A: Beginning as a mission church, St. Luke's worked hard to become a parish and was granted that status in 2015.

As far as every-day workings go, both parish churches and mission churches look much the same. Both have worshiping communities that work hard to support the life of their church. Many of the ministries, missions, and ways of being together look and work similarly.
The differences lie at the operational level. A parish is a church that can financially support its own operation. They also have a greater degree of independence in how they operate. So, for example, a parish selects and hires its own rector. "Rector" is the title for the priest-in-charge of a parish. As you have already learned, parishes have elected lay officials called a Vestry. The vestry votes on financial matters concerning the church (they are the financial authority of the parish) and functions as a council of advice for the rector. In last week's newsletter you also learned that parishes contribute a portion of their budget to the diocese as a part of mutual ministry support. That money is used by the diocese to, among other things, support congregations that cannot financially support themselves. Parishes also have a greater degree of control over their property and assets.

A congregation that cannot sustain itself financially is called a mission. Missions receive financial support from the diocese to operate. Because the diocese is supporting them, the Bishop also exercises more control in selecting the priest-in-charge of the congregation. The Bishop may appoint someone or work with the mission to select and approve of a priest-in-charge. A Bishop can also veto someone suggested by the congregation; he or she has final say. A priest leading a mission is called a vicar. Another difference is that the group of elected lay leaders is called a Bishop's Committee. They oversee the business and financial operations of the mission but require Diocesan approval for major decisions. When a mission can financially support itself for a period of time, they can petition the diocese for parish status. It's also possible that a parish can decline in membership, be unable to sustain itself, and may revert back to a mission status. When this happens, the congregation may lose some control over property or assets.

In our diocese, not all missions have permanent vicars. Some missions can only support someone in a part-time role and they may share clergy with other missions or use supply priests. Supply priests celebrate the Eucharist with the congregation on Sunday(s) but are not with them throughout the week. Supply priests do not perform pastoral care or work in an administrative capacity. Some priests are bi-vocational, which. means they work in another field and are also trained as priests to work part-time. Some Dioceses assign bi vocational priests to non- stipendendiary positions as priests-in-charge of missions that cannot support a fulltime vicar. Mission churches rely on robust lay leadership to keep the every-day business of the church running.

Parishes:

* Financial status: self-supporting * Priest's Title: Rector
* Lay leadership: Vestry

* Legal structure: often organized as a corporation
* Independence: greater financial and operational independence
* Typical Path: May start as a mission and grow to become a parish

Mission Churches:

* Financial Status: Receives financial support from the diocese in the form of a grant * Priest's Title: Vicar
* Lay Leadership: Bishop's Committee
* Legal Structure: Directly under the Bishop and Diocesan Council

* Independence: Less independent, operating under the direct care of the Bishop
* Typical path: Often a starting point for new congregations athat will grow to become a parish with time

St. Luke's has been self-sustaining ever since 2015. This is one reason we have a stewardship campaign every year; to each contribute toward a budget that will allow us to remain independent, strong, and invested in God's work in Park City. Even as a parish, we have a strong relationship with the Diocese of Utah. It is a true blessing to have a Diocese and this is one reason we pay a parish assessment - to support mission churches, through grants. Were we ever to revert to that status, we would receive the same kind of consideration and support.

Author: The Reverend Ashley Wright