 Gibbs pointed to several concrete examples of ongoing collaboration in the southern part of the state, including shared ministry at Spirit of Hope church in Detroit and Holy Faith church in Saline. The Episcopal/Lutheran church in Dewitt is a partnership with the Northwest Lower Michigan Synod.
Bishop Gibbs underscored the strong Lutheran youth camping pro-gram that is provided by Living Water Ministries and with which the Diocese of Michigan will partner for the second year during the summer of 2008.
Gibbs also looked to the future areas of ministry that have potential for Episcopal-Lutheran collaboration.
“My great desire is to respond to the growing number of Hispanic [people] in the diocese,” said the bishop. He lamented the closing and selling of a largely Hispanic church in southwest Detroit before he became bishop.
“We need to go back into southwest Detroit. The Lutheran Church wants to go there, too. It seems right to consider ministry together in that area.
“We have determined at least four other areas for the growth of Hispanic ministries and this would be a great opportunity to work together in common ministry,” said Gibbs.
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Detroit, MI