Turning Vision into Reality: Episcopal Diocese of West Texas A Congratulatory and Visionary Dinner Part of our work in the Development Program has been to live into being a people of vision.
Bishop Gary Lillibridge addressed guests attending a May 20, 2008 dinner to celebrate the success of the Diocese’s recent fundraising efforts, as follows. “Being the Body of Christ has many responsibilities. It is certainly more than just Sunday morning church. It is following Christ out into the world, the world that He loves and died for.
When I was the archdeacon under Bishop Folts, we began a program, and one of the Scriptures used for that program was, ‘Where there is no vision the people perish’ (Proverbs 29:18).
August, 2008 communities, and, in a nutshell, to leave the Diocese and perhaps Inside this even parts of the wider Issue: world in better shape than we found them. The Development A Congratulatory 1Program is a tangible and Visionary 2 result of a vision. It Dinner was Bishop Folts‟ vision so many years ago that put us on this path. Phase I: 1(continued pg. 2)
The Development Program of the Diocese of West Texas is part of a vision—to make sure the Diocese of West Texas not only survives, but thrives. First and foremost, we are out to change peoples‟ lives. We are out to offer hope and spiritual renewal in our
Tom and Pat Frost.
Phase I: A Resounding Success Phase I—the first major gift campaign sponsored by the diocese—was launched in 1999. By the time of its conclusion in 2003, the campaign had secured $12,100,000 in gifts and pledges for six key diocesan projects. A. Baker Duncan was instrumental in the
success of Phase I. On May 20, Baker made the following remarks: “We have had the diocese on our minds for a long time. We tried to move from a place of scarcity to a place of abundance. We know you feel restricted in what you do, when there
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is not enough money, and you don‟t do very much. In fact, what you do is “maintain.” In the past five years we‟ve tried to figure out what the needs of this diocese are and find the money to take care of them. It was not an easy process. (continued pg. 2)
A Resounding Success
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Six Projects Funded by Phase I
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The Road Ahead: Phase II
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A Congratulatory and Visionary Dinner (continuation) The best way to transform a community is by transforming individual people within that community. When you can reach out to people and touch them individually, then communities begin to be changed. Bishop James Folts with Flora Crichton.
Ed and Bonnie Longcope with Lyon Brinsmade.
We are people who are faithful to the vision we have to improve our communities and build up the Kingdom of Heaven, the Body of Jesus Christ. Our call is to our neighbor.
When we were born into our families, we were creatures of dependency, dependent upon someone else to do everything for us. When we are born, we are the beneficiaries of what someone else has provided in terms of the legacy that we inherit, in our church, families and in other ways.
As the Lord himself told us, when we reach out to our neighbors we are touching Christ himself.
Over the span of our lifetimes, if we are serious about making a contribution, we begin to move from being simply beneficiaries to being benefactors for the next generation.
As you have done it to the least of these, my brother, you have done it unto me.
It is a blessing to be a part of such a program in the Diocese of West
Texas, and a blessing to be the caretaker of high holy things such as our ministries. We are grateful for your support.”
“Over the span of our lifetimes … we begin to move from being simply beneficiaries to being benefactors.” Bishop Gary Lillibridge
Phase I: A Resounding Success (continuation)
Baker and Sally Duncan with Bishop Earl McArthur.
We looked at 105 dioceses across the United States —not many doing very well. Those that did well had money, often endowment. Jim Folts said, „If we are going to do anything, we need to have some money.‟ So, he put together a Development Board, and said, „Start thinking about the needs of this Diocese,‟ and he never let us get off track. Tom Frost in his wisdom said, „Look at it this way, we can do something now, we can do something next, and we can do something later.‟ So, that is where we began. The „now‟ was $11,700,000, when we had never raised more than $4,000,000 in any one drive. With God‟s help that was raised. The „next‟ is $18,700,000, and that is in process.
Jill Smith, David and Paula Robinson.
The need is always bigger than we can imagine, it is always past our individual capacity, but it has never been bigger than God. We are lucky to be about God‟s work. We are fortunate to have a challenge of this diocese in front of us, and Bishop Lillibridge is a bishop of abundance, not of scarcity. That is a gift. We all need to participate.”
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Six Projects Funded by Phase I The diocese‟s Phase I fundraising campaign met and exceeded its $11,700,000 goal thanks to the tireless efforts of members of the Development Board and the generosity of many individuals, families, foundations and congregations, ultimately raising $12,100,000 in gifts and pledges. To each of them we owe our sincere thanks. Bishop Jones Center Phase I contributors enabled the diocese to restore Chapel House at Bishop Jones Center in San Antonio, and to create Cathedral Court, Pergola of Hope, and the Chapel House Gardens (www.dwtx.org).
Chapel House at Bishop Jones Center.
Camp Capers Located near the town of Waring on the Guadalupe River (near Comfort, Texas), Camp Capers has provided lasting memories of Christian summer camp for youth of all ages, for over 50 years. Phase I funded a new arts and crafts building (www.campcapers.org). Good Samaritan Community Services Founded in 1951 in San Antonio, Good Samaritan is a neighborhood center that provides comprehensive services to over 6,000 low-income individuals and 1,800 families annually. The highly successful Get2Work Project provides workforce development for youth ages 14 to 21, and has been expanded into the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Phase I provided an endowment to sustain long-term operations (www.goodsamaritancommunityservices.org).
Good Samaritan Community Services children enjoying Camp Capers.
Mustang Island Conference Center Phase I supported the construction of a Center for meaningful retreat and contemplation on land donated by the Alice Ann and Jerry Fischer family, located just south of Corpus Christi on the Gulf Coast. The center is a venue for families seeking to strengthen their ties with one another, religious groups of all denominations, and non-profit organizations serving a diverse array of worthy causes (www.mustangisland.org). New Church Starts We are spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ by helping to fund the construction of new churches with the financial support of Phase I contributors. South Texas is one of the fastest growing regions of Texas and the nation, and the diocese is positioning itself to meet the challenges ahead. TMI—The Episcopal School of Texas Founded in 1893, TMI is a co-educational college preparatory school for students in grades six to twelve. Students participate in a demanding program designed to develop the whole person spiritually, intellectually, physically, and morally. Contributors to Phase I provided a boarding student scholarship endowment, Bailey Hall (a new residence hall), and a maintenance endowment (www.tmi-sa.org).
Mustang Island Conference Center.
TMI—The Episcopal School of Texas.
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The Road Ahead: Phase II
Camps and Conferences. New funding will help improve the Activities Building and the Dining Hall at Camp Capers.
Christ Chapel. Adjacent to Texas State University, San Marcos, Christ Chapel will bring the Christian tradition to contemporary life and will enable us to train future leaders in ministry in partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Bartell Zachry.
During the May 20 appreciation dinner that formally brought Phase I fundraising activities to a conclusion—and announced Phase II—Bartell Zachry noted: “I don‟t know any business that isn‟t looking forward to some kind of growth. You simply can‟t stand still. If you ever stop, you go backwards. Look at this diocese and the enormous growth it is experiencing. That is the business we are about, addressing the needs of a growing constituency.” Phase II will build upon the success of our first major gift effort. With a goal of $18,700,000, the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas has already secured $7,032,104 in gifts and pledges toward Phase II, which includes the following:
Good Samaritan Community Services. Funding will enable five additional locations to be opened in regions across the diocese. Mustang Island Conference Center. Two new guest housing units, a new office and director‟s housing will be provided to meet increased demand for use of the Center.
New Church Starts. Gifts will be sought for church land acquisitions and a “revolving fund” for moving churches needing new locations.
TMI—The Episcopal School of Texas. Funding for second and third
Peter Hossenlopp and James Avery.
residence halls, a 500-seat chapel, and endowment funds for tuition aid form the basis of this fundraising effort. The goal has already been met and exceeded. We invite you to be part of the continuing mission work of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas. Thank you.
Alice Heldenfels Sallee and Dan Butt.
Episcopal Diocese of West Texas 111 Torcido Drive (P.O. Box 6885), San Antonio, Texas 78209 210-824-5387 or 888-824-5387 Episcopal Diocese of West Texas website: www.dwtx.org Episcopal Church Foundation in West Texas website: www.foundation-dwtx.org Newsletter by Carolyn M. Appleton, CFRE. May 20 photographs by Charles Parish.