I look forward to encouraging this grassroots initiative to enrich and strengthen our southern churches in their common ministry. We recently convened a meeting of congregations who are interested in campus ministry. We are doing excellent work at the University of Delaware. But there are many other institutions of higher learning in Dover, Wilmington and Georgetown. This new group, reporting to the Council, will strengthen what we are doing now and look for opportunities across the State.
Leadership is essential to growth.
I want to applaud the work that our Commission on Ministry has done under Thom Jensen's leadership and the work that the Standing Committee has done under Tom Kerr's leadership. Together, we are recruiting, selecting and preparing for ordination candidates for ministry. This morning you will have a chance to meet our candidates. We have nine who we are preparing for ministry. When I was at a regional bishops meeting recently, none of them could believe what is happening here.