The revitalization of our parishes is a fundamental goal of the Diocese of Washington’s Strategic Plan. In support of that goal, leaders from across the diocese worked together early in 2020 in a deeply collaborative process to identify seven key markers that indicate the relative health of a parish. We call these markers the Vital Signs of Parish Health.
One of the vital signs is a Clear Path of Discipleship. A path of discipleship sets out a life-long journey of maturing as a follower of Jesus. A path of discipleship is both individual and community oriented, drawing us more deeply into the heart of God and community and back out into the world. In 2021 the diocese developed resources geared towards equipping parishes to develop their own paths of discipleship.
With a few years of experience, perspective, and feedback it became clear that the original path of discipleship resources and materials needed refinement and simplification in order to make them more accessible and useful to our congregations and our people. To that end, we are proud to announce our updated Path of Discipleship. Centering on three core elements of faith — believing, belonging, and behaving — our updated path seeks to support parishes and individuals grow in their lifelong journey of Christian discipleship.
When accessing the updated Path of Discipleship on our diocesan website, users will encounter an interactive Path of Discipleship wheel. Explore the wheel to learn about the three core elements of faith — believing, belonging, and behaving — and how they expand the life of faith. Additionally, on our updated page, individuals and congregations alike are presented with tools to develop personal paths of discipleship.
The updated Path of Discipleship will promote courageous discipleship by:
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- Offering spiritual guidance to individuals who are seeking to deepen their faith.
- Helping congregations craft a path of discipleship that nurtures people at various stages in their faith journeys.
- Offering a model for congregations to create a concise statement of belief, including what it means to belong to that specific congregation, and how that particular Christian community lives out its faith.
We invite you to check out these materials and offer your feedback. We have specific areas designed for congregations and for individuals at four different stages of discipleship: seekers, new Christians, de/reconstructors, and seasoned followers of Jesus. Our intention is to continue to build out the resources connected to the Path and to take into account the lived experience of those who use the materials.
For a guided tour of the Path of Discipleship and a live conversation on how to use it, please join Amanda Akes-Cardwell and Anna Olson for a webinar on Wednesday, May 29, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. RSVP and get the link here.
