17 meeting here. 

In smaller ways, you may have noticed a renewed emphasis on storytelling and connection in our diocesan communications, including on our social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, and in our newsletters. Those changes were made in response to the overwhelming feedback that members of our diocese want to feel connected across congregations and deaneries and share what they’re doing. Following the departure of our long-term consultants from Canticle Communications, we’ve opted to take those editorial functions in house to move away from the formal, journalistic tone that characterized their work and to save money. You’ll see that we’re publishing content driven by our congregations, with stories about gardening and mission trips, information about concerts and adult formation, and updates on my Sunday visitations with congregations. We’re committed to prioritizing connection, not perfection, sharing the good news and heartfelt ministry that’s happening in the cities, towns and rural areas of our diocese.

In May, Saison Consulting brought together a “Strategic Planning Committee” for a day-long working retreat to help provide insight and guidance on how to best move forward with the information contained in this latest report. We were challenged to review and reflect on some of the preliminary themes and priorities that emerged from the Strategic Planning Process to imagine how we might respond to the feedback as we shape our way forward as a diocese.

As we continue to move forward with this work, that committee will gather for additional “focus groups.” They will brainstorm and imagine how we might respond to the needs and challenges outlined by this feedback, in our current context and mindful of the financial limitations we are bound by. We are also challenging ourselves to expand our thinking to imagine new models of ministry and new responses to longstanding issues. I am clear this is not easy work, but it is essential that we invest the time and thought required to identify new pathways for our diocese. All of this work continues at a pace to allow us to share and discuss our final Strategic Planning report at Diocesan Convention. And then, the work will begin in earnest!

Friends, I share this latest update with you in peak summer season, when it would be easy to tune out and focus on vacations and beach days and barbecues. Please know that while I hope we all find fun and refreshment in those summer pleasures, this work continues with my focus, my commitment and my love for the people of the Diocese of Chicago.

As always, I welcome your questions and comments on the Strategic Planning Process and again thank you for your participation in this effort that will shape our work for the coming years.

Your partner in ministry,

Bishop Paula Clark