In 2008, the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana, has joined with several other Episcopal dioceses in the United States in offering the training of the Church Development Institute (CDI). A church development initiative was announced by Bishop Edward Little in his convention address in 2006. This initiative intends to equip the parishes of the diocese in their various missions as well as provide a diocesan structure to encourage and support the parishes.
Each parish in the diocese was charged with developing its own strategy to better function as a missionary outpost of the church, incorporating the following four elements: conversion, evangelism, local mission, and global mission. Clergy and lay leader teams from the various parishes participating in Northern Indiana's CDI are taking the first steps towards transforming their parishes around these elements.
This initiative coincided with the hiring of a new Canon to the Ordinary, the Rev. Canon SuzeAnne Silla, following the retirement of the Rev. Canon David Seger. As a certified CDI trainer, Canon Silla brings years of experience in congregational development to Northern Indiana.
CDI is a leadership training program focused on the ministry of developing the spiritual, community and organizational life of a congregation through a hands on approach to learning. The goal of CDI is to equip teams (clergy and lay) to lead congregations into the future through:
- Renewing the baptismal identity and the apostolic ministry of parishioners
- Providing tools and strategies for growth and openness for transformation
- Empowering congregational teams to not only work effectively towards a common goal,
but to know its identity – its calling - And to begin looking at how to embody this Godly call into mission
We are excited to be offering CDI training at this important moment in the life of our diocese. Please browse this site to learn more about CDI in the Diocese of Northern Indiana.