Bishop Todd Hunter takes steps toward a diocese that behaves like a movement.

Bishop Todd, in partnership with the Executive Leadership Team, is reorganizing the Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others (C4SO) to allow him to minister more effectively to member churches and to better align the diocese with its 2020 vision of taking on the practices of a Spirit-led kingdom movement, facilitating the spontaneous expansion of the Church.

"C4SO is our churches," Bishop Todd says. "They are the source of Spirit-given spontaneity. The diocesan office and its team exist to facilitate the Spirit-led, kingdom-oriented life of our churches. My goal is to create agile diocesan structures that will prioritize and assist the contextualized, creative innovation of our local churches."

Throughout the latter part of 2019, Bishop Todd worked with a well-respected consultant and spiritual director to think through the question, "What does it mean for C4SO to behave less like an institution and more like a movement?" He emerged with a vision for diocesan structures that will help guide us into living as a Spirit-empowered movement. Bishop Todd presented this vision during the first session of the 2019 Clergy Retreat, the 2019 Convention and a subsequent blog post, and began planning a strategic reorganization for Spring 2020.

As of April 15, C4SO’s diocesan structures will change in three key ways:

1. A More Distributed Leadership Model

C4SO has eliminated the traditional position of Canon to the Ordinary in favor of a more distributed model of leadership.

"When you’re a diocese with churches in 15 states, that magnitude of responsibility must be distributed or it becomes cumbersome," Bishop Todd says. "We are so grateful to our Canon to the Ordinary Kimberley Pfeiler, who has created many structures, systems and processes over the last four years that have facilitated the rapid growth of the diocese. For many people she has been a helpful guide into the life of C4SO. We thank God for the work she has done."

Kimberley’s last day with C4SO is April 15. In keeping with the practices of a movement, her work will be divided among other senior leaders in the diocese. Vocationally, Kimberley will remain a Canon. She and Bishop Todd, whose mutual affection remains, will determine what that vocation means in the future.

"Thank you for the opportunity to serve!" Kimberley says. "I’m excited by this next phase of C4SO’s growth, with new and different voices and ideas. A more diversified approach will help create the kind of organizational flexibility and creativity needed to support missional, Spirit-led growth across C4SO’s variety of communities."

In the interim period, the first point of contact for the diocese is our Communications Director Andrea Bailey Willits, who can be reached at 214-291-4704.

2. A Nimble, Movement-Oriented Team

C4SO is moving to a reduced staff and a streamlined workflow for the duration of the Coronavirus pandemic. Bishop Todd expects church revenue to decrease for a period of time and has temporarily made significant reductions to the diocesan budget. To accommodate these economic realities, we say goodbye to Kimberley’s Executive Assistant Monica McQuaid, and to Jessica Talbot, who assisted with the ordination process.

"I am grateful to have observed up close the diligent, servant-hearted work of these colleagues," Bishop Todd says.

Bishop Todd plans to make strategic hires in late 2020 or early 2021 to round out a staff that is ready and equipped to support a movement. The months to come will be devoted to fleshing out how C4SO does its work best and how to align future hires to the vision and values of what C4SO is becoming.

3. A More Centralized Hub

C4SO will officially relocate diocesan headquarters from Plano, Texas, to Bishop Todd’s hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. The diocesan team will be local, serving alongside Bishop Todd in Nashville. With diocesan leadership spread out across the country, this tight local hub is needed to best serve a growing movement. (Temporarily, C4SO’s mailing address will stay the same.)

You may be wondering, "How will these changes affect me and my church?" Rest assured that we are working to make this a smooth transition, especially in the following areas:

• Scheduling
  Lisa Pompa, Executive Assistant to the Bishop, will now be handling Bishop Todd’s calendar.

• Episcopal Visits
  If you have an upcoming ordination or confirmation, C4SO will now have increased capacity for visitations. Bishop TJ Johnston will be dedicating more of his time to C4SO, and Bishop Todd has arranged for three other bishops to assist with episcopal work. To schedule an episcopal visit, email Lisa Pompa.

• Ordination Process
  If you would like to begin the Path of Discernment to Holy Orders, your first point of contact is still your Rector. If you are in the Local, Deanery or Diocesan Processes of the Path of Discernment, we appreciate your patience as your timeline may be delayed by pandemic realities. The Summer 2020 Application Period is open until April 24; however, the Candidates’ Retreat (June 4-5 in Nashville) has been postponed until further notice. If you have questions about any part of your ordination in this interim period, visit our ordination site or email Bishop Todd.

• Church Adoptions and Plants
  If you’re in any stage of church planting or interested in church adoption, email the Very Rev. Dr. Kris McDaniel, Canon for Church Planting and Adoptions.

• NextGen Ministry
  If you need ideas, resources or a conversation partner in the area of NextGen ministry, email the Rev. Aaron Buttery, NextGen Leader.

• Communications / Operations
  If you have questions related to C4SO’s events, email communications, website, social media, or general operations, email Andrea Bailey Willits, Director of Communications.

"C4SO was in a liminal space in terms of becoming a movement long before the realities of the Coronavirus pandemic," Bishop Todd says. "I had already begun the work of shaping our vision and values from traditional diocesan structures to a more fluid-feeling movement. Now, that work gives us the freedom, with a relaxed vibe, to calmly and intentionally move forward toward our preferred future. We are creating a new thing for a new reality."

Our goal is to make sure C4SO churches are cared for and supported during this time. If you have any other questions or concerns, please let us know. We will be happy to help!