A new partnership is born!
In April 2023 Holy Hermits Online (HHO) and St John’s Cathedral entered a new partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Texas (EDOT) Mission Amplification Team.
Together we will further the development of online mission resources. The intention over a three-year period is to create a tailor-made program to assist the Diocese of Texas to establish their own response to the digital ministry needs of their communities and culture.
As an example of online ministry, HHO will serve as a learning space for those who engage with the budding program. Our community experiences will encourage and inform new online outreach opportunities. We have much to offer and it is wonderful to see our unique ministry space valued.
At the end of this partnership in 2026, we plan to have created a resource, which HHO can market to the wider Church. This will assist in our long-term sustainability while encouraging other online communities to further the Gospel.
During this partnership there will be minimal change to the day-to-day ministry of HHO, with the same level of engagement prioritised in: Weekly Worship, Occasional contemplative services, Prayer group vigils, Seasonal Study programs and Ministry-task group workshops to further our Companion Animal Ministry and other ministries, such as, our subscription projects.
The main changes for the community of HHO are that the Mission Grant offered by the EDOT will support the clergy package at four days a week and enable the recruiting and equipping of a new administration officer. The administration officer will provide two days of administrative support to our community each week. This will greatly enhance our ministry resourcing, expanding the opportunities available for us to engage in new programs and projects, as well as releasing clergy resources to build the programs and resources for the EDOT.
HHO will remain a small relational community, which is a vital part of the valuable learnings we have to offer. During this season of partnership, it is expected we will welcome many guests to our gatherings who wish to ‘come and see’ while we build new cross-cultural relationships.
This is a colossal step forward in collaboration for the Church. It spans three different communities, represents the ministry contexts of two diocese’ and inhabits two different hemispheres across the ocean. Regular reviews and reflection will be facilitated, and our approach remains Gospel centred, prioritising relationships and prayer.
Opportunities for reflection and questions to be pondered together will be offered, starting with a series of Open Space Meetings beginning on the 21st of May at 11am.