TRINITY VOL. 39, NO. 1
A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E A N G L I C A N D I O C E S E O F P I T T S B U R G H
FOCUS ON CHURCH PLANTING MEET THE PRIESTS A N D CO N G R E G AT I O N S PLANTING CHURCHES IN OUR DIOCESE
PA R T N E R S I N T H E G O S P E L
A Time to Sow By The Rev. James Lafeyette Hobby, Jr., Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh
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am deeply committed to church planting. I believe it is the best way to reach people with Jesus’ love. I want to see church planting become normative in this diocese and in the ACNA. But, I wasn’t always an advocate. My first conversation about church planting happened in the winter of 1976, during my freshman year in college. The Christian Education department at Wheaton College was always looking for innovative and effective ministries in the Chicago area where students could see in practice what we were learning in class. For years students had visited Son Life, the remarkable youth ministry of South Park Church. In October 1975 (while I was still learning the college ropes) the leaders of that ministry decided to start a new congregation using the same ministry philosophy and methods to reach adults as well as youth. They ended up meeting in a theatre. Christian Education
majors, like me, debated the wisdom of planting this kind of church. I was skeptical about a church that met in a theatre, that focused on evangelism, that used drama and multi-media, and whose worship was led by a band. Bill Hybels and Willow Creek Church went on to do quite well despite my skepticism. They changed the conversation about church and church planting. Fast forward through 33 years (college graduation, marriage, seminary, children, ordination, working hard to revitalize churches, leaving the Episcopal Church) to an eventful 10 weeks in 2009. In April I attended my first Exponential Conference, a national gathering of several thousand church planters and other leaders. It was stunning. Though Fr. Tom Herrick, and a few others, had kept conversation about church planting alive in the Episcopal Church and in the new Anglican Realignment, it never took center stage. But, when thousands of people gather
to worship, learn, and network around church planting, it’s a remarkable experience. The vision, passion, and dedication I experienced at that conference deeply affected me and
I want to see church planting become normative in this diocese and the ACNA. shifted my ministry focus. I came away committed to catalyzing church planting in the diocese and the newly-forming province. Then, on June 25th at Christ Church, Plano, while preaching at his consecration, Archbishop-elect Robert Duncan called for the planting of 1,000 churches during his tenure as Archbishop. Stunned silence! No one in the room had experienced the kind of movement of God that it would take to more than double the number of congregations in our newly-formed province. Archbishop Duncan, with that clarion call, grabbed us by the ears and focused our attention on the lost, those outside. He changed the conversation. Instead of fussing and whining about how we got to where we were, we needed to learn a new way of being church with church planting at the heart. That conversation is still happening. Seeds have been planted. Networks are forming. Structures are being designed. We have some early success stories. But, we have yet to see the movement that Archbishop Bob envisioned. I hope that the following stories from church planters in our Diocese will capture your imagination and will change the conversation in your congregation. I believe a movement of God is stirring. Let’s join it.
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TRINITY By The Rev. James Lafeyette Hobby, Jr., Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh
In This Issue...
On The Cover: (Row 1) The Rev. Seth Zimmerman, The Rev. Eric Zolner, The Rev. Mike & Allison Niebauer, The Rev. Chance Perdue; (Row 2) The Rev. Ellis Brust, The Rev. Cynthia Brust; (Row 3) The Rev. Paul & Kim Hassell, The Rev. Dave Ketter
Editor Kristen Parise
14 One of our congregations shares their experience with a VBS/ Children’s Camp curriculum on creation stewardship.
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16 Deepening Biblical Understanding reveals the overarching story told by our Lenten OT lectionary readings.
Follow along in the stories of six congregations being planted in our diocese.
FEATURES 4 • Planting Churches in Our Diocese
RESOURCE RECOMMENDATIONS 14 • VBS/Children’s Camp Recommendation: Creation Care Camp 17 • Coaching 101 Workshop Coming to Area
NEWS FROM ACROSS THE DIOCESE 18 • Introducing New Diocesan Grant Application & Process 19 • New Staff Member: Deacon Joanne Martin, Special Projects 19 • New Canon for Youth Ministry: The Rev. Tracey Russell 20 • St. Stephens Launching New Classical Academy 22 • Clergy Transitions 22 • Diocesan Calendar 22 • Thank You TRINITY Donors
Design Kostilnik & Associates Graphics, Inc. Columnists Bishop Jim Hobby The Rev. Shari Hobby The Rev. Dr. Kirsten Gardner Contributors The Rev. Cynthia Brust The Rev. Ellis Brust The Rev. Kenny Benge The Rev. Donald Bushyager The Rev. Paul Hassell The Rev. Dave Ketter The Leadership of St. Stephen’s Church The Rev. Mike Niebauer The Rev. Chance Perdue The Rev. Seth Zimmerman The Rev. Eric Zolner CONTACT INFORMATION Communications Director Kristen Parise Phone: (412) 281-6131 Email: communications@pitanglican.org Web site: www.pitanglican.org Fax: (412) 322-4505 SUBMISSION INFORMATION
EDITORIALS
2 • Partners in the Gospel: A Time to Sow The Rev. James Lafeyette Hobby, Jr., Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh 16 • Deepening Bible Understanding: Lenten Readings by The Rev. Dr. Kirsten Gardner 23 • Mama’s Musings: Messy Growth by The Rev. Shari Hobby
Email: communications@pitanglican.org TRINITY is a quarterly publication of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh. Submissions for the next issue of Trinity must arrive at the Diocesan offices by June 1 to be considered for publication. Documents that are not created in MS Word should be sent as text documents. Photos should be minimum 300 dpi and include photo credit when necessary. If physical photos are sent and must be returned they must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope with proprietary information on the back of each photo.
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Special Feature: Church Planting
Planting New Churches in Our Diocese As Bishop Jim mentioned in his column, church planting is both exciting and scary; complex and simple; is both a divine calling and the last thing some of us want to be doing. Yet here we go and here we send our fellow Anglican priests and lay members to do this amazing thing, to start something new, right here in our local communities. 4 | TRINITY Spring 2018
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n this expanded special feature, we’re sharing with you the stories of six congregations in our Diocese told by their pastors. Some of the stories you’ll read are about churches that are in the very early stages & some are farther along in the journey. We’ve asked them all the same questions not so you can compare one against the other, but so you can reflect on the variety of journeys, places and people who have answered the call. Bishop Jim has been actively working with and encouraging these congregations, and invites all of the members of the Diocese into these stories so together we can support and pray for our friends, and perhaps, be emboldened to answer the call to start something new when it comes to us.
Grace Church, Edgeworth, PA Pastor: The Rev. Chance Perdue TM: How long have you been a part of the Diocese? CP: 6 years TM: Tell us about the Edgeworth area & how it informs the formation of your church. CP: Edgeworth is mostly residential and it’s right next to Sewickley - if I’m in the car it takes about two minutes to go from the church to the village. You see the same people all the time - at the grocery store, at the Y, getting coffee - and that lends itself to a really relaxed and highly relational way of life. I’ve been heavily influenced by writers like Eugene Peterson, so pastorally the context is pretty dreamy, really. It’s being a village priest in, literally, a village setting. But we’re also really close to Ambridge, so there’s a close tie with the seminary, a number of our folks live in Ambridge, and there’s a lot more poverty and need in that community than in a place like Edgeworth or Sewickley. So the demographics are kind of all over the place - and because of that, we’ll never want for an idyllic setting for life and worship, AND we’ll also never want for ways to serve those in need. The harvest is plentiful.
about it to my wife. Then last Spring I was at lunch with Bishop Jim & Mama Shari and he mentioned it to me as a possibility. I was so surprised I think I might’ve choked on my drink. As Bishop Jim started to talk to me about Edgeworth, and all the potential he saw for this place to become a deeply rooted “neighborhood” church, I realized that this was much more than a possible opportunity to minister in a very quaint, idyllic, quintessentially Anglican church (which it is) - I (Continued on page 6)
TM: Why did you want to plant a church? How were you called to your church plant? CP: Grace Church, Edgeworth is a unique place, specifically in terms of being a plant. The parish was an extension of Grace Church, Mt. Washington until last Spring - so the congregation has been worshipping here in our beautiful chapel for years, sharing Fr. John Porter with the folks at Mt. Washington. After the two congregations “un-yoked” last year, I was called to be the first full-time rector of Grace Church, Edgeworth and I started work in September. I have to confess that I’d been secretly following Grace Edgeworth on the internet for years, having only ever said anything
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Special Feature: Church Planting Incarnation Church, State College, PA Pastor: The Rev. Mike Niebauer TM: How long have you been a part of the Diocese? MN: 3 years TM: Tell us about the State College area & how it informs the formation of your church.
realized that my bishop knows me and knows the sort of ministry I’m suited for. The gratitude was matched only by the excitement at that point. TM: How is it going with your church? What has been good lately? What is a struggle? CP: Things are going well. Many of our parishioners don’t live in Edgeworth, so there’s an eagerness to welcome newcomers and to dig deeper into the neighborhood. We put on a traditional Festival of Lessons & Carols in December and advertised it as a gift to the neighborhood. The turnout ended up being even more than an average Sunday! I think our challenge, moving forward, will simply be patience and listening to the folks around us in order to continue welcoming neighbors into our midst in as many ways as we can. The people of Grace Church are so warm and loving - a pretty tight-knit family. But our folks are also really hospitable - you’d have to try pretty hard to visit on a Sunday without a bunch people shaking your hand and taking a genuine interest in your story. That’s in the DNA of this parish, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to build on that kind of foundation. TM: What are you learning through being a church planter? About yourself? About ministry? About God? CP: I’m always relearning the same lesson over and over again: God is faithful. That faithfulness might not look like it did last time or the time before that, it might not show up within your timetable, but it’s always present. You’d think I’d have figured this out by now... TM: How can the rest of the Diocese support you? Pray for you? CP: Please pray for us, that we might continue to grow in listening to our neighborhood, in our ministry of hospitality, remaining faithful to the preaching of the Gospel in Word and Sacrament.
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MN: State College is in many ways two different towns: one centered around campus and the other centered around central Pennsylvania. The campus community is typically those students, graduate students, and faculty who will only be in the area for 4-6 years. This has been primarily the community which we are serving. TM: Why did you want to plant a church? How were you called to your church plant? MN: I am a native of State College, and had spent the past 10 years starting congregations in Chicago. When my wife was accepted into a PhD program at Penn State, we began praying about our vocations and central Pennsylvania. After this discernment process, we were excited to move back into the area and begin a new church community. TM: How is it going with your church? What has been good lately? What is a struggle? MN: This year has been an incredible time at Incarnation Church. For the past two years, a majority of people involved were either not Christians, or very young in their faith. Not only have we seen real changes in the lives of these people, but we also have been fortunate to have several older Christians move into the area and become involved in our congregation.
Redeemer North Boroughs, Bellevue, PA Pastors: The Rev. Paul Hassell & The Rev. Seth Zimmerman TM: How long have you been a part of the Diocese? PH: 6 years SZ: 20 years TM: Tell us about the North Boroughs area & how it informs the formation of your church. SZ: The North Boroughs is demographically split between people that have been there forever and don’t like change, and a younger more transient population that wants to make an impact. In both cases, “a new church in town” is not something that they are very interested in. At this point we have more effectively connected with the younger population. We are in the process of doing the long work of living out and communicating God’s story with these folks. A powerful truth we all need to realize is that “we are more than what we do.” In God’s story, we are recipients of a great grace, we have a great family, and we have a purpose that goes far beyond ourselves.
TM: Who in your congregation has been or is currently instrumental in fulfilling your congregation’s mission and vision & how are they doing so? MN: The first layperson that comes to mind is Brad Jones. He has had a hand in helping us reach out to undergraduate students, and has been a gifted preacher for us as well. This year we also have a CCO staff person, Ana Wakeman, who has done an excellent job developing community among our undergrads.
PH: The North Boroughs is both stable and transitory. There are lots of rentals in Bellevue and Avalon and the rent is less expensive than many neighborhoods, so there are lots of young people renting in the area. There are great schools in Ben Avon and Emsworth, so it becomes the place that people want to settle when “they make it.” Bellevue is one degree away from all Pittsburghers. It’s the place that everyone has lived in for a time or has known someone who lived/lives there. All the North Boroughs are accessible to the rest of the Metro area, so they are convenient, but they are very walkable and feel like a small town in a big city. There are lots of “de-churched” and unchurched people in the North Boroughs, so doing (Continued on page 8)
TM: What are you learning through being a church planter? About yourself? About ministry? About God? MN: Before moving back to the area, I had grown comfortable in my abilities as a pastor and church planter, but have found since moving to State College that there is always room to grow in my abilities. TM: How can the rest of the Diocese support you? Pray for you? MN: Please pray for our students who are not Christian, and for those who are new to Christianity, that they may continue to grow in their love and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Spring 2018
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Special Feature: Church Planting a lot to get the word out and hoped for people to check us out, but that really did not happen. Numerical growth has been slow and up and down. I think that God is meeting us in our worship service because of coherence with liturgy, preaching, music - that helps us realign our hearts to God each week. We have also worked hard the past year in growing in inductive bible study. As people have gotten better at digging into scripture, there is an excitement for God’s word. We really want to keep developing people’s biblical literacy but in an engaging and participatory way. SZ: I am beginning to feel a love for our church that I hadn’t felt before. I had been too focused on “what we were not doing well enough” to take time to celebrate “How God cherishes his bride” in our specific context. I am elated to see the small ways that people from Redeemer are doing outreach where they live, work, or play. I’m not so concerned with the “big impact” on the community that I thought we’d quickly make. Now, I see that the big picture, the kingdom of God, is spreading in small, even hidden, ways! church like normal is not going to fly. Having said that, lots of millennials and de-churched people are interested in something historic and not as trendy. We have focused on joining community development organizations and serving the needs of the neighborhood. Seth and I can honestly say we have hundreds of connections with not yet believers in our community through our investments the past two years. TM: Why did you want to plant a church? How were you called to your church plant? PH: I was in campus ministry for 25 years in part because I could regularly be doing evangelism. I have always had an evangelist gifting and heart, so being more missional is part of God’s call in my life. Church planting is some of the Church’s best missional activity, so it seemed that church planting was the best use of my gifts. SZ: I have always been entrepreneurial. I actually left seminary to start a business because I felt that I wouldn’t be able to engage in the marketplace as a pastor. During that time that I ran a small business, God called me back into pastoral ministry and led me to finish my degree and get ordained. He showed me in many ways that my entrepreneurial drive expressed through a church plant was something he wanted to use for his mission! TM: How is it going with your church? What has been good lately? What is a struggle? PH: While we started worship services on Christmas eve 2016, we had our grand opening in September 2017. We did
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TM: Who in your congregation has been or is currently instrumental in fulfilling your congregation’s mission and vision & how are they doing so? SZ: Lauren Marts is one member at Redeemer that jumps to mind quickly when I think about living out the vision. She is an engineer at Westinghouse (during the day), and she spends a great deal of time baking! Lauren started True North, a Gluten Free Bakery, out of her kitchen just over a year ago and it’s been amazing to watch her do her work. We don’t actually get to see her bake, but we see her engage with her customers at the Farmer’s market and local shops that sell her goods. Lauren is gifted at making people feel cared for. She has forged many relationships with non-Christians, and is eager to see them come into a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. When others from Redeemer see her at the farmer’s market, she has been quick to introduce us to folks
gotten both longer and more focused. It is going to take many years to make Redeemer the church I think God is calling it to be in the North Boroughs, and I want to invest well for longer than I first thought. Having said that, I think that I am freer to focus on just the North Boroughs and not get pulled into other things. So, while I think the time frame is longer, the focus of who and where I am invested is smaller than any other time of ministry. TM: How can the rest of the Diocese support you? Pray for you? SZ: I have enjoyed our clergy gatherings. I have felt so greatly encouraged by speaking and praying alongside our other clergymen and women. I feel purposeful and supported in this work of church planting where we plant so many seeds, but harvest so little fruit. The Bishop is excellent at drawing our eyes to Christ, the Lord of the Harvest, who knows what he’s doing! PH: It is great to hear others are making connections within their community. Sharing stories and what has been learned is very helpful. It has been helpful to hear from other planters through Bishop Jim’s conversation gatherings. We really want to pray about conversions. We can sow, water and harvest, but God has to grow. We want to see him make people ready to become followers of Christ. We really want to see growth in the church plant come from conversions in 2018. she’s met through her baking adventures! Thus, the whole body of Redeemer is able to extend the love of God in a context that may not have been available without her faithful efforts. Plus, a shameless plug to any pastors out there reading this... She makes a great, gluten free, communion bread! TM: What are you learning through being a church planter? About yourself? About ministry? About God? SZ: “He must become greater and we must become less.” The more I submit, listen, and obey... the more I experience something contrary to what I think might happen! By releasing my grip on areas in my life I have felt pressure to manage and control (family, finances, church growth, evangelism, etc.), I have actually felt more empowered and more “in control.” But, I am confidently aware that it is the love of Christ that controls me. This is a lesson I will continue to learn, and the result is a “peace that passes understanding” in my life and ministry. PH: I think that having been in the University setting for a long time, life outside that venue is slower and takes more time to develop. I think that my frame of reference has
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Church of the Apostles, Kansas City, MO Pastors: The Rev. Canon Ellis Brust & The Rev. Cynthia Brust TM: How long have you been a part of the Diocese? EB & CB: 4 years TM: Tell us about the Kansas City area & how it informs the formation of your church. EB: The Kansas City metropolitan area sprawls over two states (Kansas & Missouri). COTA members come from a radius which includes four counties, and so while we have put down roots in the township of Martin City, MO, we are in fact a city church. We currently meet in “The Martin,” an event space which lends itself beautifully to liturgical worship. I love that fact that the original building on this site was The Martin City Methodist Church. Although it was (Continued on page 10)
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Special Feature: Church Planting Our congregation came together “organically,” when seemingly random, not-particularly-connected individuals approached us with the vision of a new church at a time when we were discerning the next season of ministry for us. This union has produced a loving, mutually supportive, authentic, passionate, and outwardly-focused faith community who truly “does life together.” TM: How is it going with your church? What has been good lately? What is a struggle?
destroyed by a tornado in 1957, COTA is the third church to worship in this location.
CB & EB: COTA is stable, having nearly doubled in membership in the first couple of years, and we’re continuing to grow. That growth feels slow at times and not all visitors are “sticky,” but just when I get worried, another new face or family appears for worship. We’re thankful for the agerange we have – from 10 months to mid-80s, and the level of commitment in our members is strong. Blessed to be financially self-supporting from the beginning, we are eager to increase our budget in order to expand mission and ministry.
CB: Kansas City has been called “a hidden jewel in the Midwest,” and it is indeed full of charm, beauty, great restaurants, shopping, and a wealth of cultural arts. It is also a city with racial tensions, socio-economic divides, and significant needs. We know that COTA cannot be all things to all people, and so our vision focuses on being rooted, incarnational, and creative. To that end, we put a strong emphasis on preaching and teaching as well as the rich rhythms and liturgical life of our Anglican tradition.
CB: COTA has placed a high value on artistic expression within our congregation and the city by forming Guilds to foster such creativity focusing on writing, needlework, visual arts, and a book club. Another foundational value of Church of the Apostles is helping people to “belong, even before they believe” and to seek answers to the tough questions about life and faith. To that end, we host a monthly “Ponder and Pour,” meeting in a local pub to discuss issues of culture, life, and faith.
TM: Why did you want to plant a church? How were you called to your church plant? CB & EB: We don’t fit the general mold of church planting; in fact, the journey toward our current call was unintentional. In our minds and experience, church planters are often twenty or thirty-something individuals, newly ordained or fresh from church planting boot camp. They tend to be either launching a “daughter church” from an existing congregation or making a “parachute jump” into a community with plans to build a new thing from the ground up. Our story is very different. We are a couple, and have been for nearly 34 years; we remain young-at-heart, but we haven’t seen thirty in a couple of decades; after years of parish ministry (Ellis as priest, Cynthia as lay leader), serving on a diocesan staff (Ellis), and working to support Anglican realignment in North America (both), we had a go at church planting in California that didn’t meet hopes and expectations. Church of the Apostles (COTA) in Kansas City came as an unexpected surprise at an unexpected season of life. And it’s proved to be our greatest adventure yet.
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EB: Having served for decades in an established denominational structure which provided clergy with systems, support, and even identity, the transition to church planting has been a huge adjustment for me. There are days I feel overwhelmed and even stuck: “which number one priority do I tackle next?” Most days, however, I feel the sheer joy of starting something from nothing, and with the direction of the Spirit and the help of so many faithful people, we are able to face all the exciting “firsts” we experience together. One of the greatest challenges is learning to balance consistent communication of the vision, keeping it at the forefront of creativity, while also building sustainable and flexible systems – from formation and discipleship, to pastoral care, to finances, to music planning, to ordering candles, to setup/tear down. One of our struggles is not having quite enough people to fully share the load and worrying about burning out the faithful servants who are there week in and week out. On the other hand, we never hear, “We’ve never done it that way before,” because this is the first time we’ve done everything! And we have been able to clearly
communicate hopes, dreams, and expectations of one another from day one. CB: Waiting for growth can be disheartening, sometimes downright discouraging, because we have so many mission and ministry goals, plans, and dreams ready and waiting for the critical mass necessary to implement them. We love the building in which we currently worship, have weekly Bible study, and host various special services or events, but it remains a challenge not to have space we can call our own with 24/7 access. And that, of course, brings us back to the budget/funds necessary as we look to the future. Having said that, I am ever mindful of, and thankful for, our congregation who loves and cares for us, seeks to welcome those who join us, and holds fast to COTA’s vision for the future. I have committed to focus on the word “praise” this year rather than “needs.” TM: Who in your congregation has been or is currently instrumental in fulfilling your congregation’s mission and vision & how are they doing so? CB: We had a small group of lay people and one couple in particular, who were instrumental in getting COTA started. Bill and Julie Zimmer established a corporation and laid all the necessary ground work for us. We have an incredibly artistic and gifted group. One leader, Tom McDonald, hand crafted our processional cross, altar, pulpit, and pascal candle stand — they are truly magnificent. Our son-in-law Porter Taylor, who is ordained and a PhD candidate, launched Ponder and Pour featuring informal theological conversations for everyday life — we see that as an evangelical tool. We also find that our Guilds — all lay led — are instrumental in the life of the congregation and as a means to draw others. We are grateful to Melinda Jones, Rebecca Taylor, William Brust, and Mary Lynn Anderson. Justin Colwell has built a wonderful and strong music team, and his wife Melia assists with administrative responsibilities. Rebecca Taylor has worked tirelessly on communications and community connections, and Jonathan and Jenny Watkins along with Chuck and Gina Holmes are only two of our gifted couples who are always willing to stand in the gap. Without Barbara Jones and her intercessory prayer team, I don’t think we would be where we are. Finally Porter Taylor and Stefanie Rowinski have come alongside us to develop Adult Formation and assist in teaching.
instruction. Reading, trying to learn but not “compare” our situation to any other, and remaining honest, transparent, and vulnerable are necessary character traits for church planting. God reminds me each new day that theological terms like “incarnational” and “mission” are not punch lines, but a way of life. As a church planter, the stewardship of this congregation is very different than anything I’ve done before – being intentional to make us incarnational in mission must be at the forefront of every prayer, conversation, and decision so that it becomes embedded in our corporate DNA. CB: I’ve only been ordained as a priest for five years, and so church planting felt like being thrown into the deep end of a pool. I’m still learning to live into the office of priest, and to do so alongside Ellis is pure joy. He is my mentor and coach, and while we share gifts, we also complement each other, working as partners. Serving together as priests who are husband and wife is an incredible gift. I’m learning that new churches must “act their age,” as Ellis says. I tend to like quick if not immediate results, and patience doesn’t come naturally; so, this can be a challenge. I’m also learning the art of balance, the beauty of a holistic approach to life and ministry, and the importance of turning things off at the end of a day rather than letting COTA consume me. I believe church planters have to be highly intentional about the danger of burnout. Perhaps the biggest lesson is that we must – day in and day out – rely upon God and trust Him for the results. COTA is His, not ours, and He is always faithful. TM: How can the rest of the Diocese support you? Pray for you? CB: It’s a blessing to be part of a diocese that loves, connects, and cares for its clergy and people. A diocese with a missionary mindset is a true gift, as is Bishop Jim’s (Continued on page 12)
TM: What are you learning through being a church planter? About yourself? About ministry? About God? EB: I’ve learned (perhaps for the 1000th time) that bold prayer is the most effective and underutilized power we have at our disposal as Christians. I’ve also discovered that you can teach an “old dog new tricks,” but only with repeated Spring 2018
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Special Feature: Church Planting leadership – we are thankful for our partnership in the Gospel. We would be grateful for prayers for Holy Spirit wisdom, discernment, knowledge, and understanding to see and follow His vision for us and COTA. We also look forward to connecting so we can hear innovative or creative ideas and strategies. The very fact that Trinity Magazine is highlighting church planting is encouraging because it gives us an opportunity to read about what others in our diocese are doing. EB: The church planters’ call with the Bishop Jim is an encouragement I look forward to each month. Hearing from others in similar ministry is so important and having my bishop hear and pray for me is a great gift. Since we are not located in the geographic borders of the diocese, it would be meaningful to have an established congregation pray for us regularly since prayer connects and binds us together as nothing else can.
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The Village Church, Ambridge, PA Pastor: The Rev. David Ketter TM: How long have you been a part of the Diocese? DK: Been attending for 9 years & a clergy member for 6 of those 9. TM: Why did you want to plant a church? How were you called to your church plant? DK: I became interested in church planting as a member of another denomination while in college. Most of their pastors were expected to church plant, so I started praying, imagining, and preparing for church planting my sophomore year of college. God started forming vision for congregations that were intentionally in neglected, impoverished communities in that season.
TM: Tell us about the Ambridge area & how it informs the formation of your church. DK: The Village Church gathers in Crestview and Economy Village, a subsidized housing community in Ambridge, PA., arising out of a children’s outreach that was launched by Church of the Savior (Ambridge, PA) several years ago. Our community is highly transitional, impoverished, and frequently engaging children with little to no church background. Our weekly discipleship gathering is focused on narrative presentation of the Gospel and periodic “workshops” to practice basic Christian disciplines (various kinds of prayer, worship, the sacraments) together, and a meal together. We introduce elements of the liturgy gradually in a way that interprets the work of God’s grace in our midst (for example, baptism when a child expresses awareness of what Jesus has done for them; or the suffrages and Lord’s Prayer when seeing God’s concern for our whole lives). TM: How is it going with your church? What has been good lately? What is a struggle? DK: Church planting strategies are built on vision casting and strategic plans (which have to be held loosely). The Village Church continues to surprise. In 2016, we celebrated baptisms, began celebrating Holy Communion with our core group of discipleship, and started home discipleship with a family. The team has grown, and we have been blessed with periodic assistance from a Trinity seminarian and a youth group from St. John’s (Franklin, TN). We have much to be grateful for this year. The struggle for us is knowing the needs for discipleship in this community are bigger than our team. Our struggle continues to be growing a ministry team committed to sharing the love of Jesus in this community, through musical gifts, through home discipleship, through creating new relationships with youth and adults that can offer grace and good news to the poor. TM: Who in your congregation has been or is currently instrumental in fulfilling your congregation’s mission and vision & how are they doing so? DK: Our ministry team is “all hands on deck” in almost every respect and we share a number of responsibilities,
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including teaching. Cesiah Wicker, Jason Wilson, Evangelist Cyndi Burns (from Church Army), and Violet Murphy invest themselves sacrificially in this ministry. We work together in these discipleship relationships with the kids and facilitating our weekly discipleship opportunity on Tuesday evenings. The kids themselves are part of this effort too. Two in particular, Summer and Myracle, have been instrumental in bringing others in discipleship. Seven-year-old Summer does that by sharing stories of Jesus with her parents and little brother on a regular basis. Thirteen-year-old Myracle brings her friends to Tuesday evenings. Disciples make disciples, and it doesn’t matter if they are six years old or sixty, they are empowered by the Holy Spirit to proclaim Jesus right where they are. TM: What are you learning through being a church planter? About yourself? About ministry? About God? DK: Any ministry has a way of hitting all of your stressors. But in church planting, you carry your baggage on the street with you. You can’t hide your insecurities behind established rhythms and expectations like in a parish. But it’s let me be well-acquainted with my weak points, with gifts I don’t have (and need in team members), and also with the opportunity to trust in God against any external indications. Church planting defies reasonable expectations by showing you how a 6 year old leads her entire family into the life of faith. In this journey, God shows you how He builds the Church by using children to teach each other about grace and the power of prayer better than your own lesson plan could have. But the thing I’ve learned most? God’s grace is for me. As a planter, it’s easy to fall into the mindset that grace is for everyone else, and you as the planter are working to death, but God’s grace is for me, too. And His gifts and promises-of forgiveness, rest, renewal, and provision--are for me, too. TM: How can the rest of the Diocese support you? Pray for you? DK: (1) Partner with us! We hope to be able to engage the Village community in ministry that’s bigger than our team from time to time (ex: a VBS in the summer, or outreach around back-to-school season). We also are praying for God to add to our weekly ministry team (including those gifted for leading musically). I would welcome the opportunity to discuss and discern together with anyone who is exploring a call to serve in Ambridge. (2) Pray for discipleship across generations and families to expand in the Village, and for the core group of disciples we’re currently serving to grow. We desire to see God continue to bless this community with opportunities for baptism, and to grow towards weekly worship.
All Saints Anglican Church, Springfield, MO All Saints is just in the early, conceptual stages of planting a church in their local area. Their story might be brief, but Lord willing, not for long!
Pastor: The Rev. Eric Zolner TM: How long have you been a part of the Diocese? EZ: 1 year TM: Why did you want to plant a church? How were you called to your church plant? EZ: Currently there are very few ACNA churches in the state of Missouri, and yet there is a real hunger for traditional, liturgical worship. Our hope is to reach the people of Springfield and beyond with the love of Christ in the power and beauty of the Anglican tradition. TM: Tell us about the Springfield area & how it informs the formation of your church. EZ: Although nothing is set in stone yet we are looking at planing in the north part of Springfield. This area tends to be much more industrial and blue collar than our current location, so it will present a very different context than where we are now. Socio-economic issues will be much more at the forefront of those we are seeking to bring in, and fundraising will be significantly more challenging. TM: How is it going so far? What has been good lately/ bright spots? What is a struggle? EZ: We are still in the conceptual stage. We are working on raising Nathaniel Adkins up as a seasoned priest and preparing him to start forming a new congregation. We are also thinking through how to start small discipleship groups that will eventually help us to form a core group for our new congregation. TM: How can the rest of the Diocese support you? Pray for you? EZ: Pray for vision and discernment. n
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What a Wildly Wonderful World, God! By The Rev. Kenny Benge
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One of the icons hanging in my office at Church of the Redeemer is the periodic table of elements! As a young child, my curiosity took me in many different directions: exploring the natural world, collecting rocks, observing birds, and doing experiments. We in the Anglican tradition benefit in so many ways because our tradition is infused with a robust theology of creation. So, as both a pastor and a parent, I was excited to discover a biblically based curriculum with hands on activities and experiments to help elementary age children discover the wonder of the natural world!
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n October of 2012, a group of clergy and lay folks from St. John’s Anglican (Franklin, TN) and Church of the Redeemer (Nashville, TN) attended a creation care retreat at Laity Lodge in the Hill Country of Texas. A Rocha, a Christian conservation organization, facilitated the retreat. From this retreat, groups from Church of the Redeemer and St. John’s began adapting A Rocha’s Creation Care Camp curriculum for their contexts. Under their leadership, Creation Care Camp began to grow into a format ideal for elementary-aged children and adaptable for different places around the country. In May 2017, A Rocha released Wild Wonder, a new Creation Care Camp curriculum that came out of partnership with those churches and several others. It is the product of dozens of people, including scientists, pastors, practitioners, and theologians, thinking creatively about how to help kids connect with both nature and God. Year One, Wonder, is the first of four years of Wild Wonder curriculum and will be followed by themes of Care, Flourish, and Share. This first installment of curriculum is all about cultivating wonder over God’s good gifts of the Earth and turning that wonder into gratitude and praise. It’s centered around Psalm 104:24 (MSG):
“What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at your side, Made earth overflow with your wonderful creations.” Through daily devotions, nature study, and play, children learn that all of God’s works are good and that they themselves are beloved creations. Lessons and activities are designed to minister to the whole child—body, mind, and spirit. Children study the science of creation through experiments and observation, they spend time being still and listening for God’s voice, and they laugh, play and eat good food. Through strawberry DNA extraction, owl pellet dissection, daily devotions, Nature Breaks, and a Daily Feast time of breaking bread together and enjoying each other’s company, the lessons and activities not only spark curiosity but also move campers beyond wonder to gratitude and praise to the Father. Last summer, 20 churches around the country ran Wild Wonder, and more than 600 kids explored the works of a playful and imaginative creator as they learned about the one billion bacteria in a teaspoon of soil, that an octopus has three hearts, and that bees do a special dance to tell each other where the best nectar can be found.
One of the most significant elements of camp to come out of Redeemer is the Daily Feast, the Creation Care Camp version of snack time. We set a table with real tablecloths, cloth napkins, silverware, and good food (bread, fruit, cheese, etc.). Campers break bread together, pass food to one another, and enjoy each other’s company. This is not a rushed snack time, but, rather, an opportunity to gather at the table together and to experience the gifts of God—good food, a beautiful setting, and the company of each other. What a wildly wonderful world indeed. For more information about Wild Wonder and Creation Care Camp, visit arocha.us/camp. If you have questions, reach out to camp@arocha.us. Fr. Kenny Benge is the Prior (Associate Senior Pastor) at Church of the Redeemer in Nashville TN. Kenny grew up near Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Farmlands and oil fields provided the context for his early years and stimulated his interest in rock collecting, chemistry, birds and geography. He names Wendell Berry, T.F. Torrance and Eugene Peterson as significant theologians and practitioners in his thinking and ministry. Kenny loves the outdoors, is an avid birder and an enthusiastic reader. n
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D E E P E N I N G B I B L I C A L U N D E R S TA N D I N G
Lenten Readings Ruins of the Ancient Synagogue at Bar’am By MASQUERAID via Wikimedia Commons
By The Rev. Dr. Kirsten Gardner
Lenten Readings 2018: Gen 9:8-17; Gen 17:1-7, 15-16; Exod 20:1-17; Num 21:4-9; Jer 31:31-34
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3rd Sunday in Lent
ectionary readings are arranged intentionally, sharing topical and thematic contact across passages in the Old Testament, the Psalms, the Epistles, and the Gospel readings each Sunday. These weekly readings may further reflect a particular church season, being grouped into a Lenten or Advent series through multiple Sundays. This season we have the opportunity to observe the great intentionality with which these texts function together throughout a season.
his weapon, the bow (Ps 7:12-13; Hab 33:9-11) in the sky facing away from humanity.
Lent, a time of preparation and anticipation, is composed of five Sundays that lead to Palm Sunday and to Easter Sunday. The Old Testament readings for Year B appear to touch on a myriad of topics: Noah, Abraham, the Ten Commandments, a bronze snake in the desert, and a prophetic utterance given to Israel. Yet, when read sequentially these readings combine into a story arch that propels the reader toward the redemptive act of Christ’s incarnation, his death on the cross, and his glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday.
2nd Sunday in Lent
1st Sunday in Lent Genesis 9:8-17 narrates God’s covenant with Noah. It is the first “covenant” explicitly described as such in the OT. The covenantal language includes all of humanity (vv.9,11), the animal world (vv.10,12,15), and the earth (v.13). Such an agreement between a superior and an inferior party is often described as sealed with a ceremony; here, God sets
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“Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old?”
Following the covenant ceremony, and before the end of the chapter, Noah plants a vineyard, drinks to blackout, and his son Ham displays his father’s nakedness. While the chapter portrayed God’s changed attitude toward humanity and the created order, the ending of the chapter depicts the state of humanity as unchanged.
Genesis 17:1-7 again describes a covenant. Here, God covenants with Abram/Abraham, specifically, promising offspring (vv.6,7) and land (v.8). The new name signifies the new relationship and status; the wandering nomad and his progeny are to be rooted and established in the land. Like the covenant with Noah (Gen 9), this covenant is an everlasting covenant (vv.13, 19) not dependent upon human behavior but grounded in the will of God. God’s promise to be bound to Abraham and Abraham’s offspring ushers in the divine provision of religious laws (note the OT reading for the 3rd Sunday in Lent) and the establishment of a tabernacle sanctuary into which God comes to dwell amidst his people Israel (Ex 25-31,35-40). Following the narration of the covenant, the chapter goes on to describe Abraham (new name!) as falling on his face and laughing while in effect questioning God’s promises when saying to himself,
Exodus 20:1-17 narrates the Ten Commandments, the epitome of the covenant obligations toward God and neighbor (also Dt 5:6-21), given to Moses. John Durham observes: The Decalogue begins with Yahweh’s all-embracing statement that he has made himself Israel’s God. The autokerygmatic [lit. self-proclamation; here: what God says about himself] “I am Yahweh, your God, who brought you forth from the land of Egypt” describes Yahweh’s relationship with Israel as a gift of grace. The first commandment follows this statement, requesting of those who will make a response to Yahweh’s gift an undivided loyalty. This undivided loyalty is the foundation for the nine commandments that follow. (Exodus, WBC, 300) Covenantal obligation, thus, springs from the human response to the gift of grace inherent in God’s giving of himself. Exodus 20 is followed by eleven chapters that enumerate legal and religious provisions designed to shape and establish the nation of Israel as a people onto the Lord. Immediately following this text sequence, Exodus 32 narrates Israel’s infamous Golden Calf episode.
4th Sunday in Lent Numbers 21:4-9 tells of the growing discouragement which ensues from Israel’s long journey around Edom. Once again, the nation grumbles and this time the response on the part of Yahweh is
swift and deadly. Fiery snakes invade the camp. As Israel cries out to God (v.7), he provides a means by which those who have been bitten may be healed: Moses is instructed to make a serpent of bronze and to set it upon a pole for people to look at so that they may live (v. 9). Philip Budd cautions: “In this instance Moses did not institute a snake cult involving the offering of incense (2 Kgs 18:4), but an object to meet the needs of a specific crisis” (Numbers, WBC, 235). This then, is picked up by Jesus when foreshadowing the kind of death he is to suffer, for the salvation of all those who would believe in him, in conversation with Nicodemus, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life” (Jn 3:14-15).
5th Sunday in Lent Jeremiah 31:31-34 is formulated against the backdrop of Babylonian exile. The text interweaves the language of ancestral apostasy (v.33), and references to the failure of the knowledge of God throughout all of society (v.34) into the promise of a restored, future relationship between God and his people. In this future relationship, God will make a new covenant (32:38-40) inscribed in the hearts of his people (v.40). This will be an everlasting covenant (v.40). When reading these five texts sequentially, the reader is reminded of God’s self-giving faithfulness in the face of humanity’s continued apostasy as depicted throughout these texts. Yet, with the promise of a new covenant (Jer 31) the reader is simultaneously propelled forward to the anticipated resolution of this crisis as realized in the incarnation, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Lectionary intentionally arranged these readings to point beyond their immediate OT context to the greater Biblical context of the Christ event. Isn’t God’s Word amazing? Happy Easter! n
Coaching 101 Workshop Coming to Trinity School for Ministry What would the Church look like if its leaders discovered what God is calling them to do, and then do it?
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oaching raises the effectiveness of clergy and other leaders in their investment in others, and accelerates the goal-reaching process. Incorporate its skills into your personal and lay leadership development, and imagine the impact coaching could have on your congregation and community. Coaching 101—basic coach training for ministry leaders--is slated for April 13-14 at Trinity School for Ministry, Ambridge. You can register for the Friday evening and all-day Saturday workshop online at https://tinyurl.com/ CoachingTSM. Anchored Coaching, a ministry of the Titus Institute, is co-sponsoring the event with the seminary. Coaching 101 participants dig deep into the coaching process, explore techniques for asking powerful questions, practice being an active listener, and leave prepared to coach others at a basic, and effective, level. Here’s what some diocesan leaders have said about coaching’s impact on their ministries: “Coaching has been the single most helpful thing for me in ministry in the past two years. [My coach] helps me to ask questions and to seek answers about the ‘big picture’ of my ministry that I do not talk about regularly with church leaders. Our time together has truly propelled me in ministry.”
“Coaching gives me an objective person to bounce ideas off. It helps to think through ideas more thoroughly, which results in creating more coherent and strategic action plans for successful implementation. “ “One of the greatest challenges in ministry is staying focused in the face of distractions and competing expectations. Coaching has helped me to name and own the vision, and focus my energy and time on the important in the face of the urgent. It has also helped me to use my creativity much more effectively in that process.” The registration fee is $75. (Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh leaders and Trinity School for Ministry seminarians pay a discounted fee of $65.) Attendees will receive a Coaching 101 book by Bob Logan and Tara Miller, slide notebook, and snacks. Participants can enjoy lunch on their own at any of a number of local Ambridge eateries. Don’t wait to register! Both of last year’s coach training workshops were sold out. This workshop is open to anyone interested in developing coaching skills, but is a prerequisite for Titus’ Coach Certification candidates. Questions should be sent to Jenni Bartling, Anchored Coaching’s Ministry Director, by emailing jenni@ tituschurchplanting.org. n
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News from Across the Diocese
New, Simplified Diocesan Grant & Loan Application Process By The Rev. Don Bushyager
The Diocese exists for the benefit of the Congregations and Clergy of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh. We serve you on a ministry level, through leadership gatherings like the Clergy Retreat or Discipleship Symposium, for example, and on an operational level, like the provision of property, workers compensation, dental and vision insurance plans for clergy and lay employees.
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he Diocese is also the place where a congregation or clergy person can come if there is a financial need. However, in my time as Administrator I have been told that the process to make requests for funds from the Diocese can be very confusing. Also, with the establishment of the Archbishop Duncan Legacy Fund, there have been many questions as to what funds may be available and who might be eligible for them. With this in mind, a taskforce was established in early 2017 to chart a course for the future method for making requests, adjudicating the distribution of funds and providing for the long-term sustainability of these benefits to the diocesan family. I’m happy to announce that a simplified online application is now provided on the web site (paper copies can be downloaded from the website or by calling the Diocesan office). This application will start the ball rolling and depending on the request, additional information may be required – but be assured that I and the Diocesan staff will do all we can to rapidly determine if your needs can be met through a loan or grant from diocesan funds. So, for what can a congregation seek a loan or grant: 1. Assistance in funding building repairs, enhancements or purchase. 2. Assistance in funding new ministry initiatives such as starting a new program (youth, music, outreach, etc.) or assisting in funding a new position (Youth Leader, Worship Leader, Administrator, Nursery Supervisor, etc.) 3. Assistance in funding the calling of a Curate 4. Seed Money for a Church Plant Depending on the circumstances, congregational grants may be a one-time lump sum or periodic payments for one, two or three years. Loans are generally for no longer than 5 years.
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Clergy can ask for grants for: 1. Coaching or leadership training 2. Assistance in funding sabbatical expenses 3. Long term health needs Clergy grants will be either one-time lump sums or payable periodically for one year. Coaching and leadership training grants may be considered for renewal annually. Clergy with immediate or emergency financial needs should contact the Bishop or the Canon for Clergy Health, The Rev. Canon Jonathan Millard directly. Over the past several years grants and loans have been made to congregations for building repairs and enhancements (roof repair, HVAC renovations, nursery and youth room refurbishing, stair lift installation, etc.), new ministry initiatives (assist in hiring youth minister, worship leader, Curate, administrator, etc.), church planting activities. Clergy have received grants for leadership coaching, and sabbatical assistance. The Rev. Elaine Storm, Rector at Mosaic Church recently betatested this new process for us. “I am grateful to be a part of a Diocese that is able to come alongside the local church in many ways,” she says. “I found the process to be clear and concise. The Diocesan office communicated with me throughout the process, initially to state the request was received and the next steps involved in applying for the grant.” If you would like to begin the process, visit our website at http://www.pitanglican.org/grant-application Looking forward to continuing to serve you. n About the Author: The Rev. Don Bushyager is the Diocesan Administrator and CFO.
New Addition to Diocesan Staff
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eginning this past January, Deacon Joanne Martin has been added to the Diocesan Staff as Deacon for Special Projects. Joanne was ordained a deacon June 10, 2017. She is assisting the Bishop with special projects and new ministry initiatives. The first of these is coordinating the Barnabas Team, a ministry of encouragement in which a team of deacons and priests visit congregations on the bishop’s behalf between the annual episcopal visits. She has enjoyed visiting around the diocese and getting to know congregations that are new to her. Upon reflecting on this new season of ministry Joanne said, “I was told a few years ago to ‘pay attention to surprise, because surprise is often the hallmark of where God is working.’ This has certainly been true in my life. The Lord has worked in many surprising ways, the opportunity to work with the Bishop being the most recent! Shortly before entering the discernment process, I was asked to write a ‘Great Purpose’ statement for my life. Mine was: ‘to be a creative, deployment resource for the kingdom of God in the areas of healing and discipleship.’ I have been surprised by the new and creative ways God has called me to live this out in the past six months.” Another surprise has been how the Lord has been opening up the arts as an avenue of worship and service. She likes to sing, write poetry, work with glass and plaster, and her goal for the year (outside of ministry) is to take drawing and stained-glass classes. Joanne works with the Bishop two days per week. She is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and serves as a counselor/spiritual director in her own practice. Joanne has a Master’s in Public Administration, a Master’s in Social Work, and a Master of Arts in Religion. She has been surprised and grateful since ordination to see how God is weaving all three of these backgrounds into ministry. Joanne has served on the Commission on Ministry since 2009. Joanne was ordained out of Church of the Ascension where she attended for 23 years. She currently worships and serves at Redeemer North Boroughs, a church plant in Bellevue. n
Bishop Hobby Appoints The Rev. Tracey Russell as Canon for Youth Ministry
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ishop Jim Hobby is proud to appoint The Rev. Canon Teresa (Tracey) Russell as Canon for Youth Ministry. In this role Rev. Canon Tracey is seeking to bring together all clergy and lay members of the Diocese together who are actively involved in youth ministry in their congregations to share ideas and stories so together they can improve each congregation’s youth ministry. As she has developed this network, many youth ministers across the Diocese have reported to her how vital this role will be to them as they look for places to receive support and encouragement. If you have already been a part of or sent youth to the Diocesan Youth Gathering at the 2017 Annual Convention or the Provincial Canons in the ACNA, by in Youth Gathering at 2017 Provincial large, are priests who work with Assembly, you are already familiar a diocesan Bishop to oversee with Rev. Canon Tracey’s work and oversee some aspect of as she has been instrumental in the mission and ministry of the organizing and leading both of diocese. What they oversee and those events. She is also a member support is often included of The Young Anglicans Project in their title; for example, Canon and the Visitor’s Board of Trinity for Youth Ministry or Canon for School for Ministry. She previously Clergy Health. The title Canon to was a school board member of the Ordinary indicates that the Rhema Christian School in Moon priest works with the Bishop to Twp., PA. oversee the whole life of the diocese. Tracey has been actively ministering to youth for over 16 years. She began her work at a small parish in Rhode Island, and helped plant Seeds of Hope Anglican Church in the Bloomfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh. She currently serves as the Youth Minister at Christ Church in Fox Chapel, PA since 2012. Rev. Canon Tracey was ordained a priest in the Anglican Church by the Most Rev. Robert Duncan, Archbishop Emeritus of the Anglican Church in North America, in January of 2011. Tracey graduated from Trinity School for Ministry in 2009 with a Master’s of Divinity degree. While at seminary, she was the recipient of the Mike Henning Award for excellence in preaching, and also received the John Guest Award for Mission and Evangelism with her husband, Jamey. Their family includes 5 children: Conor, Lily, Jeremiah, Isaac and Hannah and a Corgi named Ein. n
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News from Across the Diocese
Launching St. Stephen’s Classical Academy By The Leadership of St. Stephen’s Church
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ou shall teach God’s words diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” (Deuteronomy 6:7).
students attend class four days per week for their core academic courses, and then do music, art, and sports in the wider community. Significantly, it’s a sustainable model that can be hosted at St. Stephen’s.
One of the central roles that God lays upon his church is to raise the next generation of worshipers. In the summer of 2017, Geoff Chapman, Rector of St. Stephen’s in Sewickley, gathered a network of pastors, parents, and educators to investigate new ways for the church to support Christian education as a way of fulfilling this call.
According to the co-leaders of the planning team, Associate Rector Steve Palmer and schoolteacher and administrator, Anna Conley, University Model schools have been springing up throughout the country. Based on their successes, St. Stephen’s Classical Academy has been built with five core values:
Geoff and his wife, Becca, helped found Trinity Christian School in Fairfax, Virginia in the 1980s in connection with their work at Truro Church. “In my experience at Truro, we found that when the home, the church, and the school were all leaning in the same direction, it was a powerful combination,” says Geoff. Geoff’s desire was to build on the decades of fruitful ministry of Noah’s Ark, St. Stephen’s pre-school and Kindergarten program; the challenge was figuring out how to start a school within the existing facilities and resources. The solution presented itself when the planning team discovered Sequitur Classical Academy, a classical Christian school that uses an innovative ‘University Model’ in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University Model is a hybrid of private education and homeschooling –
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• Virtuous Living: An education that values character formation; the Academy partners with parents to raise kids with Christ-like thinking and living. • Affordability: The Academy is less than half the cost of most private schools, putting it within range of many more families. • Academic Excellence: The classical model of education has a long record of intellectual fruitfulness. For instance, members of the Association of Classical Christian Schools (ACCS) outperform the SAT national average by over 300 points. • Lifelong Learning: The classical model of education emphasizes not only what to learn but how to learn. Students acquire the ‘tools of learning’ that enable them to flourish long-term, especially in an increasingly diverse and changing job market.
• Integration with the Community: The University Model is not a bubble for Christian kids, but intentionally sends them out into community programs. St. Stephen’s is already forming partnerships with the YMCA, Sweetwater Center for the Arts, Fern Hollow Nature Center, and more. This model has afforded new possibilities for many parents. “I was excited by the idea of getting to take part in my kids’ extracurricular activities, but still having professional teachers for academics,” says Melanie Finley. Others find the classical emphasis on the tools of learning to be appealing. Justin Bryan adds, “I like that the curriculum teaches kids to love learning and discovery for itself, and not only to pass exams.” St. Stephen’s Classical Academy intends to launch for the 2018-2019 school year with grades 1-3, and then add successive grades each year. Palmer stresses that classical Christian education is one answer among many to the discipleship question. “As a church, we honor all the different ways that our families choose to educate their kids – public, private, home school, and online. The Academy won’t fit for everyone, but it is one way that St. Stephen’s can, by God’s grace, train the next generation to love and serve their Lord.” The Academy has opened registration for the fall and is now accepting applications. Check out their website at www. ststephensacademy.net. n
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Clergy Transitions
Diocesan Calendar
n The Rev. Ethan Harrison was ordained to the priesthood on November 19, 2017 by Bishop James Hobby. He will begin serving as Associate Priest at Immanuel Anglican Church in Destin, FL.
n The Rev. Dr. Val Wano Finnell was licensed on October 11, 2017 to serve in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. n Nathaniel Adkins was ordained to the transitional diaconate by Bishop James Hobby on December 8, 2017. n The Rev. Claire Megles was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop James Hobby on December 16, 2017. n The Rev. Lauren Mara Scharf was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop James Hobby on January 27, 2018. n The Rev. Benjamin Hughes began serving as Priest-inCharge at South Side Anglican Church on January 31, 2018.
April 2018 through June 2018 April 2018 1 3 5 7-16 21 21-22 25 29
Easter Day Tuesday Thursday 2 Easter 4 Easter Wednesday 5 Easter
RESERVED Clergy Gatherings: Washington & Cranberry Twp. Clergy Gatherings: Greensburg & Fox Chapel Visitation(s): Nashville Deanery Nashville, Redeemer Franklin, St. John’s Deacon’s Convocation Visitation: Sewickley, St. Stephen’s Visitation: Johnstown, St. Matthew’s Visitation(s): Hopewell Twp., Prince of Peace South Side Anglican - PM
May 2018
2 3 5 6 8 8 13 20 27 30-6/4
Wednesday Thursday Saturday 6 Easter Tuesday Tuesday Ascension Sunday Pentecost Trinity Sunday Proper 4
Visitation: Georgetown, St. Luke’s Clergy Gatherings: Greensburg & Fox Chapel Discipleship Symposium Visitation: Ligonier, Epiphany Clergy Gatherings: Washington & Cranberry Twp. Diocesan Council Visitation: Oakland, Ascension Visitation: Christ Church Fox Chapel Visitation: Washington, Trinity Visitation: Fort Collins, CO, St. Thomas
June 2018
6 9 10 14 17 17-23 24
Wednesday Proper 5 Thursday Proper 6 Proper 7
Visitation: Templeton, St. Mary’s Diaconal Ordinations Visitation: Charleroi, St. Mary’s Standing Committee RESERVED GAFCON, Jerusalem RESERVED
Thank You TRINITY Donors Barbara Costa Angelo Dorazio Bob Fleming
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Br. Kirt Gerber OSB Larry Hitchins Dennis Miller
The Rev. Langdon Pegram, MD Yong Say Tan Savani Robert Schoyer
MAMA’S MUSINGS
Messy Growth By the Rev. Shari Hobby
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 1 Corinthians 4:16-18
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s I write this, delivery is being made of new tile and carpet for our home, following the pipe burst flood we experienced in January. The drying up process has been completed as has the packing up of all the small things and bookcase contents. When it is all installed, it will be wonderful! I will revel in it! And, then, glory be, order will be restored! Our house will be better than it was before this unexpected interruption. But, in the process, it’s a mess, a challenge to our normally preferred order. Maybe you, too, have had experienced some kind of mess as well, in route to something much better. Isn’t that the case with so many things in life? As I get things out for a new project, it tends to get messier before it gets resolved, planned, or checked off my “to do” list. Dinner preparation can make such a mess in the process of it becoming a shared feast! As I wade through any kind of confusion in the events of my life, it often takes time before things make more sense. But, I hold on to the hope, better is coming! The Children of Israel left the challenging back-breaking familiarity of Egypt to wander in the desert. I’m sure that at times the Promised Land was even hard for them to imagine. The path the Lord took them through was not the most direct route possible. Why did he do that? Was there something they needed to learn about following the Lord, that was a long-term
project in their lives and hearts? What did the Lord know about them that they didn’t know about themselves? How is he doing that same work in me? Over and over, the direction of our lives has not looked neat and tidy. In fact, as Jim and I were reflecting about the surprise call to Pittsburgh, every move we’ve ever made has not been the preferred reality of our limited perspective. In that we join a multitude of God’s people. For instance, “Leave home and go to the land I will show you, Abraham.” “Lead my people out of Egypt, Moses.” “Don’t be afraid or discouraged, Joshua.” “Fight thousands of Philistines with only 300 men, Gideon.” “Say hard words to my people, Isaiah.” “Have my baby out of wedlock, Mary.” “Head to Jerusalem and the cross, Jesus.” I am encouraged that “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known,” 1 Corinthians 13:12. I don’t have to have it all figured out right now, but can trust the One who is guiding me. And, as I have looked back, the messy times have led to new life and growth. I’m not sure that the mess of life will ever be my preferred reality, but I can choose to cooperate with the process and trust that the Lord has something better in mind than I have any idea about in my current reality. And, that, my friends really IS my preferred reality. n
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