The congregation asks, “The Chaplain leaves…what’s next?”

There is a process by which we organize ourselves when a chaplain departs, or, when a congregation on a military installation has no regular clergy coverage.

Three parties are usually part of the future planning process: this Bishop's office, the congregation on the post/base, and the nearest off-site congregation. Often a contract priest promotes this process and joins the conversation.

The intention of such an effort is twofold: first, the military congregation must assume a mission to persons in uniform and their families (more than half of the attendance) in order to receive support from this episcopacy, second, the civilian off-site congregation would be encouraged to adopt the on-base/post eucharistic community as mission outreach (no monetary support is implied).

Normally this is all set up through a conference call. The example below is the agenda one military congregation composed to host such a call.

Schedule: Conference at Claggett on November 15 2008

9-9:30 a.m. Arrive at Claggett and be directed to Shenandoah Room
9:30 a.m. Coffee and Donuts
9:40 a.m. “Getting to Know You…Getting to Know More About You”

1. Name and Family/household members
2. What have been your connections with the military/Fort Meade?
3. When did you begin worshipping with St. George’s Congregation & why?
4. What are some reasons you have stayed part of the St. George’s community?

10:15 a.m. Lambeth Style Bible Study (Three small groups)
10:40 a.m. Sharing of the Bible Study Discussions
11:00 a.m. The facts about the BRAC impact on and growth f the Ft. Meade Community
    Slide show re Ft. Meade BRAC and presentation on Congregational Growth

12:15 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. Brainstorming about opportunities for ministry (Three groups)

1. What do we have to offer newcomers?
2. What ways can we reach out and welcome them to Ft. Meade?
3. How shall we cooperate with other churches and religious groups?
4. How can we invite the newcomers to join our worshipping community?

2:00 p.m. Bishop George Packard’s Telephone Conference Call
2:45 p.m. Integrating our own ideas with insights from the discussion with the Bishop
3:30 p.m. Formulating and adopting a 10 item action plan for the next 2 years with ways to present these proposals to the entire Congregation
4:45 p.m. Holy Communion in the Silo Chapel

5:30 p.m. Dinner
6:15 p.m. Depart in Peace! Thanks be to God! (Drive Safely)