Texas Episcopalian Nov 2010

Volume 113, No. 9

Houston, Texas

November 2010

St. James’, Austin, Living a “Sticky” Gospel

Bishop Rayford High announces his retirement, page 2.

St. James’ leaders share stories in oral history project. Pictured are (l-r): Ora Houston, Mary Lou Adams, Reuben McDaniel, Georgetta Maderas-Bryant and Catherine Thomas-Petite. Steven Tomlinson not pictured.

Photo: Bob Kinney

By Bob Kinney

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fter 16 African-American students and faculty from Huston-Tillotson College in Austin could not find a hospitable Episcopal church in which to worship during the 1940s, they decided to start their own.

Sixty-some years later, several parishioners shared stories of how St. James’ grew for an oral history/video project envisioned by the Rev. Reggie Payne-Wiens, St. James’ rector. Karen Hartwell, an active member of the 450-member East Austin church, organized the video project.

“At St. James’ it is important for us to share our heritage with all who come after us,” Payne-Wiens said. “We believe this is one of the primary ways that we can extend our mission of being a church community that will always welcome those who are not welcomed anywhere else.”

The interviewees recalled stories stretching back to the 1950s, shared how they feel about their parish and recapped what they have done over the years to grow their church.

Remembering the discrimination they once experienced, parishioners opened their church doors to all from the beginning. “We who were once rejected will reject no one, not even those who have rejected us,” recalled Ora Houston,

who first joined St. James’ in 1959. “Here at St. James’ we have a four-legged Episcopal stool – hospitality, ministry, liturgy/music and healing,” said Houston, who has been active in parish, diocesan and General Convention work for decades.

“At St. James’ there are very rich people and there are very poor people and there are people of all colors and all languages. There are gay, straight, Republicans and Democrats. It is not a very stable mix of people, but somehow the thing that brings us there is very sticky, and so we stay,” said Steven Tomlinson, a graduate school professor and playwright. When Tomlinson first came to St. James’ in 1991, he describes that sticky force he felt – “This feels like the gospel to me. This feels like God’s love in action. I want to be part of this.”

St. James’ members “have reached out to all because they have been touched. The AfricanAmerican roots of their church are a source of compassion, welcome and fellowship. Above all, it provides a sense of home to share with all,” said Dr. Reuben McDaniel, University of Texas professor and chair of health care management. He credited his spouse Myra, who died earlier this year, with being the family member who contributed mightily to her parish for 35 years.

Wishing to honor the work See St. James’, Austin, page 11

INSIDE Bishops’ Calendars......................... 20 Bishop’s Column.............................. 2 Calendar of Events......................... 10

National & International..... 14-18 Parish News............................ 4-9 Sam Todd’s Column..................19 1

Features: Human Trafficking ..................................5 Sport, Obsession or Secret .....................12 Texas Episcopalian

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Atheists & the Apostles’ Teaching

Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers?

For more than thirty years Episcopalians have been regularly answering this question from The Baptismal Covenant with the response, “I will, with God’s help.”

In the matter of at least the apostles’ teaching, it would appear that even God’s help has not been sufficient to motivate many Episcopalians to become conversant with their own faith tradition.

The Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life recently issued the results of its first U. S. Religious Knowledge survey. This survey measured a number of aspects of religious life, including Americans’ knowledge of their own belief systems and denominations.

The amazing finding of this study is that “atheists and agnostics know more about religion than the average American.” Next are Jews, Mormons, evangelical Protestants, Catholics, and then main-line Protestant denominations.

The researchers’ conclusions about these results focus on the fact that atheists and

agnostics have come to their decisions after serious study of the various forms of religious belief and practice. Those scoring lower are not so intentional about study and ongoing faith development.

Any parish priest can outline the difficulties of attracting adult learners to ongoing Christian formation. The fact seems to be that for many people graduation from Sunday School as a child, or the reception of Confirmation, meant graduation from the study of scripture, theology, history, or any of the other disciplines that shape our faith.

As an antidote to this situation, I invite you to spend some time with a document called “The Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation.” You can find the entire document online at http://www.formationcharter.com/Services.html.

The Charter is the work of Christian formation professionals from around The Episcopal Church, including our own Janie Stevens, Missioner for Christian Formation, and has been adopted by the General Convention of The Episcopal Church.

It is a very rich resource built around the conviction that God invites, inspires and transforms all people. It defines lifelong Christian faith formation as “lifelong growth in the knowledge, service and love of God as followers of Christ. . . informed by Scripture, Tradition, and Reason.”

It affirms the premise of The Baptismal Covenant that the apostles’ teaching is embedded in prayer and worship

(Book of Common Prayer, page 304) within the community.

It is not only study and learning which form us, but also our worship, our service to the world and our personal prayer and reflection about our Christian lives.

It is no accident that Jesus was known as “Rabbi” or “Teacher” to his first followers. The foundation of teaching Bishop Suffragan Dena Harrison which he offered them made it possible for God to be at work within them and through them. They understood no faith which existed apart from this ongoing learning, worship, and fellowship.

Growth in faith and wisdom is always the gift of God. Growth in knowledge is something we can seek, trusting that God will use our study to open us to new dimensions of faith and service.

The Rt. Rev. Dena A. Harrision Bishop Suffragan of Texas

Bishop High Announces Retirement The Rt. Rev. Rayford B. High, Jr., announced his retirement at the annual diocesan clergy conference October 25 at Camp Allen. Bishop High, who will be 70 in April 2011, told the more than 300 clergy gathered that his decision had been difficult and that his 44 years of ministry in the Diocese of Texas held many blessings for both he and his wife Pat. He has served as bishop suffragan for seven years.

“Each day I offer thanks to the Lord for calling me into ministry, first as deacon, then priest, and now as bishop. I am deeply humbled by God’s call and God’s continuing strength and presence in my life and ministry. What a blessing it has been for me, Pat and my family to service Christ and Christ’s Church and people,” Bishop High said.

There will be no election for a new suffragan bishop following Bishop High’s retirement April 30, 2011, Bishop Andy Doyle said. “I have asked the Standing Committee to allow me to appoint an assisting bishop and have received their consent. I will ask Council delegates to approve the request in February,” he said.

“We have been blessed by Rayford and Pat’s ministry among us and we will celebrate that at Council at a special reception following the opening Eucharist, February 11,” Bishop Doyle said.”

Registration for the reception will be separate from Diocesan Council registration. Details will be included in the Diolog, the diocesan enews.

The Texas Episcopalian (since 1897) is an official publication of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.

Mission: In the name of Jesus Christ, the Texas Episcopalian seeks to inform the people in the diocese of events and philosophies which affect the mission and life of the Church.

Publisher: The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle Editor: Carol E. Barnwell, cbarnwell@epicenter.org Layout: LaShane K. Eaglin, leaglin@epicenter.org The Texas Episcopalian (ISSN# 1074-441X) is published monthly except July and August for $15 a year by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, 1225 Texas Ave., Houston, TX 77002-3504. Periodical postage paid at Houston, Texas. Deadline is the 10th of the month preceding publication. Articles, editorials and photos should be submitted to the editor at the above e-mail address. Photos will not be returned. Address changes can be made at www.epicenter.org/infochange.

Postmaster: Address changes: THE TEXAS EPISCOPALIAN, 1225 Texas Ave., Houston, TX 77002-3504

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162nd Diocesan

Council

Nominations

Please download (from www.epicenter.org) and complete the nomination form at right and mail to the following address by November 6, 2010: The Rev. Janice Jones, Grace Episcopal Church, 1314 E. University Ave., Georgetown, TX 78626. All nominations must be received by mail as they require original signatures.

Additionally, please e-mail a recent photograph and a 5075 word biographical sketch for publication online, highlighting why you would like the position and believe you are qualified to: nominations@epicenter.org.

Treasurer of the Diocese Secretary of the Diocese Standing Committee (1 lay, 1 clergy) Executive Board (3 lay, 2 clergy) Trustee of the Church Corporation (1 lay or clergy) Trustee of the University of the South (1 clergy) The year before each National Convention the following are elected (Convention occurs every three years. The next Convention will be held in 2012.)

Provincial Synod Delegates - clergy (4 delegates, 4 alternates) Provincial Synod Delegates - lay (4 delegates, 4 alternates) National Convention Deputies - clergy (4 delegates, 4 alternates) National Convention Deputies - lay (4 delegates, 4 alternates)

Constitution & Canons

COUNCIL INFORMATION

Nominations Form 162nd Diocesan Council, The Woodlands Texas, February 11-12, 2011 The Episcopal Diocese of Texas (Please print or type)

Full Name:_____________________________________________________________ Position Sought:_________________________________________________________ Address (city and zip):_____________________________________________________

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Phone (home):_________________________(work):_____________________________ Fax:___________________________E-mail:__________________________________ Congregation:__________________________________________________________ Education and Employment:_________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________ Church (local and diocesan) and Community Service:_______________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

Diocesan

Council

_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

Any delegate to the 2011 Diocesan Council wishing to propose an amendment to the Constitution or Canons of the Diocese of Texas should submit a written copy of the proposed amendment by e-mail or facsimile, on or before November 15, 2010, to Maria Wyckoff Boyce, chair of Constitution and Canons Committee.

E-mail address is maria.boyce@bakerbotts.com; fax number is 713.229.2722.

Other (anything you would like to add):_________________________________________

Resolutions

Signature of Nominee:_____________________________________________________

Resolutions for the 162nd Council of the Diocese of Texas must be received in the mail by the Rev. Bert Baetz no later than November 15, 2010. Please mail all resolutions to: The Rev. Bert Baetz, 2128 Barton Hills Drive, Austin, Texas 78704.

The original resolution must be signed by an official delegate or alternate to either the 161st or 162nd Councils of the Diocese of Texas. Please include three copies of the resolution with the original.

Note that the committee for Resolutions can make changes to the form (not content) of a resolution received so that all resolutions meet the standard form. The mover of the resolution will be notified if changes are made. For more information about the committee for Resolutions or the resolution process, please refer to Canon 2, Section 1 of the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of Texas or contact Baetz at 512.444.1449.

_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

Nominated by:__________________________________________________________ IMPORTANT: Please complete this form and mail to the following address by November 6, 2010: The Rev. Janice Jones, Grace Episcopal Church, 1314 E. University Ave., Georgetown, TX 78626. All nominations must be received by mail as they require original signatures.

Additionally, e-mail a recent photograph and a 50-75 word biographical sketch, written in the first person, highlighting why you would like the position and believe you are qualified to fill it.

E-mail to: nominations@epicenter.org. These will be used online and at pre-council meetings.

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PARISH NEWS

New Horizon Set for Special Needs Children

Ashley Swaty (r) helps Tyler Jones with a building project with Patricia Billiot, a Home Depot supervisor.

By Luke Blount

L

ori and Tom Ferazzi were out of options. For years, they searched for the best educational opportunities for their son, Eric, who has Down syndrome, but every road was a dead end. Their journey eventually led home to their church, Good Shepherd, Friendswood, where their rector, the Rev. Jim Nelson helped them found the Horizon School.

Public schools try to accommodate children with special needs, but the Ferazzis didn’t see Eric reaching his potential there. They scouted private schools, but were met with waiting lists. In 2009, Eric had been on one waiting list for more than seven years.

“Lori had a lot of sleepless nights over things she could not control,” Tom said. “We just needed an alternative.”

After the decision to start The Horizon School for children with Down syndrome or similar developmental delays, they sought classroom space in area private schools but were turned away.

The Ferazzis were hopeful after spoke to Nelson about space at Good Shepherd where they had been members for eight years. Nelson loved the idea but wanted to give the pre-school an opportunity to express their thoughts since students would share some space.

“There was a presentation to the parents, but contrary to what I would have anticipated, the anxiety was about why we couldn’t have more interaction between the schools,”

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Nelson said. “And that was a delight for me to hear.”

In August 2009, The Horizon School began classes adjacent to the Good Shepherd School. The two schools share chapel time every day, and every fourth week, Horizon School students lead the service for the pre-school children.

The Horizon School also offers their students other opportunities to lead and discover through actions. Students take drama and music classes, practice yoga, volunteer with Meals on Wheels, and even take a regular sailing trip through the Heart of Sailing Foundation.

“We wanted more community-based instruction,” Tom said. “Hopefully what you end up with is for each child to be able to get a job and be a little bit more independent.”

As The Horizon School became more involved around Good Shepherd, the community also changed and adjusted.

“I have seen a difference in the sense of pride we have in housing The Horizon School,” Nelson said. “One of the benefits that people with Down syndrome bring to a community is a wonderful innocence that God adores and continues to keep in front of them. It puts things in perspective.”

Now in its second year, The Horizon School Lori and Eric Ferazzi serves four children under the supervision of

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teacher, Ashly Swaty. Although the tuition is less than some other private school options, there are currently five children on the waitlist to get in because their families can’t afford to send them.

“We want to institute a lower sliding scale or some type of scholarship program to make this accessible to everybody,” Tom said. “We want diversity in the school.”

The school has had successful fundraisers ranging from selling pajamas to hosting a golf tournament, and they are always looking for ideas.

For the Ferazzis, the issue of funding is just another obstacle to overcome.

“Over the years there have been struggles with Eric having heart surgery and choking issues, but the hardest thing we have had to deal with is the education system,” Lori said. “We didn’t understand why no one could see the potential in our child, and now The Horizon School has given us hope. That’s what we want to give back to these parents.”

“When you have a child with special needs you do ask ‘why God, why me’,” she said. “I truly believe this is the reason why.”

PARISH NEWS

Human Trafficking is Modern Day Slavery English Parliament just three days before his death. Ironically, the slave trade industry today is more prolific than it ever was in Wilberforce’s time. Today’s horror is not the trafficking of slaves from Africa, but rather the trafficking of young girls and boys around the world into the sex slave industry and forced labor. Human trafficking is modern day slavery in its most brutal form. It is the second largest criminal industry in the world, after weapons and illegal drug trade, and it is the fastest growing. While it once was thought to be a problem beyond America’s borders, the truth is very different.

According to Shared Hope International as many as 100,000 to 300,000 American children are victimized into prostitution each year. Twenty-five percent of all human trafficking victims are in Texas, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. And research shows the average age of entry into prostitution in the United States is 12-13 years old. Houston has about 6,000 runaways annually and an estimated one out of every three children who run away is lured into sex trafficking within 48 hours of leaving home.

While the exact numbers are difficult to obtain, all agencies agree on one very troubling fact: human trafficking is by far the fastest-growing criminal enterprise and profit is the motive because, unlike drugs or guns that are sold once, a person can be used over and over again. That is why so many criminals are moving from dealing drugs or guns to the sex trade and human Photo by Carol E. Barnwell

E L A S R O F T O N

By Nikki Richnow

W

illiam Wilberforce devoted his life to abolishing the African slave trade and witnessed the passage of the Slavery Abolition Act by the

Girl Scout Betters Local Arts Center to Earn Gold Award Girl Scout Senior Sara Ruffing, a member of St. Christopher’s, Houston, held a dance clinic for underprivileged children to earn the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can achieve. Less than five percent of girls who join Girl Scouts earn

this recognition.

“I learned that leadership skills are very important to have and that they will be great assets in my career,” Ruffing said.

Earning the Gold Award is a significant honor that requires recipients to demonstrate outstanding leadership skills, career planning, community involvement and personal development. It takes more than 100 service hours and

trafficking. As a result of this problem a statewide Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force was designated by the Texas Legislature in 2009 to develop policies and procedures to assist in preventing and prosecuting human trafficking crimes.

A group of women from St. John the Divine, Houston, and others in the community have identified two goals: 1) to bring awareness of the issue, education and volunteerism to the broader Christian community, and 2) to be involved in the establishment of the first safe haven in Houston for domestic minor trafficked girls where they can receive long-term rehabilitation by addressing their medical, educational and spiritual needs as well as life and job skills thus restoring their human freedom.

To address the first goal of awareness and education, St. John the Divine hosted a Human Trafficking Awareness night on Wednesday, October 13. The event included speakers from three leading organizations dealing with the issue of human trafficking in Houston: Children at Risk; Houston Rescue and Restore and Free the Captives. The second goal is being addressed by interfacing with other organizations to help establish the first safe house in Houston for domestic minor victims of sex trafficking. Children at Risk has just announced that they have established a “Safe House Now” Task Force and are pursuing a public/private partnership to develop a safe house in Houston that will serve as a model for other communities in Texas and nationally. For more information or to help establish a safe house, contact: Nikki Richnow at nrichnow@sbcglobal.net or call her at 713.877.1096.

INCIDENT REPORT by Jade & Tom Frank DATE: The day after a storm — back a while ago PLACE: The driveway of our home TIME: Sunday Morning

two to three years of intensive work to complete the award requirements, which include planning and completing a project that is a service to the community.

“I chose this project because I wanted to address the issues of poverty and childhood obesity,” Ruffing said. “I wanted to introduce dance to underprivileged children as a fun, inexpensive way to exercise.”

Ruffing’s dance clinic was held over the course of four days. Each two-hour session had more than 30 children in attendance. She led volunteers in teaching the children stretching, warm-up exercises and different styles of dancing, and addressed the importance of healthy living, including exercise and diet. Finally, she had a professional ballet dancer visit with the students.

At Memorial High School, Ruffing was a member of Mustang Mentors, student council, basketball, drill team, track, volleyball and National Honor Society. She was also valedictorian of her class and an active member of St. Christopher’s. Ruffing is studying business and Spanish at Texas A&M University.

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We were minding our own business, sweating and grumbling as we tried to cut up a tree which had fallen in our yard during the storm. We had just begun to realize that this was going to take a loooong time with these crummy hand tools — which were all we had.

Just then a couple of strangers were driving by … but they stopped. And the man (a big man!) got out and ambled over to say, “Hey, neighbor. I’m on my way to church but when I get back I’ll come over and make short work of this with my chain saw, if you don’t mind.”

As he drove away we thought “Yeah, right!” When he had not reappeared after an hour (turns out Episcopal services take a while!) we decided to take a break and go do some chores. When we got home, the tree was all cut up and the wood was neatly stacked.

But wait, the story wasn’t over! Jade & baby Loretta Cheyenne Frank were baptized at St. Alban’s, Austin, several months later Evangelism with a chain saw – what a concept.

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PARISH NEWS

Wisdom of Elders Shared at Sage Events, Online

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veryone remembers at least one incredible story they heard about their parents, grandparents or another loved one – and sometimes those stories were told first-hand. Too often, though, we miss hearing those stories because there aren’t good venues for them. Unlike other cultures, our American culture rarely sets aside time to honor and to listen to its elders. We wait too long, and then we can’t even ask them about their stories – they’re no longer among us.

To ensure the stories aren’t lost, St. Matthew’s, Austin, began a program to gather and share stories from the elders of St. Matthew’s, funded by a grant from its endowment fund. The program, known as the St. Matthew’s Sages, highlights the experience and wisdom of its senior members in the stories about joys and challenges in their family lives and careers.

About 30 members of St. Matthew’s were invited to be pioneers for this program in 2010. Half were contacted for a celebration in Spring and the other half for a Fall celebration. To gather the stories, two members of a St. Matthew’s Sages team visit with the individual or couple participating, talking with them about their lives. Using previously gathered background information, they delve into whatever the interviewees wish to share. Interview sessions are captured on video, expected to be treasures for the interviewees and their children, as well as for the members of St. Matthew’s, who can check them out from the church library.

Key portions of each interview are documented in a written story. Throughout the year, those appear in the monthly newsletter of the church, and segments of the video stories are placed on the St. Matthew’s YouTube channel.

At the celebration events, attendees talk with the sages and get a copy of their written stories. Sages are presented

Jim Newman, 95, is St. Mathew’s oldest parishioner. He offers this sage advice: a strong person is strong enough to listen to both sides of an argument, God is supreme and don’t take yourself too seriously. Originally from Portsmouth, Ohio, Jim and his wife Betty moved to Austin in 1967 when he went to work for IBM. To see videos of St. Matthew’s Sages go to www. youtube.com/stmattsaustin.

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with a commemorative pin, and everyone gets to see snippets of their video story. The Fall celebration will be held the afternoon of Sunday, November 14, with a reception following. The Spring celebration was held on May 2. To give you an idea of what was included, see pictures of the event at http://tinyurl.com/STMSagesMay2. Those who will be celebrated in November include: Pat Boon, Anna

Dodge, Joyce and Joe Evans, Harriet and David Houston, the Rev. Chuck Huffman and Carolyn Huffman, Cornelia and Tom LeMond and Sherm Strance.

The celebration will be followed by a special worship event, a Folk Mass sung by the Rev. Chuck Huffman, one of the sages, accompanied by St. Matthew’s musicians who played for services in the 1970’s and 1980’s.

The Work of Hospitality

By Nandra Perry

H

ere’s what I knew beforehand: Family Promise is an organization that helps homeless families get back on their feet. Local churches take turns providing meals, shelter and hospitality, while parents look for work and affordable housing.

It sounded simple enough. And that is exactly what I was looking for, something simple I could do with Ruby that would gently introduce her to the responsibilities that came with her brand new baptismal covenant: something world-expanding, but not traumatizing, something that she would have to work at, but not so hard that she would feel resentful about it later, something that felt rewarding to her without feeling cheap or condescending to me. This program looked made to order, so I volunteered us for what I thought would be the simplest job of all, hospitality. Our job, if you could even call it that, would be to play and eat with the children. How hard could that be?

Here is what I know now: hospitality, real hospitality, is hard work. And I am not very good at it. I think what I had imagined was more on the order of entertaining. I would bring all my best manners and good intentions, plus a cute kid. And together, Ruby and I would be so charming and gracious and fun that the other children (the homeless ones) would forget their troubles for a while, and we would play games together and laugh and talk, and then we would all sit down at one big table and share a meal, just like Jesus would do.

But then we got there, and it suddenly dawned on me that perhaps that is not at all what Jesus would do, that hospitality, unlike entertaining, has very little to do with our best manners or our charming selves. As a matter of fact, it confronts us with everything we, with our good manners and good intentions, would really rather smooth over, things like the reality of what it actually means to be homeless.

In the case of these (admittedly fortunate) families, what it means to be homeless is that every meal is taken in the company of strangers; and by strangers, I don’t just mean people they don’t know. I, for one, am a stranger twice over, someone they don’t know, whose life has been shaped by enough privilege that my daughter and I are unlikely ever to find ourselves in this place as anything other than volunteers.

The structure of Family Promise makes it impossible

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to elide these simple facts. This is not a soup kitchen. Ruby and I can’t just do our bit and then go home feeling all pleased with ourselves. For now, the space we are standing in is a family dining room, and even though I am washing the dishes and setting out the food, I am less a host than a guest. I am listening in on another mother’s after-school banter with her children. I am sitting down at her table at the end of her very long day.

What I am learning is that hospitality requires that I be less charming and more quiet, sometimes not even technically polite. This past week, for example, Geri, Susannah and I did not eat with the families, but at a separate table with the other volunteers. We didn’t talk about it, but I suspect we were all responding to the same sensed need. The two families who had come for dinner had become friends, and their children enjoyed each other’s company. What they needed from us was not more of our conversation, but a quiet night at home. It doesn’t always work out that way, but that there’s no one way things always work out is precisely my point. This isn’t a dinner party.

It’s real life, complete with cranky, hungry kids, exhausted silences and meals that don’t always happen on time or please every palate.

This week was only my second time to volunteer, and Ruby was not able to come with me, so it is too soon to say how she will be shaped by this experience. What I do know is how much I learned from her on that first visit together. If I was shocked by how complicated real hospitality was for me as an adult, I was equally shocked by how naturally it came to her as a child. Bless her, Ruby was entirely uninterested in being gracious or charming. Like the Family Promise kids, she was tired and hungry after a long day at school.

There I was, aglow with good intentions, trying so hard to channel what I thought looked like the love of Christ, but coming off more like a really chatty Avon Lady. Ruby just ate her taco and then plopped down in front of the TV with all the other kids to watch a cartoon. An hour later, they were still there, all of them silent and covered in ice cream.

It isn’t what Martha Stewart would do, but I suspect it is a good deal closer to the true spirit of Christian hospitality than anything I’ve yet managed.

Reprinted with permission from the St. Francis’, College Station’s newsletter.

PARISH NEWS

Moving Forward Conference Held at Cathedral transgendered (LGBT) people in the life and ministry of The Episcopal Church.”

Eiserloh said they were encouraged by a resolution passed at the February 2010 Diocesan Council meeting that said, in part, “the 161st Council of the Diocese of Texas…claims unity in the midst of our diversity and… that all sorts and conditions of humanity, regardless of gender, ethnicity, race, nationality, or sexual orientation, and especially all of God’s children entrusted to our care, are loved beyond measure by God in Christ, are welcomed and valued in our institutions, mission, Laurie Eiserloh and James Cowan read at the opening Eucharist, October 1. ministries, and parishes, and

By Katie Sherrod are a blessing to our collective [Episcopal News Service] The “Moving Forward, Exploring life as we engage together in mission and ministry.”

The council also resolved that “all people in our a New Path to Full Inclusion” conference at Christ Church communities and their relationships [should] receive the Cathedral in Houston in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas was meant to change the way people in the diocese approached pastoral care, time, attention and honor they are due as God consideration of the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual is revealed in and through them and as God works to change us all into a holy people.” and transgender (LGBT) people in the life of the church.

Reynolds presided at the opening Eucharist on the Organizers pointed out that the Episcopal Church has been talking about the issue since 1964. This conversation night of October 1. Bonnie Anderson, president of the has happened at General Conventions, at House of Bishops House of Deputies, preached about the hard work of living meetings, and, more rarely, in individual dioceses and in community and of the dangers of trying to live without community, of letting fear separate one from another. parishes.

“There is God…mixing us up together in a holy mess “We wanted to find a way to help [the Diocese of ] Texas have those conversations and to contribute to the national of people who we would never in all our lives choose for conversation, but in a way that tries to engage those who ourselves…putting us into impossible situations, with disagree and does not drive them away,” said the Very Rev. impossible people and asking us to do impossible things and then giving us the impossibly amazing gifts to do these Joe Reynolds, dean of Christ Church Cathedral.

“We realized after General Convention 2009 that what impossible things,” she said.

The next morning, Anderson and Sally Johnson, we were doing in the Diocese of Texas around the issue of Anderson’s chancellor, presented the history of the inclusion was not working,” said Laurie Eiserloh of Austin.

Episcopal Church, its polity, its canons and constitution “We had to try something different.”

So on October 2, 2010, the parish hall of Christ Church and its relationship to the Anglican Communion. They also Cathedral was filled almost to capacity with people eager to discussed the 45-year-long movement toward full inclusion learn how to talk with one another across the divide of their of LGBT people that covered all the various statements, studies, resolutions and calls for dialogue. differences on the issue of human sexuality.

The Rev. Lisa Hunt, rector of St. Stephen’s, Houston, Eiserloh and Reynolds are two of several conference organizers, a self-described “group of Texas Episcopalians presented three articles as examples of conservative viewpoints who favor the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and on how the church might move forward despite its difference

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on human sexuality. They included one from James A. Baker III, former U.S. Secretary of State and a member of St. Martin’s, Houston, and one by St. Martin’s rector, the Rev. Russell Levenson Jr., both published in the Spring 2010 edition of Virginia Theological Seminary’s News From the Hill; and one by Bishop Edward S. Little II of Northern Indiana published in The Living Church in September 2009.

During a panel on “inclusion conversations that work,” the Rev. John Bedingfield of St. John’s, Silsbee, in rural East Texas told of the experience he had when he share d personal conversations about full inclusion with the parish.

What began with literal fear and trembling ended with the realization that people are longing for such modeling of civil conversations, he said.

“You have to move beyond fear, and you have to make space for the Holy Spirit,” he said.

Anne Brown, director of communications for the Diocese of Vermont, said one key to the success of conversations in Vermont was in shifting from the focus on sex to a focus on the love manifested in the relationship.

Seattle-based Jason Sierra from the Young Adult and Campus Ministries of the Episcopal Church talked about the ways different generations approach the idea of inclusion.

For conversations about inclusion to work, “they must be multi-generational, they must be narrative and they must be now,” he said. “We can’t afford any more suicides of young people.”

Finally, Tamika Caston, an educator and spiritual director in Houston, told of her and her partner’s work at continuing a conversation with their respective families about their relationship, one made more interesting by the fact that Caston is African American and her partner is white.

The conference also considered the work done for the House of Bishops’ Theology Committee to write “Same Sex Relationships in the Life of the Church” and the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music’s work on collecting and developing theological and liturgical resources for the blessing of same-sex relationships for consideration at General Convention in 2012 as called for in Resolution C056 from the 2009 meeting of convention.

Many of those attending were from parishes or organizations calling themselves Conversation Partners.

Cowan said that while some Conversation Partners groups have among their members those who agree and disagree on the issue of full inclusion of LGBT people, nevertheless “they support heartfelt and respectful conversation. Our diocese is hungry for meaningful dialogue about how to make our church fully inclusive of lesbians and gay men who are committed Christians while maintaining unity with our brothers and sisters who are struggling to reconcile traditional views on sex and marriage.”

Sherrod is an independent writer and producer, director of communications for the Diocese of Fort Worth and a member of the Episcopal Church’s Executive Council.

Texas Episcopalian

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PARISH NEWS

Joyous Noise of Growth

The cattle and deer remain but the bucolic church campus now includes a welcoming, cleanly-designed, 220seat sanctuary with large windows and video screens, as well as four other rustic wood and stone buildings. Parishioners built a serene outdoor labyrinth and Stations of the Cross pathway among the land’s many sprawling live-oak trees in recent years.

The church’s congregation has grown to about 150 members. Many families with young children attended a recent Sunday service where the climate is decidedly Texas Hill Country casual – jeans or dresses and sandals or boots.

Bonner, who previously ministered at Epiphany, Houston, and St. Mark’s, Bay City, complements the church’s tone by eschewing the usual celebrant chair on the altar and sits instead in the front pew with Kathryn during scripture readings.

“We are not your typical Episcopalians,” Bonner says.

“Some newcomers have freaked out at what they experience during their first church visit; but most others say ‘This is cool’ and join us.”

Children are active participants at Christ Church, Cedar Park.

By Bob Kinney

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hen children are asked to come forward and take part in the closing hymn at the 10:30 Sunday service at Christ Church, Cedar Park, they indeed do make a Joyous Noise.

After choosing a musical instrument – or a few – from woven baskets around the altar piano, the playful children accompany the choir with tunes and smiles as family members and other parishioners look on. It symbolizes the church’s intention to significantly include children in the ministry of worship and caps a meaningful Sunday experience for the pre-kindergarten through sixth grade youth who, at times, number more than 50.

Children arrive at church with their families and stay with parents in pews through the Scripture readings.

Crossroads children (grades four through six) and the Kid’s Kingdom pre-k through third grade group then process out of church to the colorful education building to attend a children’s chapel service.

The younger Kid’s Kingdom children then take part in a rotational program of Sunday School that explores one Bible lesson a month through a different teaching approach each Sunday – art, cooking and drama. October’s topic was the Book of Ruth and the teaching and learning took place in the parishioner-built, child-decorated and punappropriate rooms – the Master Peace Theatre (a dramatic play room), Thou Art Studio (arts and crafts room) and the Garden of Eatin’ (a food and science area). Since all children learn differently, the hope is that one approach (or more) will click with each child, said Jennifer Cowles, minister of Kid’s Kingdom, who is assisted by a team of adult volunteers named Shepherds. Details of the program with photos of the fanciful workshop/classrooms are at www.cectx.org Marilee Verdesca and her Crossroads Shepherds Texas Episcopalian

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Photo: Bob Kinney

lead older children in a curriculum geared to their developmental level and separate from the rotation program. Crossroads also prepares children for Confirmation.

All children then return to church at Holy Communion time and sit with their families until they are called forward to make a Joyous Noise at the end of the service.

“We involve kids early in our worship in hopes they will continue to contribute as they grow older. We are already beginning to see this happen,” said the Rev. Bruce Bonner, rector, noting about 20 teenagers attend a special Wednesday evening youth service hosted by teen minister Melissa Cox. One of the church’s four core values is “We cherish children as members of God’s Kingdom.”

“We desire for our kids to minister to adults – not so much the other way around,” Bonner said.

Bonner, who asked to come to the then-struggling Christ Church with spouse Kathryn five years ago, credits the children and teen ministers with creating the programs that have increased youth participation tenfold in the past few years. Bonner also praises Brielle and Dan Giard, parents of two Kid’s Kingdom children, with providing the vision for “wanting to do something different with child ministry.”

Brielle symbolizes what the parish hopes for many of its children. She grew up attending the 25-year-old church when it consisted of one house on a six-acre plot surrounded on three sides by grazing cattle and deer on the western edge of Cedar Park. She brought her husband Dan into Christ Church when they married, served as youth minister and did much to envision what their two children now experience in Kid’s Kingdom.

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Holiday Market and Luncheon hosted by St. James’, Houston, Episcopal Church Women. Featuring author Reshonda Tate Billingsley speaking about her latest novel “Holy Rollers.”

Saturday, December 4 at 11:30 a.m., $35. Market place opens at 10:30 a.m. and will be open after the luncheon. Contact Karen Wesley at kwesley@stjameshouston.org or 713.526.9571. St. James’ is located at 3129 Southmore Blvd., Houston, TX 77004.

PARISH NEWS

Good Shepherd, Kingwood Trinity, The Woodlands

St. Andrew’s , Pearland

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Honors School Founder

obert (Bob) Martone, longtime member of Good Shepherd, Kingwood, and former Holy Trinity Episcopal School Board member, was honored in a Founders’ Day Celebration October 5 by the school. His initial vision, dedicated efforts and continuted support have helped to make the school a reality, and the school will graduate its first senior May, 2011. Middle School student, Kyle Duncan, addressed the audience, thanking Martone for his efforts, and senior Natalie Russell, read a poem she had written about her vision for the Upper School as its first graduating senior. Board member Brad Dill honored Martone and the Rev. Jim Abernathey presented the award.

Joins with Lutherans for Veteran Service

The church has left the building!

he church has left the building! This was the declaration made throughout Pearland as 230 St. Andrew’s parishioners went out and worked on six home projects, two roadside clean up projects, a senior center, two school projects and a children’s art project for MD Anderson. Children 2-4 years of age went to a retirement center to make wreaths with the residents, while still other members remained at the church for a prayer vigil.

“We don’t just go to church,” said the Rev. Jim Libertore, rector of St. Andrew’s, “We are the church!” For more information on how you can “leave the church” contact Libertore at: frjimbo@msn.com and see more pictures at: http://tiny.cc/w6y24 or read his great blog at: http:// gamma909.wordpress.com/.

St. James’, Austin Jazz Concert Series

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ew Orleans great alto saxophonist Donald Harrison and the Donald Harrison Quintet will headline this year’s Jazz at St. James’ Concert Series November 5-7.

Harrison, known for his Nouveau Swing style of classic jazz, will be joined by special guest, the number one-rated baritone sax player, Gary Smulyan. Other members of his quintet include Joseph Dyson on drums, Max Moran on bass and Zaccai Curtis on piano.

The 16th annual event opens with the Rich Harney Quintet. In addition to Harney on piano, Jake Langley on guitar, Chris Maresh on bass and Scott Lanningham on drums complete the group. Saturday night, Temple Industries will play (Philippe Vieux/flute, D-Madness/electric bass, Bernard Wright/keyboards, Brannen Temple/drums and composer/ arranger of all original music).

“Donald Harrison has a unique knack for mixing rhythms to come up with something fresh for the musician and the listener alike,” said Carl Allen, the artistic director of Jazz Studies at The Julliard School of Music.

The music continues with a jazz mass on Sunday at 10:15 a.m. Harrison and Smulyan will lead the now traditional workshop and “informance” on Saturday morning at 11 for jazz students and fans of all ages at no charge.

Tickets for evening performances are on sale now at www.JazzAtStJames.org, at Waterloo Records and Mitchie’s Gallery. Tickets will be available at the door. Advance tickets are $25, tickets at the door payable by cash or check, are $30 for the general public and $20 for students with I.D. Call St. James’ office, M-F, 10-4, 512.926.6339 for further information.

Friday and Saturday night performances begin at 7:30 p.m.; doors open at 6:30 p.m. St. James’ is located at 1941 Webberville Rd., Austin, TX 78721.

Correction: The profile on the Rev. Amy Donahue, “Father Amy Concludes 14 year Medical Chaplaincy in Round Rock” in the October issue of the Texas Episcopalian was written by Bob Kinney. Kinney was also the photographer. His byline was accidently omitted from the story. We regret the error.

Praying at 30,000 Feet

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n the Woodlands community, a group of religiouslyminded people are joining to produce a Veteran’s Day Service of Recognition and Remembrance, November 11 at 7 p.m.

From a meeting over coffee, two members from Trinity Episcopal and Lord of Life Lutheran churches met to discuss the combined service. In 2009, these neighboring churches each held their own Veteran’s Day gathering but realized the possibility of a greater combined attendance at a cooperative event.

The Service of Recognition and Remembrance will be held at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 3801 S. Panther Creek Drive in The Woodlands, with Trinity members providing food, ushers and greeters. Spirit of Joy! Lutheran Church will also participate. Doors open after 6:00 p.m.

Additional parking is provided across Panther Creek Drive at McCullough Junior High School.

This event benefits the Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center Social Emergency Welfare Fund that assists veterans who may not have monies needed to meet required appointments and services being delivered by the VA Hospital.

Prior to worship, Klein High School ROTC members will form a welcoming line at the entrance to church. Flags will be presented in procession by veterans at the beginning of this worship service.

Two highlights will be recognizing the conflicts to which we have been a part, from World War I through Afghanistan, the congregants will be asked to stand if a family member (or someone they knew) participated in that conflict. A bell will be tolled at the recitation of each conflict for all who died.

The second is the echoing of Taps by two trumpeters, concluding the prayer service. All attendees will be asked to adjourn for food and fellowship.

We ask anyone who chooses to share their evening in a Veteran’s Day of Honor and Remembrance, please join us.

By Arthur Callaway

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verything on this flight was going wrong. First, I was stuck in a window seat. And I never sit in a window seat. My bad knee cramps if I can’t stretch it into the aisle. The battery in my iPod was shot. I’d finished my book, and now my computer screen had died, so I couldn’t even catch up on work.

I travel a lot for business, and plane rides were certainly nothing new. But a flight with nothing to distract me? This is sure going to be a long two hours, I thought.

I laid my head back. Maybe I could get some sleep. But as soon as I closed my eyes, problems filled my mind, like the drought we were having back home in Texas. It had been over a month since we’d seen rain.

My yard, my plants—everything was dying. Farmers and ranchers were suffering.

I opened my eyes and turned my head to look out the window. We were flying due south of Phoenix.

The land far below was a patchwork of tan and brown.

Then came a soft prompting: Why don’t you pray for those people down there? They need rain too.

I certainly had the time up here. Lord, it’s been a hot dry summer. There’s a lot of folks who need rain… I began. The plane flew on, and the scenery changed to mountains, then cities and freeways.

Sometimes all I could see were layers of clouds.

But I never ran out of things to pray for: mothers, fathers, children, grandparents, the earth…

When I finally felt the soft thud of the landing gear against the runway, I could hardly believe so much time had passed. In fact, I had never felt so good at the end of a flight. I was energized. Hopeful. Ready to face whatever might come my way. It wasn’t until I exited baggage claim and headed out to the parking lot with my gear that I realized something extraordinary—it was raining.

Callaway is a member of Christ Church, Cedar Park

Reprinted with permission from Guideposts. Copyright © 2010 by Guideposts. All rights reserved. www.guideposts.org

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Texas Episcopalian

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Calendar

Calendar November 4

Lecture on the excavation of the legendary fortress city of Bylazora, a Paionian city that predates the Macedonians. Dr. William Neidinger, director of The Texas Foundation for Archaeological & Historical Research will deliver the lecture at St. Martin’s, Houston, at 7 p.m. Free of charge and open to all. For more information, contact info@tfahr.org.

5-6 St. Peter’s Art Show & Sale, Brenham. Reception and silent auction on Friday evening, show and sale continues Saturday with paintings, jewelry, pottery, stained glass and mosaic icons, featuring bird carver Myrv Cron. No cost, contact Carol Muegee at 979.836.7248 for more information. www.stpetersbrenham.org.

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All Saints’ Choral Evensong at St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Boulevard, Houston, TX 77019. 3 p.m. concert/3:30 Solemn Evensong. www.sjd.org

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Icons and Saints at EDOT Gallery through December, featuring the work of Houston artist, Caroline Furlong and Beatrice Baldwin, art instructor at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, Austin along with several pieces by Baldwin’s students. Open M-F, 9-5. Call 713.520.6444 for groups. See story, page 11.

10-12 Youth ministers’ retreat, Camp Allen. A time of sanctuary and relaxation. Contact Erin McClure for details at emmcclure@epicenter.org.

11-14 Cursillo #230, a renewal weekend where lay and clergy are strengthened and formed for ministry and mission. Contact Carol McCauley at c.mccauley@sbcglobal.net or call 832.717.7794.

12-14 Soulfood retreat, sponsored by Episcopal Recovery Ministries at Camp Allen. For more information, contact: Sandra Raney at 281.727.6917. Registration forms are available at: http://tinyurl.com/24fay2n 8-12 Iconography class at the Institute for Spirituality and Health with Caroline Furlong.

More information at: http://tiny.cc/9lih4q0u10. Furlongs icons are currently at EDOT Gallery, 1225 Texas Ave., Houston, in the Diocesan Center through December.

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7th Annual Diocesan Youth Choral Festival for those in grades 3-12 under the direction of guest conductor Joseph Painter of St. James’, Conroe. During the festival day, choristers will rehearse and offer the music they have prepared with care, singing in the beauty of Christ Church Cathedral. The day concludes with the Festival Evensong at 3 p.m. The public is invited to attend. To register as a participant, contact Bruce Power tbpower@christchurchcathedral.org, 713.590.3310.

19 Final deadline for Mission Funding Commitment Responses to the diocese.

Contact Kathy Culmer with questions. kculmer@epicenter.org or call 713.520.6444 or 800.318.4452.

19-21 Happening for high school-aged students to develop and nourish spirituality in fellowship. Contact Erin McClure at emcclure@epicenter.org or call 800.318.4452.

19-21 Youth Encounter Spirit (Y.E.S.) weekend for 7-9th graders to help foster a clearer appreciation of self, others and Christ. Contact Erin McClure at emcclure@epicenter. org or call 800.318.4452

Integrity Houston Eucharist (followed by dinner)

Third Friday of the month at 7:00 p.m.

Golding Chapel at Christ Church Cathedral 1117 Texas Avenue, Houston

Free P a r k i n g i n t h e C a t h e d r a l G a r a g e a t Te x a s a n d S a n J a c i n t o

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Touring Historic Churches in England An exciting opportunity has been planned to visit Hereford, England, June 8-15, 2011. Whether you are an avid photographer, history buff or music lover, this intimate trip promises to bring with it new friends and a greater appreciation for our shared anglican history. One of the many attractions at the Hereford Cathedral is the Hanging Library, which houses books that are more than 1000 years old. Limited reservations are available. Read more about the Diocese of Hereford at www.hereford. anglican.org/ or email cbarnwell@epicenter.org for a brochure.

Cost: $1,400 (includes hotel and some meals but does not include travel to Hereford) A deposit of $250 per person is required by December 1, 2010 to hold a reservation. Payment should be made to the Walter Mace Memorial Chapter, VGEC and mailed to Richard Evans at: Richard V. Evans, President Walter Mace Memorial Chapter, VGEC 309 Fannin Drive Hewitt, TX 76643 For questions, contact Richard at: evans.62@gmail.com

American Boychoir in Austin, January 27, 2011 The world-renowned American Boychoir will give a concert at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, Austin, Monday, January 27, 2011 at 7 p.m. Tickets are onsale now for $20 ($30 at the door) through the church’s office. Call 512.459.0027 or e-mail ecraustin@ ecraustin.org for further information. The concert will be at the church, 2200 Justin Lane, Austin TX 78757. This is the Boychoir’s sole performance in Austin and is presented in conjunction with the Austin Girls’ Choir.

DIOCESAN NEWS

Gospel, Icons and Saints Show “Sticky” continued from page 1 Opens at EDOT Gallery fed to lions, as you can see in my [icon],” she said.

Baldwin studied iconography and has written icons in a modernized version of the Byzantine style for more than a decade. She is not only an instructor at the school, but an exhibiting artist as well. The icon project was an extension of her personal interest in the genre and the annual charge to adorn St. Stephen’s Chapel with student artwork.

Baldwin and her Visual Studies II class researched the tradition of icon painting.

“Traditionally, icons were ‘written’ by people of the church who were as much artists as they were theologians. The icons were messages from God executed by the hands of priests or nuns. A prayer was said before work on the icon began. Then, a dark under painting served as the base, layers of color were added on top, and finally gold leaf was applied at the end. This process of working from darkness to light was symbolic,” Baldwin explained. “Icons are filled with little symbols, and that’s what I love most about them.”

Ala Lee is a senior at St. Stephen’s. Her Archangel Michael will be part of the EDOT show.

Furlong said the process requires prayer, focus and patience, “like meditation,” which

By Eliza McAllister can lead to stillness.

“Maybe the need for stillness is why I’m drawn to the cons and Saints, a new show opening November 7, 2010, at the EDOT Gallery, features multiple icons practice of iconography,” Furlong said. She began painting as from St. Stephen’s Episcopal School Art Instructor a child, later moving from realism and figure painting to less Beatrice Baldwin and four of her students along with icons “photographic likenesses.”

“For me, it was more of a quest for the truth behind the

by Houston artist Caroline Furlong.

“I chose to do St. Cecilia because she is the patron saint subject,” Furlong explained, adding, “As I became aware of of music, and doing the icon of her was a connection between God, I began looking for ways to express mystery … and that two of the most important things in my life – music and art,” led me to iconography.”

Icons and Saints, curated by Marilyn Biles, will run said Estefania Carmona, an 11th grader at St. Stephen’s in November 7 through December 30 at the EDOT Gallery Austin.

“I chose St. Ignatius because of the All Saints’ Day hymn at the Episcopal Diocesan Center, 1225 Texas Avenue in that we sing in Chapel” said Monica Marion, who researched downtown Houston. A reception will be held December 3 from 5-7 p.m. the saint who was “slain by a fierce wild beast.”

“St. Ignatius was martyred in the coliseum in Rome - McAllister is director of communication at St. Stephen’s

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and worship spaces of those who came before them, St. James’ parishioners build on this covenant heritage by deliberately taking history with them when they moved – from the church’s first home at 1624 East Seventh Street in Austin, to its second site on Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd., and now its three-year-old campus about one mile further east.

The baptismal font in the center entrance of the new sanctuary on Webberville Road rests on bricks from the original church building on Seventh Street. Stained-glass windows and altar planks from the second site are now part of the new church.

Georgetta Maderas-Bryant – who has worshipped at all three sites – epitomizes both the nature of covenant and its joy of sharing. She found people to be “very cordial, nice and caring” when she first came to the Seventh Street church as a grade school student in the mid-1950s. She remembers the late Hortense Lawson as “the mother hen – the glue that kept the church all together.” Now retired, Bryant actively contributes to St. James’ by welcoming new guests on Sundays and carefully cleaning sanctuary plants and floral arrangements every week – just like Lawson did for decades. Many of the plants remain from Myra McDaniel’s funeral earlier this year.

Catherine Thomas-Petite, a retired teacher, shares Sunday service welcoming with Bryant after developing children’s ministry at St. James’ for two-plus decades and serving on the vestry. She recalls with joy one of her former students assuming leadership of the Sunday School when she retired. Thomas-Petite helped to draft the church’s first mission statement and views paying off the debt from the new church construction as an immediate parish goal – something Dr. Mary Lou Adams, present St. James’ warden, agrees with.

“Our current goal is raise enough money in tough times to pay off the new church building,” said Adams, who is associate professor of nursing at the University of Texas.

What keeps her coming to St. James’?

“People talk about the spirit of St. James’. For me, it’s like I know when the Holy Spirit arrives during the service.

I know that’s a strange thing to say, but I do,” she said.

Linda Mayo, of Mayo Media, and Walter Bell, a St. James’ parishioner and co-founder of Can-do Entertainment, filmed each interview that took place at home, workplace or St. James’. These videos will become part of the archives of St. James’ and be shared with the African American Library in Houston.

Other churches in the Diocese of Texas are encouraged to pursue oral histories of their parishioners to renew their commitment ot community. More information is available

by Googling: Oral History.

Texas Episcopalian

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DIOCESAN NEWS

Sport, Obsession or Secret to the Rhythm of Life?

By Mark O. Duncan It was about fifty-five years ago when the young boy looked up at his father and declared, “I’m not so much wantin to go fishin as wantin to go catchin!”

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ell, sure he did. We all love to catch. Catching is fun. So, catching is what we teach our kids.

We stress how important it is to make the catch.

We teach them that the catch is what matters and we do it because we know that the catch is how our world keeps score.

“Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” – Henry David Thoreau Of course, the reality of the catch is different. The trouble with this ‘got-to-catch’ model is the way it recognizes achievement. In it, what we do today becomes the base line for the minimum the world expects tomorrow. This ‘got-tocatch’ world is one dimensional.

Instruction on the basics in fly fishing begins with the cast, because the successful cast is driven by the cadence of particular beat. The importance of adhering to this special casting cadence is driven home by Norman Maclean in his book, A River Runs Through It, when he addresses how he was taught the cast.

“My brother and I learned to cast Presbyterian-style, on a metronome. It was my mother’s metronome, which my father had taken from the top of the piano in town.”

Maclean is addressing the importance of the four-count cast. It is always consistent and always works the same way.

With the first count the line, leader and lure lift up off the water in anticipation of the second; which drifts the rig smoothly back over the shoulder; where a negligible but key pause is added as beat number three allowing the fly, tippet, leader and line to align in perfect order bending the rod backwards, loading it as a compressed linear spring ready for the fourth beat; the power beat that heaves the whole lot up, then forward over the water to settle alluringly on the water, poised for the fish to rise.

Photography By Mark Duncan

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Even so, the combination is more than simplistic fourstep mechanics. Like the musician who, as a beginner, uses the metronome to keep time until, with sufficient practice, the measure becomes an essential and inherent part of her art; the caster too seeks an essential and inherent sense for how the rig moves to the rhythm of her cast, gently placing a lure, weighing less than a Post-It-Note, on the water, Photography By Mark Duncan in anticipation that the fish will rise.

In late September men from around the Diocese of Texas gathered for the first Fishers of Men retreat at the Camp Allen. They came to learn the basics about casting, how to tie knots, the knack of tying flies and for the opportunity to swap fishing tales in braggadocios fellowship. In other words all the basics necessary for the fly fishermen to catch fish. They got what they came for, too.

Many got much more. Under the guise of these basics lies a more fundamental truth. Success, both in fishing and

surface and the fish will not rise. Slow the tempo too much and the fisherman can only stand idly by as everything — line, leader, tippet and fly — settle unceremoniously around him in a pile and the fish will not rise.

The rhythm of life is much the same. Life’s tempo, a beat that we can control with practice, must be just right for the circumstance into which we are cast. For within the practice of these basic lessons and how we control the beat of the cast, lies the potential for a new understanding of how

“Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.”

– Henry David Thoreau in life, is often dependent on a tempo and the fact that each step we take is likely contingent on the success of the previous one. Just as the caster moves through the count and the beat hits three for that slight hesitation, each of the previous beats must have been executed perfectly or the power of the fourth, when applied will fail.

Christ understood this most basic of principles as He addressed His future disciples on when and where to cast their nets after a long catchless day on the water.

Yet, to the uninformed or the pure “bait-fisherman” who seeks only to make the catch, this is an outlandish concept. What does the systematic four-count have to do with spiritual wellness?

Consider the fishing fly. Each fly requires the fisherman submit to a particular pace which necessitates matching the type of line, the construction of the leader, the length of the tippet and the weight of that fly to the particular circumstance of the moment. Rush the beat and the effort smacks down hard on the water’s

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to match that beat to an even greater rhythm; the special rhythm that is the spiritual ebb and flow of living a Christian life in a ‘got-to-catch’ world.

To the beginner, this is a curiosity filled with potential.

To the expert, the rhythm of the cast is a metaphor for the beat of living life in Christ. It is not so much a matter of strength or necessarily an affair of grace and poise, but more a balance struck between the two. To the fisherman fishing for fish, this balance delivers a smooth easy rhythm to which the fish will rise. On the other hand, to the fisherman fishing for life, match the rhythm and... “…all existence fades to a being with my soul and memories and the sounds of the Big Blackfoot River and the four-count rhythm and the hope that a fish will rise…

Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.”

A River Runs Through It – Norman Maclean Duncan is a freelance writer and member of

DIOCESAN NEWS

It’s All About Outreach

By Luke Blount

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n early October, The Episcopal Diocese of Texas held the Bishop’s Conference on Outreach at Camp Allen, stressing the theme “Every Church Has a Gift.”

“How we live matters,” said Bishop Andy Doyle in his opening address. “Our actions really do speak louder than words. It matters how we treat one another. It matters to Jesus, and it matters to God. It matters what the Episcopal Church does in the Diocese of Texas day in and day out; it matters.”

The conference presented several speakers that shared their stories of outreach as well as encouragement.

Highlighted projects included: the Loaves & Fishes ministry of All Saints’, Austin; the Catalyst Project of Trinity, Marble Falls; the Friday Morning Ministry of St. Mark’s, Beaumont; and the Yellowstone Academy Boy Scouts.

Loaves & Fishes and Friday Morning Ministry are two innovative programs that feed and serve impoverished members of the community. The Catalyst Project is an ongoing initiative within Trinity, Marble Falls that seeks to link community needs with resources. James Flodine of St. Martin’s, Houston, began the Yellowstone Academy Boy Scouts, which seeks to teach leadership and the values of scouting to the underprivileged students of Yellowstone Academy in Houston’s third ward.

Additionally, the Episcopal Homeless Initiative revealed the One Church Vision Drive, a diocesan-wide effort to collect new and gently used reading glasses for the homeless.

The drive will take place during Lent from March 13 through April 24, 2011.

The diocese also invited Ruby Payne to address the attendees. Payne is the author of Bridges Out of Poverty as well as a member of the Good Shepherd, Corpus Christi.

Payne directly confronted and explained the reasons why impoverished people have such difficulty escaping poverty.

“Choice and planning don’t exist in poverty,” she said.

Small group discussion helps generate new ideas, possibilities for outreach. Pictured (center) Sally Rutherford, diocesan outreach coordinator with participants at the October Bishops’ Outreach Conference.

“Jesus gave us a perfect model of choice; ‘seek and ye shall find.’ I want people to have a choice.”

Payne advocates the Getting Ahead program which pays people in poverty to attend a series of two-hour sessions where participants learn about the “hidden rules” associated with succeeding in the middle class. According to her website, www.ahaprocess.com, the program “does not provide answers to the participants on how to establish economic stability, nor does it make the argument for change; instead, motivation, insight and plans come from the participants themselves.”

Outreach Conference attendees continued to discuss Payne’s ideas during the conference, and many felt energized

by the conference as a whole.

“I think it is important for us to hear each other’s stories,” said the Rev. Debbie Daigle of Holy Innocence, Madisonville. “It kind of revved me up to think about the possibilities of what we can do for the people outside the gate.”

“We had two goals,” said conference organizer, the Rev. Pat Ritchie. “We wanted to address the needs and concerns of smaller churches, and we wanted to focus on the idea that every church has a gift for outreach, which is a lot of what we’ve been hearing.”

To learn more about Ruby Payne or the Getting Ahead program, visit www.ahaprocess.com.

People

Clergy and Delegates to the 162nd Council Of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas Reception to Honor Highs

The Rev. Mathew C. Fenlon will serve as assistant to the rector, St. John the Divine, Houston. He was formerly assistant at St. Luke’s, Gladstone, NJ and is canonically resident in Central Florida.

A Friday evening reception following the 162nd Coundil’s opening worship service on February 11, 2011, will honor Bishop Rayford High and his wife Pat. Because of space constraints, this will be limited to the first 600 persons who purchase tickets. Tickets for this event will be sold separately from registration for Council. Cost is $50 per ticket.

Deadlines for resolutions, nominations and changes to Constitution and Canons are this month. Because the Texas Episcopalian will not be published as a monthly newspaper after December 2010, the usual January issue with Council information will be available online at www.epicenter.org on the Council pages. The information will be available also at the pre-council meetings in January and early February as a handout. Registration is also online at www.epicenter.org.

The Rev. Robert R. Gilman will serve as associate rector, Palmer Memorial, Houston. He is a retired priest canonically resident in the Diocese of Southern Virginia.

Dorothy Knox Houghton was honored at the Volunteer Recognition Evensong at Washington National Cathedral on October 14 for twenty-six years of service representing the National Cathedral in Texas. Houghton served as a trustee of the National Cathedral Association from 1986 - 1992.

The Rev. Betty Divine will serve as deacon at St. James’, Houston.

She was previously at St. Mark’s, Houston.

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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Presiding Bishop offers a Christian Perspective on the Pursuit of Happiness

By Nan Ross

[Episcopal News Service] Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori encouraged an Atlanta audience in October at Emory University to explore the blessing of friendship as an aid for attaining happiness.

She joined three other speakers from Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist traditions to provide a Christian perspective on the pursuit of happiness during the Interfaith Summit on Happiness conference hosted by Emory’s Center for the Study of Law and Religion.

The event followed her participation in a panel discussion on happiness with the Dalai Lama.

Addressing in her paper what she called “a tension between the goal of happiness and the journey toward it,” she cited Hebrew scripture and New Testament writings and focused on Aelred of Rievaulx, a 12th-century English writer, historian and abbot known for his well-developed reflections on happiness and spiritual friendship.

“Aelred develops a remarkable framework for discussing happiness,” Jefferts Schori said. He uses the second creation story in Genesis, “to insist that human beings are created for friendship and equality with God,” who is “the ultimate

source of human happiness.”

Aelred, she said, taught that “getting wisdom, learning the mind of God and loving neighbor as oneself are the pathways home” to Eden and to God. “Aelred points to friendship as one The Presiding Bishop reflects on God's bounty in a wheat field in Kansas. ELO photo/Dick Schori significant aid on that enough to eat, an act where there is little intimacy. journey,” she told about But friendship builds intimacy, according to Aelred, and 300 people gathered for a day of lectures at Emory Law “ultimately, intimacy can be a taste of divine relationship, School’s Tull Auditorium. despite the American tendency to assume that all intimacy “Friendship, in (Aelred’s) understanding, is love expanded by intimacy,” she said. “One can love one’s implies sexual intimacy. Knowing and being known as gifted neighbor, treat him or her with justice and do so without and flawed, fearful and courageous, warty and luminous affection or much internal vulnerability.” As an example, she -- that ongoing process of revealing one’s being -- builds cited voting to raise one’s taxes so that others might have friendship.”

Jefferts Schori also spoke about sin and justice, and body and soul. She noted Aelred’s view was that “sin results when the power of choice is ill-used, and justice results when choices are well made.

Such tensions challenge Christian definitions of happiness, Jefferts Schori said. “If we equate happiness solely with external or physical goods, we lapse into hedonism, and in a biblical sense, commit idolatry.” In substituting the material creation for God, “we deny the desirability of God sought to “describe our common identity in the Anglican as a partner in human happiness.”

All Abrahamic religions share the ancient prophetic Church ... What is at stake here is to try to articulate our vision for which shalom is the byword: human beings living relationship in words.”

Bishop Paddy Glover, Bishop of the Free State, Southern together in friendship with God and one another, having Africa, said the Anglican Church could best be likened to food and drink in abundance, and in whom all sorts of illness and brokenness are healed, she said. a family: “There are no outsiders; we are all insiders ... We Justice, which she called “the fruit of loving and are all different but we are members of a family ... bound befriending God and neighbor,” prevails and “uses every together by bonds of affection and bonds of loyalty.” The resource available to human creatures -- mind, body, heart, covenant sought to reinforce this relationship. soul, spirit, affect, inspiration, cooperation -- love in all its The resolution was passed by an overwhelming forms and parts,” she said. majority, although some speakers who supported it expressed “The result is the beloved community, the community reservations. The Rev. Drake Tshenkeng of the Diocese of of friends who know themselves beloved of God.” Kimberley and Kuruman asked whether the Church was not Jefferts Schori followed Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks of the United Hebrew Congregations, who expressed giving “centralizing power” to the communion’s Standing Committee. The Dean of Grahamstown, the Very Rev. the Jewish tradition’s view of happiness. Seyyed Nasr, Andrew Hunter, said the Covenant raised the questions: professor of Islamic studies at George Washington University, “How far does diversity stretch, who defines diversity and gave the Islamic perspective, and Matthieu Ricard, teacher and monk, presented a Buddhist’s view. who sets the boundaries?”

Video recordings of all presentations will be posted at Article from the Anglican Church of Southern Africa www.episcopalchurch.org.

Anglican Church of Southern Africa Takes Major Step to Adopt Covenant The Anglican Church of Southern Africa voted October 1 to adopt “The Anglican Covenant,” the document setting out a statement of common “affirmations and commitments” by churches of the worldwide Anglican Communion, written in response to disagreements over issues around human sexuality.

The decision will need to be ratified by the next session of the Synod in three years’ time.

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba said he believed the church in southern Africa needed to try to “play a reconciling role” amid the current disputes over human sexuality in the Communion. He said the Covenant “is not a guarantee of an easy solution to the problems we face,” but hoped it would be a way of “healing and moving the Communion forward...”

It was a document which, although not a complete statement on the nature of the Anglican Communion,

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Ross is director of communication for the Diocese of Atlanta.

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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Studying Your Congregation and Community: Free Tool Provides Info on Congregational Trends

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free tool which charts 11-year trends called Studying Your Congregation and Community is now available to assist Episcopal congregations and dioceses in a myriad of applications, including stewardship, short- and long-term planning, and strategic development.

“Important congregational and diocesan tracking information is available on the Episcopal Church website allowing a look at an 11-year comparative profile,” explained

C. Kirk Hadaway, Ph.D., Episcopal Church Officer for Congregational Research. “The 11-year congregational trend charts are an invaluable tool in understanding patterns and working towards a strategy for the future.”

Available at www.episcopalchurch.org/research.htm and by clicking Studying Your Congregation and Community, the data are easily accessed with pull-down menus for selecting dioceses and congregations.

United Thank Offering Application Process Now Online For 2011 Episcopal Church Grants

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he application process for the 2011 United Thank Offering grants is now open online.

“This is the first year that United Thank Offering will operate an internet grant application process,” explained Claudia Conner, coordinator. “The purpose is to convert the application process from a 1950s model to 2010 technology.

Online availability can eliminate or greatly reduce mailing and shipping costs, which sometimes were quite steep. It will also expedite the UTO Board’s application review process.”

Known worldwide as UTO, the United Thank Offering grants are awarded for projects that address human needs and help alleviate poverty, both domestically and internationally within Anglican provinces, dioceses, and companion dioceses.

Applications are due January 31, 2011. Funds will be available starting June 2011 for a one-year grant period.

UTO information and contact info are available: www. episcopalchurch.org/uto.

Complete instructions, application form and additional info are available at http://www.episcopalchurch. org/110043_42235_ENG_HTM.htm In outlining the process, Conner noted that the following: - one application may be submitted by each diocese of The Episcopal Church, with diocesan bishop approval; - one application may be submitted by a diocese of the U.S. domestic Episcopal Church on behalf of an overseas companion diocese, with approval by both diocesan bishops; - one application may be submitted by invited provinces of the Anglican Communion, with approval by the archbishop or primate or provincial secretary and, if applicable, the diocesan bishop.

For more information email utoapps@episcopalchurch. org or call the UTO Office at 800.334.7626. To submit an application in hard copy, first contact the UTO office.

Jubilee Ministry Grants Applications Now Accepted for Episcopal Church Programs and Mission Work

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pplications for 2010 and 2011 Jubilee Ministry grants are now being accepted in six categories for mission and ministry throughout the Episcopal Church.

Applications are available in three 2010 categories: health and nutrition; building a just society; and diocesan development. The three 2011 categories are Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) workshop funding; summer camp partnership grants; and protecting God’s creation.

Jubilee Ministries are congregations or agencies with connections to The Episcopal Church whose mission efforts affect the lives of those in need, addressing basic human needs and justice issues. Grants to Jubilee ministries are awarded annually.

2010 Grants Health and nutrition--$750 grants; Jubilee Ministries that respond to the nutritional needs of food deserts. A food desert is a district with little or no access to foods needed to maintain a healthy diet but often served by fast food

restaurants.

Building a just society--$2,500 grants supporting local poverty alleviation initiatives that emerge from local communities and leaders.

Funding diocesan initiatives--$1,000 Diocesan Jubilee Ministry Development Grants to support Jubilee Ministry development plans of the local bishop and the appointed diocesan jubilee officer. All due December 1, 2010.

2011 Grants Grants for hosting two-day Asset Based Community Development training workshops, partnership grants and those to Protect God’s creation; due November 1 through February 01, 2011: $250-$500 are available.

For guidelines, additional information, and to apply for any of the grants: www.episcopalchurch. org/109342_125387_ENG_HTM.htm For more information contact the Rev. Christopher Johnson, Episcopal Church Jubilee Officer, cjohnson@episcopalchurch.org Jubilee ministries www.episcopalchurch.org/jubilee.htm.

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The resulting information on membership, average Sunday attendance and plate and pledge giving is available by diocese and congregation ranging from 1999 to the recently added 2009.

Newly included in these offerings from the Research Office for congregations is a community profile, which updates the former zip code report.

“We recently added this new feature to the site, which is a downloadable detailed demographic profile of the community surrounding each of our domestic congregations,” Hadaway explained. “Previously, we had a zip code profile, but the new profile is a 15-page, 1-mile radius portrait from MissionInsite. These two products are available to anyone and any congregation, again without cost or logging in.”

For more information contact Christine Kandic at ckandic@episcopalchurch.org.

Research offerings This congregational tool is among the many offered by the Episcopal Church Research Office. Others include the data that is derived from the annual Parochial Report.

Hadaway noted that the 2010 Parochial Report process begins with the December mailing of forms, and concludes in 2011 with the diocesan deadline of March 1.

Research pages: www.episcopalchurch.org/research.

ENGLAND: Opposing Women Bishops, Anglican Parishioners Vote to Convert to Roman Catholicism [Episcopal News Service] Some parishioners at St. Peter’s Church, Folkestone, in the Diocese of Canterbury, may become the first members of the Church of England to convert formally to Roman Catholicism under controversial provisions set out by the Vatican in November 2009.

Members of St. Peter’s Parochial Church Council voted to defect because they disagree with the Church of England’s decision in July to advance plans for women to become bishops. But it is unclear how many members of the congregation support the move.

The Rev. Stephen Bould, vicar of St. Peter’s, told the BBC that he will likely join some of his congregation in their decision to convert to the Roman Catholic Church, which has developed an Apostolic Constitution to allow former Anglicans to enter full communion with the Roman Catholic Church while preserving elements of Anglican spirituality and liturgy.

At a parish meeting on Sept. 28, St. Peter’s churchwardens decided to write to Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams requesting a meeting about the congregation’s decision. The parish council said it “is anxious that this should be made as easy as possible, not only for them, but for the diocesan family of Canterbury that they will regretfully be leaving behind,” according to a notice on St. Peter’s website.

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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Communion a Paradox says Archbishop

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he mutual life of the Anglican Communion is “quite strong and perhaps getting stronger” according to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.

In an interview with The Hindu newspaper, Williams indicated that the state of the Communion was not as black as some have painted it. He called it “a very mixed picture.”

“I think that after the Lambeth Conference of 2008 many people felt that we found ways of talking to one another, and perhaps exercising some restraint and tact towards one another,” he said, “and it was very significant that at the next meeting of the Anglican primates, which was in the early part of 2009, all major Churches of the Communion were represented.

“Unfortunately, the situation does not remain there.

The decision of the American Church to go forward, as it has, with the ordination of a lesbian bishop has, I think, set us back. At the moment I’m not certain how we will approach

the next primates’ meeting, but regrettably some of the progress that I believe we had made has not remained steady.

“Alongside that, and I think this is important, while the institutions of the Communion struggle, in many ways the mutual life of the Communion, the life of exchange and co-operation between different parts of our Anglican family, is quite strong and perhaps getting stronger. It’s a paradox.

“We are working more closely together on issues of development than we did before. We have the emergence of an Anglican health network across the globe, bringing together various health care institutions. We have also had quite a successful program on the standards and criteria for theological education across the Communion. So, a very mixed picture.”

Archbishop Rowan Williams

In the interview, given in the last days of his two-week visit to India, the Archbishop also addresses questions on relations with the Catholic church, Anglican-Hindu dialogue and the ‘war on terror.’

More Anglican Communion news is at www. anglicancommunion.org.

Innovative Partnership Aims to Help Episcopal Churches ‘go green’: Subsidies Available to Congregations

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n an innovative venture that benefits congregations of all sizes, the Episcopal Church has partnered with GreenFaith (www.greenfaith.org), a national religious environmental group, to assist churches’ efforts to “go green.”

“I’m very excited about this collaboration with GreenFaith,” said Michael Schut, the Episcopal Church’s officer for economic and environmental affairs. “The program is holistic and very well supported. Participating congregations will not only ‘green’ their buildings and grounds, but develop relationships with environmental justice advocacy organizations and members of the interfaith community, and integrate creation-care into education and worship. Congregations can learn from the experiences of other congregations. The program is a possible avenue for deep congregational revitalization.”

Many congregations have expressed the desire to be environmentally “green” and as ecologically responsible as possible. The collaboration between GreenFaith and the church provides a means for that effort, the release said.

General Convention considered some 15 environmental resolutions at its 2009 convention to address climate change, global warming, economic and environmental justice, renewable energy, nuclear energy and weaponry, and one that would establish a liturgical creation cycle during Pentecost.

The goals of this partnership, Schut said, include: to support the development of faithful, strong environmental leadership; to help congregations learn to reduce their operating costs; and to model creation care, spirituality and

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justice throughout a congregation’s life and practice.

Certification To address those goals, GreenFaith is offering its GreenFaith Certification Program which Schut explained as a two-year, holistic process engaging an entire congregation through education, worship, environmental justice advocacy, building and grounds and developing relationships with the larger interfaith community.

The program is the nation’s first interfaith environmental certification program designed specifically for houses of worship, said the Rev. Fletcher Harper, GreenFaith’s executive director. The program empowers churches, mosques and temples to become strong environmental leaders by carrying out a substantial number of environmental leadership activities over a two-year period, he added.

Among the tools and resources provided by GreenFaith to participating churches are webinars, web-based resources and phone/e-mail support.

Subsidies will be awarded in two rounds. The deadline is Dec. 1 to receive a subsidy in 2010; for 2011 the deadline is Feb. 1. To apply, contact Schut at mschut@episcopalchurch. org.

Anglican life in Papua New Guinea

Grants To participate in the program, GreenFaith offers a sliding scale fee, based on congregation size. To mark the launch of this collaboration, the Economic and Environmental Affairs Office and GreenFaith are underwriting 50 percent of the tuition for 30 churches nationwide, enabling selected churches to enroll for a total discounted cost of $250 – $750.

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Don’t miss Steve Ramsden’s comprehensive and interesting 40-minute documentary about the work of Anglicans in Papua New Guinea. It was shot in May/June 2010 and produced by the Papua New Guinea Church Partnership UK. All five parts can be found at www.youtube.com/ SteveMatthewRamsden.

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Clergy and Faith Leaders say, ‘No More Bullying!’

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n alliance of mainline Christian leaders and faith groups released a statement October 18 calling on “the Church Universal to join

us in working to end the violence and hatred against our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters.”

Haitian Choir Tour seeks support, musical instruments

In the wake of a rash of suicides after anti-gay bullying and violent attacks on gay people in New York, top faith leaders signed a pledge “to be LGBT

Les Petits Chanteurs Concerts to Help Rebuild Music School

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he renowned Boys Choir from Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Music School in Port-auPrince, Haiti, will perform at three Austin churches and in San Antonio, November 14-16, 2010.

Les Petits Chanteurs (The Little Singers), a 30-voice choir, accompanied by a string ensemble from the Holy Trinity Philharmonic Orchestra, will perform Sunday, November 14 at St. James’; Monday, November 15 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School Chapel; and Tuesday, November 16 at All Saints’, Austin. Each concert begins at 7 p.m. The choir will conclude their Texas tour at a National Association of Episcopal School’s conference in San Antonio.

The Haitian Cathedral’s complex was completely destroyed in the earthquake on January 12, 2010. Prior to that, the Cathedral’s Music School served more than 1000 students. The choir’s tour will raise awareness of the rich musical traditions of Haiti, as well as help to rebuilt the school, the only one of its kind in the country. The music school depends on charitable support to sustain its mission of education and music training for children and young adults.

Les Petits Chanteurs, currently under the direction of

Nicole St. Victor, is a select group of singers ranging in age from 8 to 18. Over the years, ensembles from Holy Trinity Music School have performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., at Lincoln Center in New York City, at Tanglewood with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, with the Chicago Children’s Choir, and at many churches across the United States.

Since 2003, students and faculty of St. Stephen’s Episcopal School have partnered with the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti to build and support schools in the Central Plateau of Haiti. After being inspired by a visit to Holy Trinity’s Music School, the Rev. Walin Decamps, priest of St. Andre, St. Etienne and many other parish churches and schools in the region, together with John Moon, director of orchestras at St. Stephen’s, founded an annual music camp in the regional capital of Hinche.

St. Stephen’s partnered with All Saints and St. James’ as well as St. Andrew’s and Trinity Episcopal Schools and the NAES to sponsor this tour. A free-will offering will be taken at the concerts and donated musical instruments will be accepted at each concert to replace those lost in the earthquake.

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shared values of decency and civility, compassion and care in all interactions.”

National faith leaders signing the Clergy Against Bullying statement (http://tiny.cc/pidjb) include Katherine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, Michael Kinnamon, general secretary of the National Council of Churches, Geoffrey Black, general minister and president of the United Church of Christ, Cynthia J. Bolbach, moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Yvette Flunder, presiding bishop of The Fellowship and Nancy Wilson, moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches.

“The Episcopal Church abhors the persecution of any group of human beings and seeks the just and dignified treatment of all,” Jefferts Schori said.

“The member churches of the National Council of Churches are moved by scripture to affirm every person as a valued child of God and to support protection from bullying and discrimination,”

Presiding Bishop Appoints Special Coordinators for Haiti to Facilitate Churchwide Efforts to Rebuild

he Rev. Joseph Murrenz Constant and the Rev. Rosemari Gaughan Sullivan have been appointed

by Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori as Special Coordinators for Haiti.

Their task will be to facilitate the multiple efforts among Episcopal churches, dioceses, networks and organizations committed to the rebuilding of the Diocese of Haiti.

Constant and Sullivan will work closely with Bishop Zaché Duracin and other leaders of the Diocese of Haiti.

The Church’s Executive Council reviewed a new effort to focus on a rebuilding appeal built on their February 2010

and straight people of faith standing together for the

Kinnamon said. “Just as we spoke out on behalf of Muslims who were under threat, so we now

resolution committing $10 million for initial reconstruction in the Diocese of Haiti.

Haitian-born Constant is director of Racial and Ethnic Ministries and Coordinator for Recruitment at Virginia Theological Seminary, overseeing the Seminary’s partnerships with the Diocese of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Sullivan is rector of St. Paul’s Rock Creek, Washington, D.C. Currently, Sullivan volunteers as the coordinator of the Haiti Long Term Recovery effort for the National Council of Churches of Christ, USA. They will continue in their current positions.

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stand as Clergy Against Bullying of our neighbors, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Given the recent outburst of anti-gay rhetoric and action, the Church must not be silent.”

For a full statement of Clergy Against Bullying and to sign on, go to the web site at http://tiny.cc/pidjb All clergy and people of good faith are welcome to sign.

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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Sudanese Delegation Wraps Up ‘awareness campaign’ Shows ‘unity’ of its Country’s Ecumenical Movement

By Lynette Wilson [Episcopal News Service] Southern Sudan has held to its identity since 1947 when the British organized the Juba Conference, which combined north and south into one political entity. Eight years later, in 1955, the first shots were fired and the south began its fight toward independence.

“The colonial administration drew the boundaries … they already knew the south was objecting to that kind of unity,” said Roman Catholic Bishop Daniel Adwok Oct. 20 during an interview with ENS in Washington, D.C. “The south has never accepted the unity; Sudan has never been a united country.”

After decades of civil war between north and south and millions of people dead and displaced, the south again is prepared to fight for independence this time -- with oversight from the international community -- preferring votes to guns.

An ecumenical delegation from Sudan, with representatives from the Episcopal and Roman Catholic churches and the Sudan Council of Churches -- a 14-member-church Christian body -- has spent the last 12 days in the United States on an awareness and advocacy campaign aimed at educating and gaining support from the U.S. government, the international community, and church and humanitarian aid partners in advance of the Jan. 9 vote.

The vote, or referendum, is the final provision of Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed in 2005 by the two warring parties -- Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in the south and the north’s Khartoum-based Government of Sudan. The CPA ended a 21-year civil war -- fought by the Arab and Muslim north and rebels in the Christian-animist south -- that killed more than 2 million people and displaced an estimated 7 million more.

“We are here to alert the world and let the people know that there are people in the Sudan who don’t want this referendum to take place,” said Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul of the Episcopal Church of Sudan in an interview in Washington, D.C. Oct. 20. “You have signed a comprehensive agreement, you have been given a chance to make it workable, you cannot come at this moment and say it’s not workable.”

Even as the delegation made the rounds, meeting with U.N. officials and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York, and U.S. government and international officials in Washington, D.C., news agencies reported a high-ranking government official in the north saying the referendum may need to be postponed until “border issues” can be resolved.

Postponement of the referendum, which can be interpreted as an inhibition to the southern peoples’ right to self-determination, after six years’ time allotted for preparation is not an option, the delegation explained.

“You cannot delay dignity to a person,” Adwok said, adding that destruction gave way to reason when warring parties signed the CPA, and with that came the

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acknowledgment of the southerners’ rights and human dignity.

“We understand the technical difficulties, but we’ve said, let the referendum go ahead and all the other things that haven’t been resolved happen later,” he said. “The issue of the border may take 50 years; the oil, a lifetime. These are issues that have been let to disrupt the rights of people.”

The CPA also calls for equal oil revenue sharing between north and south (oil revenues account for 95 percent of Sudanese export revenues and 65 percent of government revenues, according to the International Monetary Fund); fair demarcation of north-south boundaries; and resolution of citizenship issues. A separate referendum is scheduled for the oil-rich region of Abyei, where residents will choose to join north or south.

The north has been accused of stalling the process in the leadup to the referendum and President Omar al-Bashir has said he will accept nothing short of “unity.”

Ecumenism at its best

The Episcopal Church of Sudan and the Roman Catholic Church in Sudan represent two of the largest non-government organizations in southern Sudan. The Episcopal Church has 31 dioceses, 26 of them in the south.

The Roman Catholic Church operates two archdioceses -- one in the north, including one diocese, and one in the south, including eight dioceses.

Together and with other Sudan Council of Churches members, they provide much-needed health, social and educational service to the people of southern Sudan.

In addition to Deng, and Adwok, who serves as auxiliary bishop in Khartoum, the ecumenical delegation included Roman Catholic Bishop Emeritus Paride Taban of Torit; the Rev. Ramadan Chan, general secretary of the Sudan Council of Churches; and the Rev. Sam Kobia, ecumenical special envoy to Sudan and former general secretary of the World Council of Churches.

The delegation’s mix represents “a very powerful witness of our ecumenical life together,” said the Rev. John McCullough, executive director of Church World Service.

“I think whenever there is an opportunity for Roman Catholics and for Protestants to come together and talk about issues that are of critical importance to the life of the church and to our faithfulness, then we ought to uplift that and celebrate that,” McCullough told ENS Oct. 13 prior to hosting a luncheon for the delegation at the Interchurch Center in New York.

“And certainly in the case of the Sudan, this is an extremely important moment for the churches to provide leadership for their people, and to talk about the future, what is a more hopeful and fruitful future, for the people of the Sudan.”

When the history is written, Kobia said, the world will know that the churches in Sudan stood from the beginning

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for the south’s right to self-determination in remarkable ways.

“The Sudanese churches have been working together in a way that I would say is fairly unique in the world today. The Protestant churches, the Catholic Church, the charismatic churches, all working in unity, particularly in addressing the pressing issues of Sudan today,” said Kobia Oct. 13 following the luncheon at the Interchurch Center.

“It is that way because, first of all, the interests are the same -- churches are working for justice, for peace, for reconciliation -- because of that, that drove all the churches together for the common interest,” said Chan, of the Sudan Council of Churches, Oct. 20 in Washington. “That has worked well, especially during the war and now that the country is going through this major transition. We feel that we belong together because the major concern is the same, and being together has actually worked for us because we have a strong voice as all faith communities, and our message is the same, so that also widens our network.”

Unity in defiance of unity

Identity in the north of Sudan is defined as Islamic and Arabic; in the south, Christian, charismatic and African identities prevail, explained Adwok, who lives in the north, adding that it was the Islamization of Sudan that brought the churches together.

“That made the church to take a strategic stand; our becoming ecumenical came later,” he said. “At first the church decided they had to help the people. The churches found that their constituency was the same, the Christians and the poor people who the government were not addressing and were resisting the pressure to Islam. And the second, the government was looking at the Christian church as an institution that had to disappear.

“These are the main ecumenical pillars of which we have built our ecumenical movement: threat of being annihilated, and the fact of the services that we have to render to the people.”

Christian churches began working together in unprecedented ways in post-colonial Sudan, explained Taban, who co-founded the Sudan Council of Churches.

During colonial times, the British divided the south into zones: Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, etc. When the British left in 1956, the churches came together and today ecumenism can be found within families. “… We prefer to be united, in order not to be used against one another,” Taban said. “And that is how the ecumenical situation in the Sudan is. It is very strong, it is very strong. In one family you might find that one of the sons is a Muslim, another is an Anglican, and another a Catholic. You see these are the differences you don’t find maybe here in America, or even in Europe.”

Lynette Wilson is an ENS staff writer.

GUEST COLUMNIST

The Church

The Rev. Sam Todd

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his month many of us make financial pledges to the work of the Church during 2011. I find that some people assume that the local churches are funded by the diocese or even by the national church as some local governments get substantial revenues from the federal government. But with the Church it is the other way round.

Some of the money we pledge to our local parishes gets

people who do not believe in organized religion. I used to urge them to come to my parish because we were not very organized. But they meant something else. They do not like the institutional Church. I am critical of it also. But since the institutional Church is the Church Christ himself instituted, I am loyal to it. The Church community makes some people squeamish. Their notion of pure religion is the solitary relationship of a human individual to a divine individual (of the alone to the Alone). But Christianity consists of a relationship between a human community and the divine community of the Holy Trinity. When Jesus returned to the Father he left as his successor no one individual but a community of very frail, human apostles, the embryonic Holy Catholic Church.

What many critics of the institutional Church really dislike is that she is full of people no better than themselves.

They were expecting something better, more ideal. But the Church is not ideal; she is concrete. So is the Bible, which never tells us to love mankind; rather the commandment is “Love your neighbor.” There are people who love humanity but can not get along with any of the people around them.

The Church is the on-going scandal of the incarnation, namely that God chooses to unite himself with people as weak, selfish, provincial and hypocritical as us. The greatest early heresy arose from the Greek philosophical mentality that could not believe God would so sully himself as to do such a thing. I agree that it is incredible, but God’s grace so

for both sexes in marriage ... The Church strengthened the family by surrounding marriage with solemn ceremony, and exalting it from a contract to a sacrament ... It was through the influence of the Church that Valentinian I, in 374, made infanticide a capital crime ... The outstanding moral distinction of the Church was her extensive provision of charity ... Never had the world seen such a dispensation of alms as was now organized by the Church ... She helped widows, orphans, the sick or infirm, prisoners, victims of natural catastrophes; and she frequently intervened to protect the lower orders from unusual exploitation or excessive taxation” (The Story of Civilization Vol. IV pp. 76-78).

I would add that the Christian Church gave birth to most of the other charitable institutions of the western world. She was mother to the hospital. She was mother to the orphanage and the alms house. She was mother to the university, which now often scorns her. It is the frequent fate of parents who breed idealism into their children that they themselves become the first victims of that critical and censorious turn idealism can take.

The Church introduced to the Western world habits of kindness, mercy and civility we now take for granted. Would those habits endure without her? In 1976, the historian Paul Johnson wrote, “Certainly mankind without Christianity conjures up a dismal prospect … In the last generation, with public Christianity in headlong retreat, we have caught our first, distant view of a de-Christianized world, and it is not

Christianity consists of a relationship between a human community and the divine community of the Holy Trinity passed on to the Diocese of Texas to fund the personnel and programs of the diocese. It in turns sends some funds to the Episcopal Church Center for their ministries and some of that money is contributed to the international missions of the Anglican Communion.

Our giving and our membership are both local and universal. No one is baptized into his local parish or even into the Episcopal Church but rather into Christ’s One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. On the other hand, he is also made a member of his particular parish because the universal Church does not exist apart from specific local communities of Christians.

I want to dwell on this point because I so often meet

often is.

Will Durant was a former seminarian who wound up preferring the pure rational air of philosophy. Though a critic of Christianity and the Church, he had this to say about the early Church: “For the first time in European history the teachers of mankind preached an ethic of kindness ... humility, patience, mercy, purity, chastity and tenderness -virtues perhaps derived from the lowly social origins of the Church, and their popularity among women, but admirably suited to restore order to a de-moralized people, to tame the marauding barbarian, to moderate the violence of a falling world.

“The Church ... demanded a single standard of fidelity

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encouraging. We know that Christian insistence on man’s potentiality for good is often disappointed; but we are also learning that man’s capacity for evil is almost limitless ...

Man is imperfect with God. Without God, what is he? As Francis Bacon put it: ‘They that deny God destroy man’s nobility: for certainly man is kin to the beasts by his body; and, if he be not kin to God by his spirit, he is a base and ignoble creature’” (A History of Christianity, p. 517).

I would put it more succinctly: You cannot cut the religious roots of the tree of ethics and expect to long enjoy its fruits of decency. This year I am happy to fertilize those roots with the manure of my money.

Email Todd at: stodd2423@att.net

Texas Episcopalian

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Harrison

High

Doyle

Bishops’ November Calendars 3 12:30 p.m.

4-5 6 7 10:30 a.m.

6 p.m.

9-10 10 7 p.m.

11 10 a.m.

14 9 a.m.

6 p.m.

17 2:30 p.m.

21 9 a.m.

11 a.m.

1 p.m.

24 11:30 a.m.

Galveston Convocational Clericus, TBA Executive Council Strategic Planning, Chicago Center for Houston’s Future Fall Forum, the Woodlands St. Thomas’, College Station, CF Epiphany, Calvert Province VII Bishops, Dallas St. James’, Conroe, Celebration of New Ministry for Jerald Hyche Church Corporation, Diocesan Center St. Dunstan’s, Houston, CF Blessing of New Building & Consecration of Chapel, Trinity, Marshall St. Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities Leadership, Houston Christ Church Cathedral, Houston Christ Church Cathedral, Houston, CF Christ Church Cathedral, Houston, CF (Spanish service) LOTS Thanksgiving Service & Lunch, Trinity, Houston

1 12 p.m.

Christ Church, Tyler, ECW Meeting 3 9:15 a.m.

St. Luke’s Hospital Board Meeting, Houston 6 6:30 p.m.

All Saints’, Austin, Vestry Meeting and Dinner 7 9 a.m.

All Saints’, Austin, CF and Celebration of All Saints Day

3 p.m.

St. Peter’s, Lago Vista, CF 9-10 Dallas, Province VII Bishops Meeting 11 3 p.m.

St. Luke’s Health System Board Meeting 13-14 Camp Allen, Soulfood Retreat 14 9 a.m.

St. John’s, Center

4 p.m.

Camp Allen, Cursillo Closing

4 p.m. Camp Allen, Little Church Club Meeting 15

Camp Allen, Little Church Club Meeting 16 12 p.m.

All Saints’ Tyler, School Board Meeting 18 1 p.m.

St. James’ House, Baytown, Board Meeting 21 10:30 a.m.

St. Francis’, Houston, CF

5 p.m.

St. Timothy’s, Houston, CF 23 7 p.m.

Christ Church, Eagle Lake, Celebration of New Ministry for Ralph Morgan

2 12 p.m.

3 6:30 p.m.

4 7 p.m.

7 9 & 11 a.m.

4:30 p.m.

8 10 a.m.

9-10 11-12 13 5:30 p.m.

14 10:30 a.m.

17 6 p.m.

18 9:30 a.m.

19 7:30 p.m.

21 11 a.m.

5 p.m.

22 6 p.m.

St. Luke’s Health System Finance and Audit Committee, Houston Seminarian Dinner, Austin St James’, Austin, CF Palmer Memorial, Houston, CF Calvary, Richmond, CF Seminary of the Southwest Clergy Group, Austin Meeting of Province VII Bishops, Dallas Nathan Network Board Meeting, Salt Lake City St. John’s 50th Anniversary, Austin St. Christopher’s, Killeen, CF St. John the Divine, Houston, Thanksgiving Dinner Commission on Ministry, Camp Allen St. Andrew’s, Houston, CF St. Michael’s Austin, CF St. Richard’s, Round Rock, CF El Buen Samaritano Board Meeting

Mission Funding Opportunties

Episcopal Diocese of Texas Diocesan Center 1225 Texas Ave. Houston, TX 77002-3504

2 0 11 M i s s i o n f u n d i n g Opp o r t u n i t i e s C D

For questions or to request a presentation, contact Kathy Culmer, Mission Funding coordinator at kculmer@epicenter.org or call 713.520.6444 ext. 1050. Please review online Mission Funding materials at www.epicenter.org/missionfunding.

The deadline for responding to your 2011 Missionary Asking is November 19, 2010.

Texas Episcopalian

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November

2010

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St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital has created the Wall of Heroes memorial to recognize those who have saved lives through organ donation which was dedicated in September. More than 96,000 people across the United States are in need of life saving organs - 7,000 are in Texas. Every 13 minutes a new name is added to the national waiting list and every single day, 17 people lose their lives waiting for a life-saving organ. At St. Luke’s, organ donors heroes are considered heroes; whether they signed up as donors themselves, or had families make that critical decision for them.

In the Anglican Communion A global community of 77 million Anglicans in 500 dioceses in 164 countries Archbishop of Canterbury The Most Rev. Rowan Williams Lambeth Palace, London, England, SE1 7JU Anglican Communion Office 16 Tavistock Crescent Westbourne Park London W 11 1AP United Kingdom www.lambethpalace.org www.anglicancommunion.org In the United States A community of 2.5 million members in 120 dioceses in the Americas and abroad Presiding Bishop The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori Episcopal Church Center 815 Second Ave., NY, NY 10017 1.800.321.2231 www.episcopalchurch.org In the Diocese of Texas One Church of more than 85,000 members in 153 congregations in the eastern quadrant of Texas, established in 1849 Bishop The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle dotbp@epicenter.org 1225 Texas Ave. Houston, TX 77002-3504 1.800.318.4452 1.713.520.6444 FAX 1.713.520.5723 Austin: 1.512.478.0580, 1.800.947.0580 Tyler: 1.903.579.6012 www.epicenter.org editor: cbarnwell@epicenter.org