What I learned from this work was how much emphasis the Center put on the creation and understanding of Core Values. Yes, they did have their participants write a mission statement for the new work, but they spend much more time helping the planters spell out the core values to be the foundations for this new congregation. Furthermore, they insisted that a new church should have three Core Values and no more than four! Over time I learned how true this is.

What Are Core Values?

Earlier this year I led the members and consultors of the Pontifical Council for Culture on a reflection intended to give a new impetus to the response to the challenges of unbelief and religious indifference. We began by making an updated map and analysis of unbelief in the world.

As regards the analysis of the state of unbelief in the world today, let me share with you the following conclusions:

As my colleague, Oliver O'Donovan, said recently, when placed along side most Anglican Documents, the Windsor Report is decidedly "up market." In contradistinction to a number of contrary judgments, I agree; and the burden of my remarks will be designed to show that, despite certain omissions and errors (some serious) the report provides a credible way forward both for ECUSA and the Anglican Communion as a whole.

Now a year later—September 2004—the entire pastoral staff is gone, attendance is down 75 percent, most of the Christian education leaders have either left the church or are hesitant to sign up for another year of duty. The parish is deeply discouraged, mission giving is down, and the near future of the parish looks bleak, financially and spiritually.