Incline Our Hearts
Thank You, Canon Steve!
As we announce Canon Steve Carlsen’s decision to retire from active ordained ministry after 30 years, I have many emotions: happiness that after long and fruitful service as a priest all around the Episcopal Church, Steve and his wife Jen will have much more time to travel, rock climb, bike, and sail; sadness, because Steve has been a gift to our diocese and to me, as well as a faithful prayer partner at the Daily Office, and we will miss him; but most of all, gratitude. True story: Steve and Jen were living on a boat when I convinced him to interview for the position of Canon for Congregational Vitality. He had to find a place to dock in order to participate in the Zoom interview. I was delighted when he came on board with us almost five years ago, and his has been an instrumental role in helping us define and refine our primary diocesan focus, the vitality of congregations. Jen has likewise been beloved as a non-profit leader (perhaps especially in her compassionate efforts with refugees) and a warm and supportive presence.
Canon Steve and Canon Kate Bond (who succeeded Steve in the CCV role) worked closely together to help us define congregational vitality, ground it theologically, explore how to measure it, benchmark those measurements to other data outside our diocese, and then identify ways to partner with our congregations to enhance it. From the very beginning, our vitality work has been characterized by two essential components: faith and learning. Faith, because we believe that God is the source of vitality, as the one who gives life. Our human efforts, especially in Christian practice, do not cause vitality, but rather open us up to God’s activity, through the Holy Spirit. And second, learning, because enhancing vitality, both inside and outside the congregation, involves continual experimentation, listening, assessing, learning, and trying again.
It has been a real joy to see Canon Steve finish his time with us as Canon for Special Projects, which really just meant that, like a great relief pitcher in baseball, he was available to come into situations in key moments with his unique gifts. Most notably in this role, Canon Steve has spent over a year working with Trinity, Tulsa on important efforts by their lay leaders towards financial sustainability, strategic staffing, and vitality. This work has culminated in the calling of Dan Morrow as Trinity’s next Rector. And so, over the past year, Canon Steve’s ministry arrived full circle, back in parish ministry, but bringing with him vitality resources to be applied on the ground. Meanwhile, under Canon Kate’s excellent leadership, our diocesan vitality efforts continue to grow deeper and broader alongside our congregations and leaders, both clergy and lay.
Thank you, Canon Steve, and may God bless you and Jen in your adventures ahead!
