Diocese of Albany Vision

The Diocese of Albany is One Church fulfilling the Great Commandment and Great Commission, moving from membership to discipleship; equipping, emboldening, and sending disciples to make disciples.

• Prayer & Worship
  • Worshipping the Lord daily (Psalm 95:1-7, Psalm 96:1-9, Acts 2:46, Romans 12:1)
  • Gathering weekly as the Body of Christ in remembrance and thanksgiving (Acts 2:42, I Corinthians 11:23-26)
  • Praying continuously & interceding for all in need ( Romans 12:12, I Thessalonians 5:16-18, I Timothy 2:1)

  • Praying with and in the Spirit (I Corinthians 14:1-25)

• Scripture – The Word of God
  • Studying the Holy Scriptures daily; ordering our lives to God’s word; and proclaiming the Good News through Biblical Preaching (Luke 4:16-21,Acts 2:42 & 17:1l, Romans 12:2, II Tim. 3:14-17, II Timothy 4:1-2)

  • Acknowledging that the Old and New Testament is the very Word of God, “containing all things necessary to salvation and as being the rule and ultimate standard of life” ( BCP 853 and 877)

• Catholic Structures of Anglicanism
  • Committing to The Body of Christ, The Universal Church, across space and time (Matthew 16:18, Romans 12:5, I Corinthians 12:27-28, Ephesians 4:4-16)

  • o Honoring the three-fold ministry of Bishop, Priest and Deacon ( Acts 2:21-26, Ephesians 2:19-22, I Timothy 3 & 4, II Timothy 2:2, BCP 510, BCP 517-519, BCP 531-532, BCP 543-544)

• Christian Education
  • Teaching young and old alike in Sunday School & Bible Study to know God and follow Jesus (Psalm 27:11, Matthew 28:20, Mark 1:21-22, Mark 10:13-16, Luke 24:27 & 45, John 14:26, Acts 17:11, Titus 2:1)

  • Teaching the Catechism & preparing for Confirmation ( BCP 845-862)

• Christian Fellowship
  • Committing to being in the Body of Christ - the Church, and using our Spiritual Gifts for its benefit (Acts 2:42-47, I Corinthians 1:9, I Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, Colossians 3:1-17).

  • Loving One Another as commanded by Christ (John 15:12, Romans 12:10, I John 1:3-7)

• Spiritual Gifts & Healing
  • Learning to identify and use the Spiritual Gifts God has given each person for the work He has prepared for them to accomplish in His name (Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, I Peter 4:10 )

  • Following Jesus’ command to His disciples to heal the sick (Matthew 4:23, Luke 9:1-2 & 10:9, James 5:14-15)

• Christian Service
  • Serving the Lord faithfully (Deuteronomy 10:12, Joshua 24:14, Romans 12:11, Philippians 2:3-8, Colossians 3:17)

  • Serving others in a broken world (Matt. 25:31-40, Luke 10:30-37, John 13:1-17, Galatians 5:13, I Peter 4:10)

• Generosity in answering God’s call as Stewards of His Creation
  • Embracing the Biblical standard of tithing and working to achieve it (Malachi 3:10, II Corinthians 9:6-8)
  • Contributing to the needs of the saints (Matthew 6:2-4, Acts 20:35, Romans 12:13, II Corinthians 8)

  • Growing in stewardship of all God has given us (Genesis 1, Luke 21:1-4, I Peter 4:9-10)

• Evangelism – Sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ
  • Introducing people to Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20, John 17:18-26)

  • Encouraging the next generation to pass forward the faith (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Psalm 78:1-8, 2 Timothy 2:2)

• Mission at Home and Abroad
  • Restoring all people to unity with God and each other in Christ ( BCP 855, John 14:6, I Timothy 2:3-6)

  • Witnessing to the truth of Jesus Christ, going into the world and making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:46-48, Acts 1:8)

As we pray through the” Marks of Discipleship and Diocesan Values,” may the Lord show us where we need to grow – individually, as a parish, and as a diocese.
Conv2009