Companions Ministry

A Companion…
          from the Latin, “one who has bread with”
                   one who accompanies, as on a journey
                            one who assists
                                     one who is closely connected

The Companions Ministry in the Episcopal Church in Vermont is based on the theological principles found in the Baptismal Covenant, encouraging and supporting a shared ministry for mission that calls all baptized Christians to be ministers of God’s reconciling love in the world.

Companions walk alongside a congregation as partners in a mission-focused relationship and offer an incarnation of Baptismal Ministry as they demonstrate their own ministry as baptized persons and celebrate the ministry of others.

Companions Ministry focuses on the following areas:  development of collaborative ministry in congregations; asset mapping and other capacity-building work for local leadership; conflict transformation; leadership development for vestries and teams; support to congregations in transition; and mutual ministry reviews.

They are paid for their ministry by the Church in Vermont with some additional local congregational support.

For more information on the Companions Ministry, contact Lynn Bates, Canon to the Ordinary and Transition Minister.