Eastern Shore Episcopalian (ESE) - Convention 2018
- No tags were found...
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
CONVENTION EDITION <strong>2018</strong><br />
Faith<br />
Redeeming<br />
Fate<br />
a publication of the Episcopal Diocese of Easton
Contents:<br />
In This Issue:<br />
A Special Ministry of<br />
Servanthood<br />
“My goal as a deacon has been<br />
to inspire others to live out their<br />
Baptismal Covenant.“<br />
04<br />
Highlights of the 150th<br />
06<br />
01 Bishop’s Letter<br />
02 About <strong>Convention</strong> <strong>2018</strong> Agenda, Overview, Special Guest<br />
& Workshops<br />
04 Sesquicentennial 150th Anniversary A Year-Long Witness<br />
to Christ’s Love, Hope and Reconciliation in the Diocese<br />
of Easton<br />
06 A Special Ministry of Servanthood Insights into Life as a<br />
Deacon<br />
08 FAQs About the Vocational Diaconate Questions<br />
answered for those considering God’s call<br />
10 Introducing <strong>Convention</strong> Nominees Meet Leaders from<br />
around the Diocese<br />
14 Bringing It All Together The Diocesan Purpose and Ten<br />
Ministry Imperatives - A Collaborative Vision for the<br />
Future<br />
16 Resolutions Submitted for <strong>Convention</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />
17 Diocesan Events & Announcements<br />
Cover Photo: Enjoying a quick moment on the beach during the<br />
Province Youth Event at the Ocean City Youth Rally. 50 youth and<br />
leaders from our diocese attended (100 from Province III).<br />
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND<br />
Nine counties, 42 worshiping<br />
communities, and more than<br />
5,000 people engaged in living<br />
out our call to welcome all, share<br />
Jesus’ love, and serve the world.<br />
BISHOP<br />
The Rt. Rev. Santosh Marray<br />
Welcome All<br />
Share Jesus’ Love<br />
Serve the World
Sesquicentennial (150th) Diocesan <strong>Convention</strong><br />
Faith<br />
Redeeming<br />
“Go; your faith has made<br />
you well” (Mark10:52)<br />
Fate<br />
The Diocese of Easton was<br />
established as a free-standing<br />
diocese of the Episcopal<br />
Church 150 years ago, in<br />
October 1868. This year we<br />
will be commemorating the<br />
sesquicentennial anniversary of<br />
its establishment with a series of<br />
inspirational, missional, spiritual<br />
and educational events. The<br />
Sesquicentennial Anniversary<br />
Committee will commend<br />
three major focus areas to be<br />
the central themes guiding and<br />
sustaining the overall essence<br />
of what the diocese views as its<br />
primary purpose as a Church<br />
founded by God. The three major<br />
themes are: RECONCILIATION,<br />
LOVE and HOPE.<br />
Faith is the Christian virtue<br />
and Missional imperative that<br />
has underscored our life and<br />
existence as a viable and visible<br />
presence of Jesus Christ on the<br />
<strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> of Maryland. It is<br />
this virtue that has shaped and<br />
inspired the church’s consistent<br />
effort to lead God’s people to the<br />
good news in Jesus, and to hold<br />
on to the promise and conviction<br />
that faith in God prevails<br />
over and above the difficult<br />
circumstances (fate) that present<br />
themselves.<br />
Our friend, Bartimaeus<br />
(Mark 10:46-52) is a classical<br />
illustration of someone who was<br />
frustrated and discontent<br />
with his condition in<br />
life as a blind person<br />
and desired a change in<br />
that status. He wasn’t<br />
prepared to let his<br />
circumstance define his<br />
life forever, and to this<br />
end he did something<br />
dramatic about it. Defying the<br />
taunt and ridicule of the nearby<br />
crowd he reached out to Jesus in<br />
faith and the fate of his life was<br />
redeemed forever.<br />
This is the objective the church<br />
holds before the people of God<br />
that reminds the world of the<br />
power and authority of God to<br />
transform the circumstances of<br />
life. This happens by faith if we,<br />
in humility, are prepared to reach<br />
out to God in confidence and<br />
joyful expectation.<br />
The Sesquicentennial (150 th )<br />
Diocesan <strong>Convention</strong> calls this<br />
diocese to a new way of thinking<br />
that defies what can sometimes<br />
become lethargy and paralysis<br />
in our life as a church. We are<br />
called to a renewed and revived<br />
spirit of joyful expectation in<br />
Jesus. A Jesus who beckons us to<br />
come walk with him in faith on<br />
the Jericho Road - leading to new<br />
birth, new beginning, new hope<br />
and dreams fulfilled.<br />
+ San<br />
April Knight’s painting above, commissioned by<br />
the youth of the Diocese and hanging in the Bray<br />
House, is the logo for this convention.<br />
PUBLICATION INFORMATION<br />
A publication of the Bishop and Diocese of Easton<br />
Copyright <strong>2018</strong> The Bishop and Diocese of Easton<br />
Published Quarterly<br />
SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO:<br />
<strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> Episcoplian (<strong>ESE</strong>)<br />
314 North St., Easton, MD 21601<br />
OFFICE AND MAILING ADDRESS<br />
314 North St., Easton, MD 21601<br />
410-822-1919 dioceseofeaston.org<br />
joanne@dioceseofeaston.org<br />
The Right Reverend Santosh Marray<br />
Bishop of Easton<br />
Joanne Fisher<br />
Director of Communications,<br />
Senior Editor & Creative Designer<br />
The Reverend Loretta Collins<br />
Deacon, Editor<br />
1
150th <strong>Convention</strong> of<br />
The Diocese of Easton<br />
Faith Redeeming Fate<br />
“Go; your faith has made you well.”<br />
(Mark10: 52)<br />
February 23-24, <strong>2018</strong><br />
Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay<br />
Cambridge, MD<br />
Each year, representatives from around our diocese gather to review and discuss issues, policies and<br />
structures. While voting representatives and alternates must pre-register to attend <strong>Convention</strong>, anyone is<br />
welcome to attend as an observer. Registered attendees receive packets of information and meals during<br />
the two-day meeting.<br />
February 23rd<br />
• Registration Opens 8:00am<br />
• Opening Eucharist 9:00am<br />
• Sessions 1 10:30am<br />
• Session II 1:30pm<br />
• Youth @ <strong>Convention</strong> Event Begins 5:00pm<br />
• Reception & Banquet 5:30pm<br />
February 24th<br />
• Morning Worship 8:45am<br />
• Workshops 9:30am<br />
• Session III 10:40am<br />
• Close of Business 12pm<br />
• Youth Event Ends 2pm<br />
Youth @ <strong>Convention</strong><br />
2<br />
Youth @ <strong>Convention</strong> invites young people from around the Diocese to bear witness to portions of<br />
<strong>Convention</strong> as well as providing the opportunity to get to know one another. The youth lead morning<br />
worship on Saturday. Interested youth should register through their Rector or appointed church<br />
representative. More information and registration information can be found on our website<br />
www.dioceseofeaston.org/youth.
Special Guest<br />
We are excited to welcome the Rt. Rev. Clifton “Dan” Daniel III as our guest at the 150th Diocesan<br />
<strong>Convention</strong>. He will celebrate and preach at the Opening Eucharist on Friday morning.<br />
Clifton Daniel III is a bishop of The Episcopal Church and Interim Dean of the Cathedral Church of Saint<br />
John the Divine in New York City. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with<br />
a BA in Spanish and Education. He attended Virginia Theological Seminary,<br />
Alexandria, graduating with a Masters in Divinity in 1972. He has received<br />
Doctor of Divinity Degrees from Virginia Seminary and the University of<br />
the South. As bishop he has served the Diocese of East Carolina (in the State<br />
of North Carolina) and the Diocese of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia). As a<br />
priest, prior to becoming a bishop he served parishes in North Carolina,<br />
Ohio and Rhode Island. He currently serves on the Executive Council of<br />
The Episcopal Church; as President of the Board of The General Theological<br />
Seminary, New York City; and on the Board of The Church Pension Group, New York City. He is an Officer<br />
Brother of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem. Bishop Daniel and his wife<br />
Anne (deceased) have three married daughters and four grandchildren, all living in New York City.<br />
Workshops<br />
Workshop #1: Finding DIAKONIA: The Future of Servant Leadership in the Diocese of Easton<br />
Diakonia (servant ministry) is not exclusive to those who wear collars. Our baptismal covenant calls all<br />
Christians to live out their diakonia in the world. However, many dioceses throughout the Episcopal<br />
Church are coming to appreciate the diaconate (office of deacon) as a vital and enduring order of servant<br />
leadership, and are exploring creative ways to set apart and deploy ordained vocational deacons to realize<br />
this end. This seminar, conducted by members of the Commission on Ministry, will focus on what a "call" to<br />
the vocational diaconate looks like, and how a renewed diaconal order may shape the future of our diocese.<br />
Workshop #2: Reconciliation, Love and Hope<br />
This workshop will attempt to bring together descendants of those who were once enslaved with<br />
descendants of those who once owned/enslaved others. This discussion will seek to help us better undestand<br />
how our actions today can have an impact on future generations of those who will come after us. As we kick<br />
off our 150th Anniversary Celebration, we want to be mindful of our history as we look towards and work<br />
for our next 150 years as a diocese.<br />
Workshop #3: Church Beyond the Walls: The New Envisioning of Missional Ministry in the Diocese<br />
The Rev. Dr. Barbara Anne Fisher, the appointed Missioner: Church Beyond the Walls for the diocese of<br />
Easton, will provide an overview of what it means to participate in missional ministry beyond the walls of<br />
the church. Time will be provided for participants to begin the process of envisioning opportunities within<br />
their communities for missional ministry development, and to schedule an initial parish visit.<br />
Sesquicentennial Collect +Santosh K. Marray<br />
Gracious God, through the movement of your Holy Spirit, you have found your Church, the Diocese<br />
of Easton, on the <strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> of Maryland. Continue to strengthen this diocese to be an inviting and<br />
welcoming presence for your people to meet Jesus and to be transformed by the love, hospitality and<br />
reconciling truth that embodies all life in you. Receive our worship, praise and thanksgiving; nurture and<br />
sustain our life in faith, and cause us to always be a grateful people of your grace upon grace; through your<br />
Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!<br />
3
G U G<br />
A S W C’<br />
L, H R<br />
1868-<strong>2018</strong><br />
The 150th Anniversary of the Diocse of Easton is a year-long commemoration and celebration of a<br />
people bound by faith, humbled in reconciliation, driven by love, and steadfast in their hope in Christ.<br />
This year will be marked by a series of events designed to dig into the core of these themes and to build<br />
momentum for the next 150 years of God at work on the <strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Shore</strong>. The following pages outline these<br />
upcoming events and take a closer look at the themes for the year.<br />
• <strong>Convention</strong> <strong>2018</strong> “Faith Redeeming Fate” - Kick-Off to the 150th<br />
• Reconcilation Eucharist on May 5th at the Harriet Tubman Museum<br />
• The 150 Challenge: Love like Jesus Outreach throughout the Summer<br />
• Gathering Hope: A Harvest Festival on October 27th at Camp Wright<br />
• Celebration Eucharist with Presiding Bishop Curry on March 3rd, 2019<br />
4
The Message of Reconciliation<br />
“So, if anyone is in Christ, there is a<br />
new creation: everything old has passed<br />
away; see, everything has become new!<br />
All this is from God, who reconciled us<br />
to himself through Christ, and has given<br />
us the ministry of reconciliation; that is,<br />
in Christ God was reconciling the world<br />
to himself, * not counting their trespasses<br />
against them, and entrusting the message<br />
of reconciliation to us.”<br />
(2 Corinthians 5:17-19)<br />
As the Diocese of Easton enters<br />
into our Anniversary, we will<br />
set our minds on the work of<br />
reconciliation. We will reflect<br />
upon the ways in which we<br />
have harmed our neighbors,<br />
our environment and ourselves<br />
by things we have done and left<br />
undone. We ask God, who is ever<br />
faithful and full of mercy, to aid<br />
us to amend our lives and set us<br />
on the right path.<br />
The Message of Love<br />
“Beloved, since God loved us so much,<br />
we also ought to love one another. 12 No<br />
one has ever seen God; if we love one<br />
another, God lives in us, and his love is<br />
perfected in us.”<br />
(1 John 4:11-12)<br />
The parish-level call of the<br />
Sesquicentennial will be “The<br />
150 Challenge”. Every Parish<br />
in the Diocese, every youth<br />
group or small group, or anyone<br />
who chooses can develop an<br />
act of outreach in love for their<br />
local community involving 150<br />
of something. It could be 150<br />
meals served, 150 cards mailed,<br />
150 canned goods … the sky is<br />
the limit. We will collect brief<br />
accounts of the actions and share<br />
them with the diocese!<br />
The Message of Hope<br />
“Hope does not disappoint us, because<br />
God’s love has been poured into our<br />
hearts through the Holy Spirit that has<br />
been given to us.”<br />
(Romans 5:5)<br />
The Diocese of Easton finds hope<br />
in the witness of the past and<br />
the promise of the future. We<br />
will share our witness through<br />
Diocesan Heritage Sunday<br />
services in October and by a great<br />
gathering at Camp Wright in the<br />
fall. Young and old will recommit<br />
to sharing the message of hope<br />
which broadens our horizons and<br />
brings others to share the hope<br />
that is within us.<br />
Harriet Tubman Museum Tour<br />
& Reconciliation Eucharist<br />
includes lunch<br />
Saturday, May 5th<br />
Eucharist Begins 11am<br />
(Early-Bird Tour at 10am)<br />
Buses will depart from points<br />
north and south in the Diocese.<br />
Contact the Office to<br />
reserve your seat:<br />
410-822-1919<br />
The 150 Challenge<br />
Love is Contagious<br />
May 5th - October 27th<br />
Parishes & Groups<br />
What are 150 things your group<br />
can do to show the Love of<br />
Christ in your community?<br />
Share your stories as they unfold:<br />
#150Challenge<br />
#DioEastonLove<br />
or via email to the Diocese.<br />
Gathering Hope<br />
A Harvest Festival<br />
at Camp Wright<br />
Saturday October 27th<br />
12pm-5pm<br />
Live Music & Performances,<br />
Games, Food, & More!<br />
Fun for All Ages!<br />
Youth Groups interested in<br />
working the event can contact<br />
joanne@dioceseofeaston.org<br />
5
Collinsservantho<br />
A Special<br />
Ministry of<br />
By the Rev. Loretta<br />
6<br />
“Every Christian is called to<br />
follow Jesus Christ, serving<br />
God the Father, through the<br />
power of the Holy Spirit. God<br />
now calls you to a special ministry<br />
of servanthood directly under your<br />
Bishop. In the name of Jesus Christ,<br />
you are to serve all people, particularly<br />
the poor, the weak, the sick and the lonely.”<br />
(from the Examination from Ordination:<br />
Deacon, BCP p. 543)<br />
Throughout my life I have always felt a deep<br />
compassion for others. Accepting God’s call to the<br />
diaconate has given me an opportunity to exercise this<br />
compassion and witness how God can take the seed of an<br />
idea and grow it into a fruitful and powerful ministry. There<br />
are two such stories that stand in my memory…<br />
I was ordained as a deacon on October 31, 2010. My first<br />
assignment was at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Lewistown,<br />
Pennsylvania. It had been a thriving church in a thriving factory town<br />
up until the 1960’s. But factories began to close and then Hurricane<br />
Agnes blew through in 1972 bringing massive flooding and further<br />
devastation to a suffering economy.<br />
St. Mark’s responded to needs in the community and opened up a food bank.<br />
Upon my arrival in 2010 there were some frustrations brewing with food bank<br />
clients. The recurring comment was that people who received the food did not<br />
always know what to do with it. Together we began to pray for a solution.<br />
After conversations with the rector and some of the volunteers at the food bank, I<br />
proposed the idea of crockpot cooking classes. This would give our clients some practical<br />
and healthy ways to use the food they received. We wrote up a plan and received a grant from<br />
a local health insurance agency that supported innovative health-related ideas.<br />
From there we set about inviting people to the classes. As a gift for attending the classes, each<br />
student received a free cookbook, basic cooking supplies (such as a paring knife, large spoon, and<br />
measuring cups) and of course a crock pot! We looked for recipes in the cookbook that had typical<br />
things a person might pick up at the food bank such as tuna, vegetables, noodles and canned soups. As<br />
folks arrived, the recipes we were making that day were already nearly cooked in the crockpots. The<br />
aroma was inviting!
od<br />
CALLED TO THE DIACONATE<br />
Although the class members learned a great deal<br />
from watching the demonstrations and helping<br />
with the preparation of the food, the ministry<br />
really came from sitting together to share a meal. It<br />
was an opportunity to not just educate food bank<br />
recipients, but also an opportunity for us at church<br />
to get to know the folks in our community. In this<br />
way, God took the seed of an idea - to share new<br />
skills – and grew it into a powerful ministry of<br />
relationship with our neighbors.<br />
After a few years of serving at the parish level I was<br />
offered the opportunity to serve as a deacon for<br />
the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania. At the time<br />
many refugees were moving to the Harrisburg PA<br />
area and I felt called to see if there was a way the<br />
Diocese could help.<br />
In conversation with the Catholic Charities<br />
Refugee and Resettlement Office in Harrisburg<br />
I learned of some of the most urgent needs of<br />
families arriving to their new homes. In particular,<br />
the Resettlement office was in need of pots, pans<br />
and pillows. So we started an appeal across the<br />
Diocese and the outpouring of support was<br />
generous. Together with volunteers and<br />
Diocesan staff, we gathered these donations<br />
and took them to the Resettlement office for<br />
distribution.<br />
About a year after our Pots, Pans and Pillows<br />
appeal, the Resettlement office contacted me<br />
with a need for twin bed sheets and blankets.<br />
We again put out a request across the<br />
Diocese and had an even greater outpouring<br />
of support. People in our communities were<br />
looking for ways to show support to their<br />
new refugee neighbors and this was one way<br />
to help.<br />
By reaching out to the Refugee Resettlement<br />
Office and becoming a trustworthy partner<br />
in ministry, the door opened for additional<br />
community-building opportunities. Some people<br />
began volunteering with the English classes offered<br />
by the office and others gave donations for bus<br />
tickets for the students to get there. Additional<br />
members helped alleviate a few specific financial<br />
crises faced by families before they found jobs.<br />
We are all called, as The Reverend Daniel Dunlap<br />
explains in his article, FAQs about Deacons, to<br />
live out our Baptismal Covenant in our daily lives.<br />
Deacons, in addition, are called to be servant<br />
leaders in and for the church. Dunlap further<br />
explains, “As an ordained office, they (deacons) are<br />
called to model diakonia by inspiring, empowering<br />
and engaging every baptized person to live out<br />
their diakonia in everyday life.” My goal as a<br />
deacon has been to inspire others to live out their<br />
Baptismal Covenant. I look forward to serving with<br />
you here in the Diocese of Easton as we together<br />
explore new ways we can follow Christ and honor<br />
the promises we made in our Baptismal Covenant.<br />
The Reverend Deacon Loretta Collins has recently moved from<br />
the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania to the Diocese of Easton<br />
with her husband, The Reverend Patrick A. Collins.<br />
7
8<br />
FAQs about Vocational Deacons<br />
in the Diocese of Easton<br />
By the Rev. Daniel Dunlap, PhD<br />
On behalf of the Commission on Ministry<br />
What are deacons?<br />
From the earliest days of the church, the order of<br />
deacons (or diaconate) has been recognized as one<br />
of three distinct orders of ordained ministry, along<br />
with bishops and presbyters (i.e. priests). The Book<br />
of Common Prayer describes deacons as called to a<br />
“special ministry of servanthood,” directly under the<br />
authority of the bishop. The word “deacon” comes<br />
from the Greek word diakonos, which means “servant.”<br />
A related word diakonia (servant ministry) is often<br />
used to describe the ministry of deacons. Yet the New<br />
Testament also uses diakonia to describe the ministry of<br />
all disciples.<br />
What is the role of a deacon?<br />
Deacons are called to serve all people but particularly<br />
“the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely.” Deacons<br />
are given the special task of interpreting to the Church<br />
the “needs, concerns and hopes of the world.” In this<br />
way the diaconate is a “bridge” between the church and<br />
the world, and the world and the church. Deacons are<br />
called to image Christ, “who came not to be served but<br />
to serve,” and to share in his ministry (cf. BCP, pp. 543,<br />
545).<br />
Where did deacons come from?<br />
Early church leaders, like Irenaeus (d. AD 202),<br />
believed that Acts 6:1-7 described the commissioning<br />
of the first deacons. This passage tells the story of a<br />
complaint brought to the twelve apostles in Jerusalem.<br />
Some widows (of a Hellenic or Greek background)<br />
were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food,<br />
while other widows (of Aramaic background) were<br />
being favored. As there was no social “safety net” at<br />
that time, the poor and the vulnerable (often widows<br />
and orphans) relied on the charity of the community to<br />
survive. To resolve this controversy the twelve proposed<br />
that the disciples choose from among themselves seven<br />
individuals “full of the Spirit and wisdom” (v. 3), to<br />
whom the ministry (diakonia) of waiting tables could<br />
be delegated, thereby allowing the apostles to continue<br />
to devote themselves to prayer and to the ministry<br />
(diakonia) of the Word. The apostles then prayed and<br />
laid their hands over the seven, ordaining them as the<br />
first deacons.<br />
How did deacons function in the early centuries of<br />
the church?<br />
The period of the second through the sixth centuries<br />
AD is often called the “golden age of deacons.” This<br />
was a time when deacons were often given more<br />
prominent and visible roles than presbyters. Deacons<br />
served as assistants or secretaries to bishops, provincial<br />
administrators, and even as episcopal envoys. The<br />
office of “archdeacon” was created during this period,<br />
denoting the most senior clerics of a province. It was<br />
even common for new bishops to be elected from<br />
their ranks rather than from among the presbyters.<br />
Nevertheless the primary role of deacons remained as<br />
it was in New Testament times: the distribution of alms<br />
to the poor and the care of the destitute. Thus Deacons<br />
also ran hospitals, hostels, and houses of refuge.<br />
Why are candidates for the priesthood ordained as<br />
deacons first?<br />
The practice of ordaining candidates as deacons prior to<br />
their ordination as priests arose in the early middle ages<br />
when ministry was viewed more or less as a ceremonial<br />
ascent up the ranks of the five minor orders (porter,<br />
lector, exorcist, acolyte, subdeacon) to the sacramental<br />
or holy orders of deacon, priest, and bishop. When the<br />
Church of England abolished the minor orders in the<br />
sixteenth century the order of ascent was drastically<br />
abridged, yet not completely eliminated. Candidates<br />
still entered holy orders through the “doorway of the<br />
diaconate.” However, the English Church also redefined<br />
the diaconate as a transitional apprenticeship prior<br />
to ordination as a priest. The 1550 ordinal required<br />
deacons to continue in office for “the space of a whole<br />
year at the least…to the intent that [he] may be perfect,<br />
and well expert in the things appertaining to the<br />
Ecclesiastical administration.” Today we call this the<br />
“transitional diaconate.”<br />
How does a vocational deacon differ from a<br />
transitional deacon?<br />
Transitional deacons are called to the priesthood, and<br />
have every expectation of being ordained priests after<br />
their formation as deacons is complete. For them the<br />
diaconate is another step in their formation. Vocational<br />
deacons are called to serve perpetually as deacons. They<br />
understand their “special ministry of servanthood” as<br />
an end in itself.
CALLED TO THE DIACONATE<br />
How does the ministry of a deacon differ from that of<br />
a layperson?<br />
Diakonia (servant ministry) is not exclusive to those<br />
who wear collars. Diakonia is an essential part of our<br />
discipleship. All Christians are called through our<br />
baptismal covenant to live out our diakonia through<br />
what we do and how we live out our daily life in the<br />
world. Organized expressions of diakonia occur at<br />
every level of the church (vestry, parish administration,<br />
mission/outreach, etc.). Deacons, however, are called to<br />
be servant leaders in and for the church. As an ordained<br />
office, they are called to model diakonia by inspiring,<br />
empowering and engaging every baptized person to live<br />
out their diakonia in every day life.<br />
Is a deacon ordained for the parish or for the diocese?<br />
One of the ways a deacon differs from a layperson<br />
or even a priest is the unique relationship she or he<br />
has with the bishop. Deacons work directly under<br />
the bishop and are “assigned” to their ministries by<br />
the bishop. Typically, bishops will assign transitional<br />
deacons to parishes so that they can learn from<br />
senior priests or rectors in preparation for their own<br />
ordination to the priesthood. Vocational deacons, on<br />
the other hand, are called to serve the diocesan church<br />
rather than the parish church, and the bishop may<br />
assign them to ministries within the diocese for which<br />
the bishop perceives a great need, and for which the<br />
deacon may have special gifts or talents. Sometimes this<br />
might be within a parish or mission setting, particularly<br />
in times of transition. But ideally vocational deacons<br />
will be sent out to represent the church in various<br />
other ways: staffing specialized ministries (e.g. in<br />
hospitals, correctional facilities, or hospices), nurturing<br />
and supervising lay ministries, organizing social or<br />
political advocacy groups, leading missions to advance<br />
community justice and peace in the world, just to name<br />
a few possibilities.<br />
Why is the Diocese of Easton interested in reviving<br />
the vocational diaconate now?<br />
We live in exciting times. Many dioceses in the<br />
Episcopal Church and churches throughout the<br />
Anglican Communion are coming to appreciate the<br />
diaconate as a vital and enduring order of ministry,<br />
and are exploring creative ways to set apart and deploy<br />
vocational deacons to realize this end. A vocational<br />
diaconate program seems like a natural fit for a diocese<br />
such as ours. What we might feel we lack in worldly<br />
resources we certainly make up for in the spiritual<br />
gifts and talents of our people. As well, a diaconal<br />
program provides another way for people to explore a<br />
perceived call to the ministry. Some experience a call<br />
to specialized servant ministry, yet do not feel called<br />
to the priesthood. Some experience a call to serve, yet<br />
are not able to quit their secular employment because<br />
many diaconal assignments are part-time and unpaid<br />
positions. Still others may sense a call during their<br />
retirement years, yet perhaps feel that their age might<br />
disqualify them. In each of these cases the diaconate<br />
seems made to order.<br />
Could it be that I am being called to serve as a<br />
vocational deacon in the Diocese of Easton?<br />
God will call whomever God chooses. The task of the<br />
Commission on Ministry is to open up the process<br />
towards the diaconate to everyone who may sense a<br />
call from God, and to provide a supportive formation<br />
process to help people realize their call if they have one.<br />
If you think this may describe God’s leading in your life<br />
then the Commission on Ministry is here to facilitate<br />
your discernment. There are, however, certain qualities<br />
the Commission looks for in any call to ordained office.<br />
Perhaps these qualities are ones that describe you:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
A living, growing faith in God through Jesus<br />
Christ, including a passion for God’s mission to<br />
the world;<br />
A personal “rule of life” that includes a<br />
discipline of prayer, regular participation in<br />
corporate worship, the study of scripture,<br />
spiritual direction, and personal stewardship;<br />
A public “rule of life” that models Christian<br />
virtues by example to others;<br />
An active participation in the life and ministry<br />
of an Episcopal congregation;<br />
A proven capacity for gathering, organizing, and<br />
inspiring others in mission;<br />
Skills in communication, which include the<br />
ability to write and speak persuasively and with<br />
sensitivity to the concerns of others.<br />
Rev. Dunlap is Rector of Old Trinity, Church Creek and<br />
Vicar of St. John’s Chapel, Cornersville<br />
9
Introducing our<br />
<strong>Convention</strong> Nominees...<br />
Diocesan Council – Northern<br />
Convocation Rep, Lay – Mark<br />
Hansen: The son of Episcopal<br />
missionaries serving over three<br />
decades in Brazil and Japan, I am the<br />
product of a lifelong immersion in<br />
global Anglicanism. My own sense of<br />
vocation to a life of domestic Christian<br />
mission came during the mid-1980’s<br />
while doing seminary field placement<br />
as a bi-lingual tutor in the South Bronx at a predominantly<br />
Puerto Rican parish. Today, I teach English as a Second<br />
Language for Mexican immigrants at St. Clement’s, Massey,<br />
where for the past four years I have served as Lay Pastor in<br />
a team-ministry model to this small, bold, mission-oriented<br />
– and now growing – congregation. I have a myriad of<br />
experience in diocesan-level affairs across four diocese as<br />
well as in leadership roles within the local community. My<br />
PhD is in Latin American history with a minor in religion<br />
from Columbia University, and I am currently affiliated as a<br />
Visiting Scholar at Washington College.<br />
I am enthusiastic about the vision of “a prayer-centered<br />
church and a mission-shaped diocese” in large measure<br />
because it is not just our bishop’s idea nor is it merely a<br />
marketing slogan. Bishop Santosh’s spiritually-grounded<br />
and collaborative leadership style has been evident in the<br />
emergence of this vision, insofar as he was the leader in<br />
urging diocesan representatives to craft such a statement,<br />
while being a respectful listener in guiding it through its<br />
various iterations. The result is a well-ordered statement<br />
of two indispensable priorities: prayerful connection with<br />
the living God, resulting in missional outreach to the wider<br />
world. Too often we <strong>Episcopalian</strong>s fall into a bandwagon<br />
mentality, with the “cart” of social action coming before the<br />
“horse” of prayerful, scripture-based reflection. In all things,<br />
we must never forget that “the Church is the only society<br />
that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members.”<br />
(William Temple)<br />
Diocesan Council – Middle<br />
Convocation Rep, Clergy – Charlie<br />
Osberger: Rector Wye Parish, Dean<br />
of the Middle Convocation, member<br />
of the Commission on Ministry,<br />
Board of Camp Wright and Deputy<br />
to the General <strong>Convention</strong> of the<br />
Episcopal Church <strong>2018</strong><br />
Jesus is the Foundation of the<br />
movement bearing His Name for his Kingdom’s cause.<br />
We are living witnesses to the presence of the Kingdom<br />
of God among us. This means to me participating in the<br />
proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, unifying a<br />
Diocese of missions, ministries and congregations, all ages,<br />
youth and leaders who are a spiritual offering of real hope,<br />
real grace and real peace to the world through real lives<br />
changed by the love of God. As we live into the next 150<br />
years of Easton’s vision, decisions and commitments that<br />
demonstrate true compassion and the joy of our Lord’s<br />
salvation we will be good news for the communities and<br />
people we serve.<br />
Diocesan Council – Southern<br />
Convocation Rep, Lay – Phil<br />
Tilghman: Grew up in Federalsburg<br />
MD. Graduated Washington<br />
College 1964 and married college<br />
sweetheart same year. Three children,<br />
nine grandchildren and two great<br />
granddaughters. Member St. Philips,<br />
Quantico since 1966. Senior Warden<br />
several times and just retiring from<br />
most recent stint. Two previous terms on Diocesan Council.<br />
Member of Bishop’s selection committee. Elected member<br />
Wicomico County Council 1984 thru 2000. Host of local<br />
interview program on local access TV 2000 thru 2014.<br />
As a Diocese we expressed to those who would be our Bishop<br />
that ” status quo is not an option”. Now we must embrace<br />
the challenge that Bishop San has set for us in terms of<br />
commitment to Christ centered service to mankind starting<br />
in our own communities. As a Diocese we should take every<br />
opportunity to meet, worship and dialogue with each other as<br />
fellow <strong>Episcopalian</strong>s to bolster that commitment. The more<br />
the “flock” is together the stronger we become and thereby<br />
more receptive to the Shepherd.<br />
10
“How do you see us growing into<br />
Bishop San's vision of being a<br />
prayer-centered church and a<br />
mission-shaped diocese?”<br />
Diocesan Council – At-Large<br />
Rep, Lay – Lisa Webb: I grew up<br />
in the Presbyterian Church, the<br />
granddaughter of a Presbyterian<br />
minister. I began attending the<br />
Episcopal Church in high school,<br />
when my step father joined my family.<br />
I am now the mother of a teenage<br />
daughter and an OB-Gyn physician.<br />
I have had many roles in my home<br />
church, Emmanuel Church, Chester Parish, including being<br />
an Eucharist minister and visitor, lector, intercessor, acolyte,<br />
chair of the Pastoral Care Committee, and recently helping<br />
to develop our Creation Season. The most special role has<br />
been as a student and then mentor for four years of EFM. I<br />
still have an ecumenical spirit, as I also again play bells again<br />
at the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown. I am honored to<br />
be considered to be more involved with the church on the<br />
Diocesan level.<br />
I believe that in order to become a prayer-centered church<br />
and mission-shaped diocese, we first need to come to believe,<br />
and then live it out, that each and every person is a loved<br />
child of God. As 1 John states (3:2) “My dear people, we are<br />
already children of God”. We don’t have to earn it; God’s<br />
grace has already given us this blessing. Once this knowledge<br />
shines forth from our hearts, being prayer centered and<br />
mission shaped will come automatically, we can’t help but<br />
want to commune with God and to share our abundance<br />
Being prayer-centered and mission shaped is our natural<br />
state. Worship, study and community can help us be who we<br />
truly are.<br />
Diocesan Council – At-Large Rep,<br />
Lay – Tim Strack: “I grew up on Kent<br />
Island and now live in Denton. I am<br />
a member of Christ Church Denton<br />
who serves both on the Vestry and as<br />
a Eucharistic Minister. In 2017 I was<br />
an Alternate Delegate to Diocesan<br />
<strong>Convention</strong>, and in <strong>2018</strong> I am a<br />
Delegate. I enjoy being involved in<br />
my community. At Christ Church<br />
Denton I started a monthly Game Night, open to the public,<br />
where families and individuals can come play board games. I<br />
also volunteer at the His Hope Haven homeless shelter every<br />
Friday night when the shelter is open (September-May).<br />
Along with Bishop San’s vision for us being a prayer-centered<br />
church and a mission-shaped diocese, I feel a call to both<br />
pray AND to take action. I believe prayer is a two way<br />
communication, as in we also have to listen to what the Holy<br />
Spirit is asking us to do, and in some cases that is to take<br />
action. I believe we should work with other non-profits in the<br />
area to help our local community as well larger non-profits<br />
to help the world. Perhaps we could organize a set of days<br />
as a diocese to do physical work with Habitat for Humanity<br />
or start new fundraisers to sponsor, though the Department<br />
of Social Services, an alcohol or drug addicted individual to<br />
go to rehab — especially with the opioid epidemic the US is<br />
facing. The possibilities are endless.”<br />
Diocesan Council – At-Large<br />
Rep, Clergy – The Rev. Joseph M.<br />
Rushton: Rector – Church of the Holy<br />
Spirit, Ocean City, Maryland. I am a<br />
native Marylander, currently living<br />
in Georgetown, DE. I have served<br />
the people of God in the Dioceses<br />
of Maryland, Delaware and as of<br />
October 2017 the Diocese of Easton.<br />
During the past 12 years I have served<br />
on Diocesan Councils, Companion Diocese Committee,<br />
<strong>Convention</strong> Program Committee and as Co-Chair of several<br />
Diocesan <strong>Convention</strong>s. I have worked as a Masters Level<br />
Social Worker in mental health positions for over 2 decades.<br />
Prayer-Centered Church and Mission-Shaped Diocese: My<br />
initial thoughts take me to the lyrics of a Folk Song (now<br />
referred to as a contemporary Christian song) “… What<br />
would you have us do … -We who claim to be your followers<br />
…” Praying keeps us in communication with God, mindful<br />
that we are continually blessed and invited to share our<br />
blessing with others to the Glory of God. Mindfulness and<br />
attentiveness are essential if we are to hear, recognize and<br />
respond to the one we follow, Jesus.<br />
11
12<br />
Diocesan Council – At-Large Rep,<br />
Clergy – The Rev. John Schaeffer:<br />
I have been the Rector of St. Mary<br />
Anne’s in North East, MD for the<br />
past two years. My wife Karen and I<br />
have been married for 33 years, and<br />
we have three adult children, David,<br />
Eric and Jennifer. I sensed the call<br />
to ministry as I raised our children<br />
and participated in lay ministry at my<br />
local church in Pittsburgh, PA. I attended seminary part-time<br />
for many years while I was employed full-time in financial<br />
services industry. I obtained a Master in Divinity from<br />
Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA in 2012. I was<br />
ordained as priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh in<br />
December of 2012; and served as a Priest in Charge for three<br />
years in a small Pittsburgh parish, prior to my call to St. Mary<br />
Anne’s.<br />
I abundantly support Bishop San’s vision of being a prayercentered<br />
church and mission shaped diocese, and believe<br />
that it is an appropriate response to last year’s Diocesan-wide<br />
study of the Book of Acts and our corporate and personal<br />
charge in the Great Commission. Members of those early<br />
churches recognized that growth required God’s power; and<br />
that God responds to His people’s prayers. We know that if<br />
we ask anything according to His will, He hears us and will<br />
give us what we request (1 John 5:14-15). Therefore, we need<br />
to ask. Clergy and lay leaders have a responsibility to teach<br />
the necessity of corporate and personal prayer and all are<br />
encouraged to utilize Scripture to emphasize its importance<br />
and example. Readings such as: Acts 1:24 and Acts 6:6<br />
demonstrate the importance of praying before choosing<br />
leaders; and Acts 22:17 supports praying in worship and<br />
receiving guidance as to future ministry plans. With this solid<br />
prayer-centered approach, God will continue to reveal His<br />
will and mission for our Diocese, churches, and people. We<br />
can and will with God’s help.<br />
Standing Committee, Lay – Nancy<br />
M. Dick: As a lifelong <strong>Episcopalian</strong><br />
at Emmanuel Church, Chester<br />
Parish, I have served in a variety of<br />
roles, some more than once: Senior<br />
Warden, Junior Warden, Choir<br />
member, Eucharistic Minister, lector,<br />
church school teacher, Acolyte. In<br />
the Diocese of Easton I am currently<br />
a member of the Commission on<br />
Ministry and the Secretary of <strong>Convention</strong>. I have been a<br />
deputy to General <strong>Convention</strong> seven times, have served on<br />
Diocesan Council, and on the Standing Committee. I am<br />
retired from my work as a Community Health Nurse.<br />
The Discernment Resolutions that have been adopted by<br />
the Diocese of Easton coupled with the ten Gifts of Spiritual<br />
Life give us guides for growing into the Bishop San’s vision<br />
of a prayer-centered church and mission-shaped diocese. I<br />
think that the Spiritual Gifts should be fleshed out carefully<br />
one or two at a time; these underlie prayer centeredness<br />
and missionally shaped. The recommendations of the<br />
Discernment Resolutions strengthen the diocese in seeking<br />
collaboration among parishes and identifying our strengths<br />
and weaknesses. The growth will not be fast paced but<br />
thoughtfully and prayerfully done.<br />
Standing Committee, Lay – Nancy Linck: I joined the<br />
Episcopal Church around 20 years ago having come from<br />
a long Catholic tradition including graduating from the<br />
Catholic University of St Thomas in Houston, Texas. Having<br />
been a member of St. Alban’s in Salisbury, I have been a<br />
member of the vestry, the choir, Agape Ministry and am<br />
finishing my service on the Diocesan Council for the past 3<br />
years. It has been my privilege and honor to work with very<br />
knowledgeable, passionate and loving people from all over<br />
the Diocese. I believe that the continued focus on working<br />
together within the Diocese and our individual communities<br />
to foster hope and love in Jesus’ name will promote lasting<br />
and strong relationships now and in the future. Thank you so<br />
much. Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward Men.<br />
Standing Committee, Clergy – The<br />
Rev. Mary Garner: I graduated from<br />
Episcopal Divinity School in 2006.<br />
As a seminarian I took a number of<br />
classes in urban/community outreach<br />
mission work. I served as chaplain<br />
for a low cost housing development<br />
for the elderly in Norfolk, Virginia<br />
and in addition to providing pastoral<br />
care, I developed many social service<br />
programs and connections to local churches for the benefit<br />
of the residents. I moved to Easton in 2008 and supplied in<br />
many of our congregations until I became the assistant rector<br />
at Christ Church, St. Michael’s in 2010.I was the chaplain at<br />
Heron Point in Chestertown from 2012-2014.I have served<br />
at St. Paul’s, Centreville since 2014. During my tenure as<br />
rector we have initiated many mission programs including<br />
the Haven Ministries Resource Center, the Micah Ministry<br />
for Social Justice and the Backpack Program for children<br />
in poverty. I believe that my education and experience in<br />
community outreach and my years of serving as a supply<br />
priest in all three convocations will be of use to the Standing<br />
Committee.<br />
I believe a prayer centered church must not just pray on<br />
Sunday mornings! Contemplative prayer, lectio divina,Bible<br />
Study, retreats and spiritual direction could have a greater<br />
presence in our churches. Being mission centered means<br />
knowing our neighbors, stepping out of the doors of our
church and into the community, respectfully listening to<br />
what is needed to further the kingdom of God and using our<br />
resources to bring that kingdom to the <strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Shore</strong>.<br />
Standing Committee, Clergy – The<br />
Rev. Dr. Robert James Laws: Fr. Rob<br />
was born and raised in a small town<br />
in North Carolina. While attending<br />
Duke Divinity School, where he was<br />
studying for a Master’s in Religious<br />
Education, he started a journey<br />
which would eventually lead to his<br />
becoming confirmed in the Episcopal<br />
Church. Fr. Rob was ordained in<br />
the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and most recently has served as<br />
rector of St. Andrew’s, Somerset Parish in Princess Anne for<br />
four years, and has been active in both the diocese and the<br />
community. He has served on Diocesan Council and the<br />
Bishop’s Transition Committee. In the community he serves<br />
on the Somerset County Long Term Recovery Board where<br />
he currently chairs the Neighborhood Affordable Housing<br />
Committee. He is also a trustee of the Somerset County<br />
Library Board and is active in the ministerial association.<br />
The vision of a prayer-centered church and a missionshaped<br />
diocese really is rooted in the ancient understanding<br />
that prayer and action together are important elements of<br />
holistic spirituality and faithful and engaging discipleship.<br />
This practice is the one that Jesus modeled for us in his own<br />
life and ministry, and only by embracing a life of prayer and<br />
action can we live into St. Paul’s admonition to “pray without<br />
ceasing” In order to discern the mission of God in the world,<br />
the church must re-imagine what mission looks like. Instead<br />
of engaging in church-shaped mission, which is insular<br />
and focused on meeting the needs of church members and<br />
structures, we are called to become a mission-shaped churcha<br />
church driven and empowered to do the work of God in the<br />
world, to follow the Holy Spirit into the world to meet Christ<br />
in the poor, the weak, the suffering, and the stranger, and to<br />
take seriously the dream of Jesus that the Church would not<br />
only continue his work, but that we would do greater works<br />
than he, as together we work to draw all of creation to unity<br />
with God and one another.<br />
such as those of Fortune 500 companies, state and local<br />
government retirement systems, endowments, mutual<br />
funds and private accounts. Enjoyed an active managerial<br />
role in the companies for which I worked in addition to<br />
my investment responsibilities. Employers included a state<br />
retirement system, two large regional banks and three private<br />
investment management firms. For the 15 years prior to my<br />
retirement, I served as President, Chief Operating Officer and<br />
Mutual Fund Co-Manager for a private investment manager<br />
in suburban Philadelphia with approximately $3.5 billion<br />
under management. Firm managed the Berwyn Funds,<br />
a small family of no-load mutual funds and sub-advised<br />
other mutual funds. Board/Trustee Experience: Community<br />
Center, Private School, Yacht Club, Endowment, Charitable<br />
Institution, Private For-Profit Company. Personal: I grew up<br />
in Richmond, VA where I graduated from St. Christopher’s<br />
School. Most of my professional career was spent in<br />
Philadelphia, where my wife and I lived in Center City for 38<br />
years and raised a family. I have served on Vestries in both<br />
Richmond and Philadelphia and have been active in churchrelated<br />
activities, including being Endowment Committee<br />
Chair for 20+ years. My wife and I reside in Oxford where we<br />
are active members of The Church of the Holy Trinity and<br />
she currently serves on the Vestry.<br />
I think we can grow into Bishop San’s vision by, in part,<br />
taking our cue from the early Christians as recorded in the<br />
Book of Acts. We must exhibit compassion, inclusiveness and<br />
sharing, not just among ourselves but throughout the broader<br />
community and the world. This starts with seeking God’s<br />
guidance in all things through prayer – personal prayer,<br />
group prayer and parish-wide prayer. Then we must trust<br />
in God and move forward in faith, casting a wide net and<br />
engaging a diverse universe.<br />
Board of Managers, Lay – Fred Welsh<br />
For the full bio on each of our nominees<br />
please visit<br />
www.dioceseofeaston.org/convention<strong>2018</strong><br />
Board of Managers, Lay – Ray<br />
Munsch: Education: BS, Economics,<br />
University of Pennsylvania (Wharton<br />
School); MBA, Finance, University of<br />
Virginia (Darden School). Military:<br />
Officer, U.S. Coast Guard, 3½ years<br />
active duty. Professional Experience:<br />
Investment Manager, over course of<br />
40 years served as portfolio manager<br />
for institutional investment accounts<br />
13
...Bringing<br />
It All<br />
Together...<br />
The Purpose Statement (above right) and the<br />
Ministry Imperatives (at right) stem from a<br />
collaborative effort initiated by the bishop<br />
at last year’s convention. The documents are<br />
intended to help us orient ourselves and design<br />
tangible goals as we live into the Mission of<br />
God. The discernment work of self-reflection,<br />
which took place under the guidance of the Rt.<br />
Rev. Henry Parsley, resulted in ten Discernment<br />
Resolutions shown below (read more at www.<br />
dioceseofeaston.org/2015discernmentresolutions).<br />
These ten resolutions continue to speak to, and<br />
are incorporated in, the ten ministry imperatives.<br />
In addition to these discernment resoltions, the<br />
Ministry Imperatives also reflect the Episcopal<br />
Church’s Five Marks of Mission, the Jesus<br />
Movement as defi ned by Presiding Bishop Curry,<br />
and our biblical responsibility enunciated in<br />
1 Corinthians 12 & 14, Ephesians 4, Romans<br />
12, 1 Peter 4, Matthew 22: 37 (the Great<br />
Commandment), Matthew 28:19 (the Great<br />
Commission), and our Baptismal Covenant. For<br />
more information on these imperatives and the<br />
good work that God is calling us to as a prayercentered<br />
church & mission-shaped diocese, be<br />
sure to listen to the Bishops’s convention address<br />
which will be available on our website following<br />
convention.<br />
Discernment<br />
Resolutions<br />
Adopted by the<br />
Diocese of Easton<br />
June 2015<br />
#1: Establish Clusters of neighboring parishes in the Diocese of Easton.<br />
#2: Reorganize the Department of Missions.<br />
#3: Department of Missions and Clusters shall identify sharing and collaboration<br />
opportunities.<br />
#4: Institute the AWE - Average Weekly Evangelism report.<br />
#5: Conduct a Diocesan-wide Evangelism Audit.<br />
#6: Organize Evangelism efforts at the Cluster level.<br />
#7: Provide resources on evangelism and outreach to the Diocese and parishes.<br />
#8: Establish a Diocesan Christian Formation Commission.<br />
#9: Form a marketing team.<br />
#10: Establish the Diocese of Easton’s Heritage Awareness Sunday.
15
Resolutions submitted by the Committee on Constitution & Canons<br />
to the 150th Annual <strong>Convention</strong> of the Diocese of Easton<br />
Resolution 1: Amendment to Article V -- Election of a Bishop: Add “Bishop Provisional,” prohibit<br />
nominations from the floor, and provide for a nomination by petition. This is the second reading.<br />
Resolution 2: Article XIII -- Parishes – Separate Congregations -- Missions: To revise and update the<br />
minimum requirements of Parish By-Laws. This is the second reading.<br />
Resolution 3: Article XIII -- Parishes – Separate Congregations -- Missions: To simplify the process of<br />
closing a Parish, Mission, or Separate Congregation, and to add a requirement that adequate provisions<br />
be made for the perpetual care of any memorials, graves, and/or cemeteries.<br />
Resolution 4: To revise Canon 404 (as approved by the Board of Managers) so that a Diocesan Property<br />
Committee may be created and take full responsibility for all Diocesan-owned real property.<br />
Resolution 5: New Canon 410 -- Of the<br />
Committee on Diocesan Property: To define<br />
the canonical requirements for a Committee on<br />
Diocesan Property. This proposed Canon will<br />
establish a Diocesan Property Committee which<br />
will manage real property owned by the Diocese<br />
of Easton.<br />
16<br />
Resolution 6: Canon 411 -- Of the Committee<br />
on Green Hill Church: To add a new Canon<br />
411 creating a Green Hill Church Committee<br />
responsible for the Green Hill Church in<br />
Quantico, MD, a property and church building<br />
(1733) owned by the Diocese of Easton. Submitted<br />
by the Rev. David Michaud and the Vestry of St.<br />
Peter’s Church, Salisbury.<br />
Resolution 7: Canon 505 -- Of Separate<br />
Congregations: To update Canon 505 (Canon 508<br />
has been deleted) and provide a process under<br />
which a congregation, which has been classified<br />
as a Diocesan Mission under Canon 504.022, may<br />
regain Parish status.<br />
For further information and explanation on each<br />
of the Resolutions please visit<br />
www.dioceseofeaston.org/convention<strong>2018</strong><br />
About Green Hill Church<br />
by The Rev. David Michaud<br />
Green Hill Church near Quantico, Maryland along the<br />
banks of the Wicomico River is the mother church of<br />
Stepney Parish and one of the oldest and best preserved<br />
colonial churches in the diocese. Built in 1733 but no<br />
longer in constant use, it is the site of the annual combined<br />
St. Bartholomew’s Day worship and picnic of the churches<br />
of Wicomico Country, a tradition stretching back 165<br />
years.<br />
The deed for the property was recently transferred to the<br />
Diocese from St. Mary’s, Tyaskin. Resolution 6 would<br />
establish by canon a Green Hill Church Committee<br />
of parishioners from the local parishes to oversee the<br />
preservation and maintenance of this historic treasure,<br />
raise funds for its continued existence and organize St.<br />
Bartholomew’s Day and other activities in the church.<br />
Funds to care for the church would come to the Diocese<br />
to be used by the committee, making care for the church<br />
budget neutral – the property would be self-sufficient.<br />
Resolution 6 has the support of the parishes of Wicomico<br />
County.
EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS<br />
Bishop’s Christmas Appeal - Follow-Up<br />
The Bishop’s Christmas Appeal declared in<br />
December 2017 has borne much fruit. The appeal<br />
came in response to a request of assistance from<br />
the Diocese of North East Caribbean and Aruba’s<br />
(NECA) bishop. The Rt. Rev. Errol Brooks reached<br />
out to the Diocese of Easton for help in responding<br />
to the devastation caused by Hurricane Marie. The<br />
diocesan family has responded generously with<br />
our contribution. To date we have received $7,101.<br />
Arrangements will be made to liaise with Diocese<br />
of NECA for transfer of the funds.<br />
Also I wish to commend the Church of the Holy<br />
Trinity, Oxford, which has personal connection<br />
with St. Bart’s Island, for their initiative in raising<br />
close to $20,000 toward the relief effort.<br />
As your bishop, it warms my heart to hear<br />
of this overwhelming response and to say a<br />
heartfelt thanks to all who sacrificed in making a<br />
contribution. It shows the generosity of the diocese<br />
toward the least fortunate in times of natural<br />
disaster and other forms of crisis. We stand in<br />
solidarity with our sister diocese in another part<br />
of the Anglican Communion indicating how<br />
mindful we are of our global connection and our<br />
willingness to act in times of tragedy,<br />
My beloved, once again you have made your<br />
bishop and diocese proud and grateful.<br />
With every blessing!<br />
+San<br />
XI Bishop of Easton<br />
NOTABLE DATES<br />
February 23-24<br />
DIOCESAN CONVENTION<br />
The annual meeting of the Diocese of Easton including<br />
elections and voting.<br />
February 23-24<br />
YOUTH @ CONVENTION<br />
Young people are also invited to attend the coinciding<br />
“Youth at <strong>Convention</strong>” event. Register your youth online.<br />
March 3<br />
MINISTRY COHORT<br />
Bring a team from your church to the table in <strong>2018</strong> as we<br />
learn innovative and effective ways to share faith across<br />
generations. Facilitated by Ministry Architects and in<br />
partnership with Fuller Youth Institute.<br />
www.dioceseofeaston.org/cohort<br />
April 1<br />
EASTER SUNDAY<br />
May 5<br />
HARRIET TUBMAN MUSEUM TOUR &<br />
RECONCILIATION EUCHARIST<br />
The first of our 150th Sesquicentennial Events.<br />
The Bray House (Offices of the Bishop) will be closed on<br />
2/19, 2/26, 3/30, 5/28.<br />
SIGN UP FOR THE WEEKLY ENEWS<br />
dioceseofeaston.org<br />
WE ARE UPDATING OUR MAILING LIST!<br />
Churches are asked to send a curent member<br />
mailing lists so that we can update our records<br />
and make sure everyone in our Diocese is<br />
receiving the <strong>ESE</strong>. Thank you for your help.<br />
Send To: joanne@dioceseofeaston.org
The Episcopal Diocese of Easton<br />
314 North Street<br />
Easton, MD 21601<br />
410-822-1919<br />
dioceseofeaston.org<br />
CAMP WRIGHT - RESIDENT CAMP - SUMMER<br />
Session Schedule<br />
Session 1/SHL June 23-29<br />
Mini 1 June 23-25<br />
Mini 2 June 27-29<br />
Session 2/SHA July 1-7<br />
Mini 3 July 1-3<br />
Mini 4 July 5-7<br />
Session 3 July 9- 15<br />
Mini 5 July 9- 11<br />
Mini 6 July 13 - 15<br />
Session 4 July 18 - 24<br />
XMAS/AC/STEM July 27-Aug 2<br />
Session 5 Aug 5-11<br />
SENIOR/NATURE Aug 13-17<br />
Join us on Kent Island this summer! For over 85<br />
years, Camp Wright has provided young people<br />
from the <strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> of Maryland and beyond an<br />
encouraging place to grow, learn, play, and make<br />
new friends. With traditional programs and specialty<br />
camps throughout the summer, Camp Wright offers<br />
something for everyone.<br />
www.campwright.com