A Message from Capital Campaign Co-chair Herbert Drayton

In every season of the Church, there comes a moment when we are invited not only to give, but to build.
 
This capital campaign is one of those moments.
 
Much has been said, and rightly so, about the importance of individual financial contributions. They are essential. But if we limit our understanding of this campaign to dollars alone, we risk missing the fuller invitation before us. This is not simply a fundraising effort. It is a collective act of stewardship, creativity, and shared responsibility across the Diocese.
 
Congregations of every size and context have a role to play.
 
Some may choose to host gatherings that deepen understanding of the campaign’s purpose and vision, creating space for conversation, reflection, and discernment. Others may align existing ministries with campaign priorities, demonstrating how this work is already alive in their communities. Vestries and ministry leaders can incorporate the campaign into strategic planning conversations, ensuring that participation is not episodic, but integrated into the life of the church.
 
There is also an opportunity to engage the next generation by inviting youth and young adults into this work not just as observers, but as contributors. Their ideas, energy, and perspective will help shape the Church we are building together.
 
Equally important is the role of storytelling. Every congregation has examples of transformation, resilience, and impact. Sharing those stories through newsletters, conversations, and community engagement extends the reach of this campaign beyond our walls and into the broader community we are called to serve.
 
What unites all of this is a simple truth. Participation is not uniform, but it is universal.
 
Each congregation brings its own strengths, its own voice, and its own capacity. The invitation is not to compare, but to contribute, to asking what ours is to do in this moment.
 
If we answer that question faithfully, together, this campaign will become more than a milestone. It will become a movement, one that reflects the depth of our commitment to one another and to the future of the Church.
 
Herbert L. Drayton III, Diocesan Campaign Co-chair