Loading...(Bishop of London grim reaper)
But the reaping of fruits from seeds planted at various times is a part of our work.
At the grim aspect can be redefined as referring to those things that have served the community well in the past, have bourne fruit, and should now be recognized as having been of value for a season and must now give way for new thinking, new strategy, new ministry, and new mission.
First and foremost in this address I want to say thank you, both as bishop, and as a fellow disciple of Jesus.
There is vital, creative, gospel mission being carried out in every congregation. Though we have been together for just two years and two months I can name at least one such missionary effort in every congregation. (Unfortunately time does not allow me to do that for all, so I shall ask your understanding for not naming ministry in a few places.)
Yet, one of the joys of yesterday afternoon was talking to and with each other in our workshops. Those who participated heard of mission work going on in other congregations, and hopes and ideas for common evangelism and mission were shared and recorded on the new print pages of sticky notes all around!
And so I say thank you to all ministers, lay and ordained, who carry out Christ’s ministry of reconciliation in our 43 mission stations. That number comes from 36 congregations, three university chaplaincies, 2 community centers, All Saints Camp, and Diocesan House. (And the danger in naming a list is that I will not think of something so you may well have other sites to add) Those are the easily identifiable as vessels of our common ministry.
But just as important is the mission station where Almighty God places you every day. In your school, job, home, and career, as you live out your avocation, as your volunteer in your church and community. The vocation of baptism places each of us at any given moment squarely in the mission field that is ripe for both harvest and planting.
I thank you for the message of hope you share throughout this commonwealth. We have just emerged from a season of political campaigning that has been effective at setting people against each other while pointing to problems and differences that are portrayed as being permanent, non-repairable, and the reason for a massive divide that is unbreachable.
Let our gospel message of hope in Christ flow throughout our congregations, communities, and this Commonwealth. Evangelism, the authentic proclamation of God’s good news in Christ, and Mission, living out the Gospel news in the ways Jesus and the prophets call us, are great gifts and challenges for us, and we in the Diocese of Kentucky have never been better prepared to respond with God’s hope, life, compassion, justice, and peace. There are too many vinegar spitting Christians around! Let us ever point to the One who is the world’s True Light, bear that light, and live in that light.
The Five Marks of Mission serve as our theme of convention. As the Baptismal Covenant serves as guide for measuring our individual journeys of faith and discipleship, these Marks of Mission serve a similar purpose within our diocesan community. In fact, the Five Marks of Mission are increasingly being used in the way provinces and dioceses throughout the Anglican Communion relate to each in terms of uniting in mission.
I have said in several contexts this year that these Marks are primarily about Evangelism and Mission. I experience in my Visitations as taste of how evangelism and mission is part of each congregation. According to the gifts of the Spirit given to each in Baptism, I see a variety of ways these priorities are lived out. There is no one formula, no one approach that is better than another. I pray we remember that as we engage in work with neighboring congregations in our deaneries and diocese. At any moment, evangelism leads to mission, and in the next moment mission becomes evangelism. Let us rejoice in such marvelous work and complexity and thank God for every opportunity to love and serve.
I feel compelled to borrow from the State of the Union format: The state of our diocese is good, engagement in evangelism and mission is high and growing, and I find an ever refreshing attitude that our main priority is growing the reign of God, and let “growing the institution of the church” not be our guiding principle. If our work is of God, all else will fall into its proper place. I hear hope, see signs of fruit being born.
Giving is up by some $50,000 from our congregations. Thank you. I know there is no shortage of need locally, and I truly believe making local congregations stronger makes for a stronger diocese.
Our 2013 budget includes a canon for Evangelism, Mission, and Stewardship. This priority came about in part from most congregations saying more resources from the bishop’s office would assist local mission. I heard this in visitations to congregations and in conversations with vestries and bishop’s committees from pastoral and family sized congregations. This position was also supported by Trsutees and Council because I believe it will assist us all in gaining access to resources and tools for growing the kingdom which will lead to makings congregations stronger as well. This position is initially funded from the sale of property to the City of Louisville.
This budget provides for a diocesan stewardship conference in the spring. I would like this to be an annual event, engaging lay and ordained in leaders in examining issues such as the theology of stewardship, the healthy and unhealthy ways we use money as individuals and as the Church, as well as learn of various programs and practical approaches to year round programs of stewardship formation concerning money and other aspects of life. I also want to say, a bit cautiously perhaps, that I am in conversation with a priest to lead this conference who knows Kentucky! My point is this: there is no shortage of good folks to come and lead workshops, but many have experience in regions that don’t have a large rural component and I think that can make a difference sometimes. I say this gently, but I wanted you know my thinking and that of several diocesan leaders who I consulted.
An additional priority I wish to mention has to do with adding a second person to our finance department. There are increasing demands on on that office, and in order to provide better support to congregations T&C endorsed this position. It is our hope that this second individual will have time to help 10 congregations each year with their audits which will be beneficial for several reasons.
In 2013 Trustees and Council will continue to work directly with congregations facing particular challenges related to attendance and finances. I am building a mission strategy committee that will work with T&C in devising a diocesan wide plan for the most effective use of our financial resources and personnel. The feasibility of one or more Spanish speaking congregations will be examined. As well as partnerships between existing congregations.
We are still getting used to a fall convention. I take responsibility for the budget narrative getting out late and some timing issues. Trustees and Council has endorsed my proposal that we begin budget work far earlier, setting a target of as early as July 1 for have the first draft of a proposed budget ready for distribution, as well as getting requests for commitments from congregations out early so you have more than one bishop’s committee or vestry meeting to pray and discern your commitment. This process will also be helped with the presence of an additional finance office help.
I will leave other budgets to the committee presentation later. Except for one cost/investment line item. In terms of the stewardship of diocesan resources, I need to talk with you about All Saints Camp.
Last Convention I announced a task force charged with presenting a business plan to Trustees and Council. That task force is led by Canon Joan Smith and includes members from Grace, Hopkinsville; St Paul's, Louisville; Trinity, Russellville; Christ, Elizabethtown; St John's, Murray; Calvary, Louisville; Ascension, Bardstown; Grace, Paducah; St Matthew's, Louisville plus Youth Director, All Saints Program Director, Canon to the Ordinary, Communication Director
- Have observed one whole cycle of programs, budgeting, and seasonal hiring
- Studied patterns of camp and youth participation
- Studied trends in sources of income
- Completed architectural and engineering assessment of existing buildings
- Received minutes of All Saints board meetings, showing what issues board considers (e g, cancellation/deposit policy), budgeting process, decision-making process
And now the committee is ready to decide on a business plan. Your help is needed to "stress test" the plan by having convention deputies tell us whether or not conditions necessary to its success are true. We will ask one or two questions at a time: "Is X true or not? Please elaborate."
The 2013 budget reflects what it has cost to support All Saints over the last couple of years. For the last couple of years a too modest figure has been in the annual budget, requiring additional loans to be given during the year. Trustees and Council wishes to give us all a clearer picture of what it costs to keep All Saints functioning as a year round camp. And as a diocesan community in 2013 we will need to decide what our budgetary commitment should be.
The summer camp program and spring and fall gatherings are strongly supported and continue to be an important ministry to youth and teens, a ministry of developing leadership in counselors and staff, and opportunities for adults to both teach and grow in their ministries through the School for Ministry and other weekends. These are but a few of the blessings All Saints Camp provides our diocese.
Thus clearly understanding what our common financial commitment should be to the Camp Facility is essential. It seems to me we have at least three choices. We commitment to the current level of activity and costs, we reduce the activity and costs, or increase our commitment by adding an executive director. Each has both benefits and drawbacks. The Task Force will be asking for your help in the new year. One or more online survey tools will be used and strong participation by you will help the All Saints Board and Trustees and Council to use the Task Force material wisely. The survey will ask your thoughts on essential and I dare say tough questions. But we need to do so in order to move out of the current situation which I would label betwixt and between. By God’s grace we can arrive at the best solution for us. It’s a part of being leaders, and you are all leaders in this diocese.
Knowing the love many have for All Saints Camp, let me be absolutely clear: no decision on the future configuration has been made. And whatever decision is made, will not be made by me. As many congregational lay and ordained leaders who wish to join in the stress tests will greatly influence decisions. What I am calling us to is clear discernment AND demonstration of commitment to our joint decision. (Let me say respectfully, I have heard no shortage of comments about what should happen to All Saints Camp. What I hope follows quickly is demonstrated commitment. Commitment is just as important as desire here. Pray, ponder, discuss, and be watching for the Task Force’s invitation to participate.
The position of Diocesan Youth Coordinator received interest from some outstanding candidates. Applications are no longer being received and I hope all things being equal to announce a call by the end of the year.
Quickly two last items:
Episcopal Preaching Foundation will hold their national workshop in Louisville in February.
It is my intention to invite members of the diocese to engage the Bible Reading Challenge beginning in Lent and running until Lent 2014. Reading the Bible in one year. It is but one way to address biblical illiteracy in the Church. More details from the Christian formation commission later.
Working with vestrys, bcs, lots of energy, good will, and desire to grow in grace and love and a willingness to serve.
Stanley Joe Smith’s funeral.
I thank you for giving up your time and many of you spending money to be here.
Rise up ye saints of God!
