Seek, news from the Episcopal Church in Missouri Diocese

Volume 4, Number 4, Winter 2011

The 172nd Convention: a snapshot of this past year in the diocese and imagining our future

Collaboration, governance, worship, and 3 bishops

Photos: Bishop Katharine meeting with diocesan clergy Friday; convention in session; welcoming Bishop Stephen and Lillian; Dean Mike Kinman welcomes; diocesan priest Virginia Noel talking with Bishops Wayne and Katharine; Saturday morning Eucharist at Christ Church Cathedral; Emily Hillquist Davis, vicar of St. Thomas Church for the Deaf signing at Eucharist; Bishop Katharine on convention floor.

This year’s annual meeting of the diocese welcomed the presiding bishop, the Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, who attended some of the meeting and preached at convention Eucharist. On this year’s convention agenda was a resolution to renew the companion diocese relationship with Diocese of

Lui in South Sudan for another 5 years. Attending for the vote was Lui’s bishop Stephen Dokolo and his wife Lillian, and Anne Powell, a mission partner from the Blackmore-Vale Deanery, Diocese of Salisbury, Church of England. convention recap begins on page 4...

Bishop Wayne Smith addresses the diocese

A time for engaging in God’s mission Bishop’s address delivered to the 172nd Annual Meeting of the Diocese of Missouri, held this Nov 18-19 at Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis.

The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri 1210 Locust Street St. Louis, Missouri 63103 ph: 314-231-1220 online: diocesemo.org email: info@diocesemo.org

Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I think that I am in the middle of a years-long conversation with you about Church and Mission, a conversation worth having. And not just any Church but this Episcopal Church– especially the Episcopal Church in this Diocese, set within the population and geography here in the eastern half of Missouri.

This conversation needs to be as specific as possible, undertaken with the twelve thousand five hundred Christians who are the Diocese of Missouri.

The conversation takes place within two important contexts–this middle-American context where we live, and a larger context of religious life in

western culture. In the American context, Churches are having a hard go of it. Only two Churches, in fact, are currently showing growth: The Assemblies of God and the Mormons. Every other Church shows decline in varying degrees. Even the Church of my childhood, the Southern Baptist Church, is caught in this decline despite a lingering and false myth that they are growing.

The Episcopal Church is experiencing this decline. The Diocese of Missouri is experiencing this decline.

I say these words, not to bring about panic, or increase anxiety, or cause shame. I say these words just to tell the truth. That’s how things are.

No more. No less. The truth is no reason for self-pity and still less for despair. In fact, I find a very enlivening question to follow onto this truth, and it is this: What is God asking from a Church in decline? It is not our lot to sit down under a castor bean plant like Jonah did, in a world-class pout, just because things did not go the way Jonah wanted. But they did go the way God wanted.

Dear friends, we still have enormous resources. There are still twelve thousand five hundred of us in this diocese, just under two million in the USA. We have energy and creativity. Episcopalians are the smartest people I know. We have real assets church-wide, somewhere between seven and nine billion dollars in investments alone. What is God asking from us?

I have three answers, two of which are provisional, but one of which is clear.

• To live within our means.

• To organize our life together to be right-sized and nimble. (These two are the provisional answers.)

• To engage in God’s mission. (This one I am sure about.)

First of all: living within our means.

The leaders in this diocese, especially the Treasurer and Diocesan Council, understand the power of this principle, and they have exercised it responsibly. continued on next page...

Bishop Stephen Dokolo and his wife Lillian crisscross the Missouri diocese in 4 weeks

Weaving stories of Sudan, stories of Missouri Plans had been made, as best as they could, but simple things like passports and visas in the newest country on earth are not always simple. Eden Seminary graduate, and new bishop of the Diocese of Lui in the brand new country of South Sudan had planned to come to Missouri with his wife Lillian for diocesan convention to witness the vote on renewing the companion relationship between the two dioceses for another five years.

September passed, then October, and still no working US State Department in Juba to issue visas. One month out and it appeared Stephen Dokolo would need to travel north to the embassy

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in Khartoum, not particularly safe for southerners in this new era. Stephen and Lillian went north having heard they’d have passports in hand before leaving, but that was also not to be.

Airplane reservations made, the promised passports were to return to Juba the night before needed for departure. Still, no passports. The last hope was getting the documents on a 4 a.m. flight from Khartoum to Juba, and with no courier available, handing them to a responsible looking passenger and praying they would be delivered before the Dokolos needed to board flights out of Africa. Prayers answered, the visas arrived and the Dokolos were off to diocesan convention in St. Louis.

They were able to witness Missourians voting to renew the companion di-

ocese relationship during the Saturday business session. After some time with the presiding bishop, then they were off to share worship and fellowship around the diocese for the next weeks.

The call had gone out a couple of weeks ahead of their arrival in the weekly diocesan newsletter iSeek and online at the missioners’ blog at LuiNetwork. ning.com; an open calendar was set up and lay or clergy could suggest parish activities, or simply offer to take the Dokolos to a favorite coffee house or to share a meal.

Bishop Wayne scheduled their Sundays, which began the day after convention with Bishop Stephen preaching both services at Advent Church in Crestwood and blessing crosses for a new chapter of Daughters continued on page 6

12/20/2011 8:46:33 PM

Bishop’s address continued

For th e Lif e of th e Worl d

For the first time in recent memory, the draft budget for 2012 has been balanced at every point of its development. For the first three steps of review, it was balanced. The fourth step, your deliberation on the final draft tomorrow, will consider a draft in balance.

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there is the financial cost for such an organization.

I have not counted the committees, commissions, taskforces, and ministries recently. I do know that there are fewer than 150. Over the years, you may have noticed my preference for appointing work groups, set to a specific task, which then disappear once the task is completed. This, I believe, helps us to be that nimble organization which the times require of us.

depend more and more on the work of our own hands in accomplishing it. There will be more doing and less hiring—which in the final assessment is a good thing. This notion builds a church which looks more like Romans 12 and like Ephesians 4, an organic body with many members each fulfilling a function, with Christ Jesus the head. This robust organic model of the Church has the ability to draw all the baptized into what clergy already know, that mission and ministry are deeply satisfying. Shared ministry is not simply a matter of getting a job done, you see. It is for the well-being of everyone involved.

Living within our means is sensible and it is responsible. It makes possible a sustainable future for the life of this diocese. It does these things, and two more. First, a balanced budget is a morale boost for everyone involved.

You no doubt have noticed that It takes anxiety about money out of the over the past years the staff in my ofsystem, and it increases creativity. If fice has grown smaller—incrementally, we do not have the money for an impainfully, and out of necesportant ministry, sity. I bring you glad tidings: or to participate Answer number three to the questhe draft budget before The future of our in mission, then tion, What does God ask from a church this Convention contains we have to find in decline? Engage in God’s mission. I Church also lies in no proposed reductions in other ways to do find brilliant examples of mission in staff. But the incremental, hands-on mission what needs to be places around our diocese, small places painful, and necessary redone. The future and big, city and not the city. People in and ministry. ductions in the years past of our Church our parishes and missions are respondmay have brought with lies more in ing and using that missional template: them a paradoxical result. A the networking of resources than in context, text, action. They are intersmaller staff may in fact be right-sized the hiring of staff. The future of our preting their neighborhoods. They are for this Diocese.

Church also lies in hands-on mission looking to scripture to make sense out and ministry. And by that I mean your of the context. They A smaller hands and mine. Second, living within are taking action. This staff may be our means, in our circumstances, has is a good thing, the lomore nimble.

Here’s the challenge some unintended and desirable financal expressions of misA smaller staff that I put before all 46 cial consequences. How odd that must sion. May they grow in may be more sound, but more about it later. Uninnumber and power. responsive. of our communities tended and desirable consequences are No one in All of us also of faith: discern what rare. my office can share in God’s misassume that you are really good These matters also apply to the sion with Lui Diocese someone else whole of the Episcopal Church, whose in South Sudan. Lui at, and find some way will take care financial future, following current lies in a distant place, of the matter to share it, network it, trends of funding and spending, will twenty hours by air, that comes to become unsustainable by 2020. Somerequiring at least two or collaborate in that his or her atthing must be done, and a resolution days’ travel. Being tention. I am ministry with others. asking the General Convention to conthere is hard for Westvery proud sider a strategy to this end will come erners, with few of the of the people before you tomorrow. We are at a customary amenities who work in point in our common life when we canavailable. The climate is hard. The livmy office. They work hard and ably. not simply replicate practices from an ing conditions are hard. Travel within They serve me well, and they serve earlier era. The words of James Lowthe diocese is hard. In the aftermath the Church well. This reduction in ell’s great hymn text say it aptly: New of the long civil war, very occasionally, staff necessarily forces a reimagining of occasions teach new duties, time makes the situation turns dangerous. ministry. That is to say, we will need to ancient good uncouth. become ever more adept in the poolEveryone can participate in this A final word about finances: the ing and networking of resources, and work with Lui, but not everyone can go anecdotal evidence I have gathered in generally doing what needs to be done there. Digging wells, buying bicycles, the last couple of rounds of visitations by other means. supporting education—we have all had tells me that more and more parishes a part in these things.

Here’s the challenge that I put beand missions are living close to the fore all 46 of our communities of faith: This fact that not everyone can go edge. Let me be clear that this is not discern what you are really good at, and to Lui forces travelers and pilgrims on a statistical analysis, but it is evidence find some way to share it, network it, or their return, to reclaim the diminishnonetheless. Our forty-six communicollaborate in that ministry with othing art of storytelling. What is it like to ties continue to have the resources ers. Often we think about such sharing be among these, some of God’s other to do what needs to be done. But the as a responsive reflex only. Someone children? How can we retell their stoeconomic situation in these communineeds to ask for help, and then maybe ries, and add those of our own? I beties and in our diocesan life bears close we will think about it. What if we learn lieve that monitoring. I intend to do so, and I ask to take the initiative in setting forward we need our treasurer and Diocesan Council to what we are good at—instead of waitto have a exercise vigilance also.

I believe that we need ing for someone to ask? This approach presence in Second answer to the question, sets up an entirely different dynamic. a place that to have a presence in a What is God asking from this Church So what if you have a decent youth is distant, place that is distant, and in decline: Organize our life together group? Or you sense that the next parand hard, to be right-sized and nimble. The truth ish over, like your own parish, lacks a and where hard, and where God is is that financial straits can force us to critical mass for ministry with youth?

God is so so evidently at work. do what we probably should have been What if you took the initiative? What evidently doing all along. When I became Bishif you didn’t wait for someone to orgaat work. I op, there were over 150 committees, nize it for you? What if all of us learn believe that commissions, taskforces, and ministo work from our strengths, as well as at this juncture we need to be in Lui tries in this Diocese. That’s too many. our needs? Deliberate collaboration Diocese, and I hope that we will conThere can hardly be any focus in an provides a way forward for the Church. tinue our partnership with them. This organization so structured, especially is a crucial time, with the emergence of As I said earlier, and by the grace in an organization the size of the Episa new nation called South Sudan. This of God, ministry in the years ahead will copal Diocese of Missouri. And then is a crucial time also, with the death Winter 2011

The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

Making Disciples • Building Congregations • For the Life of the World

12/20/2011 8:46:33 PM

When it comes time for Missouri to find a new partnership in God’s mission, and that time will come, I hope that we will not draw back from finding another place that is distant and hard. A Church like ours needs nothing less, to shape us into the faithful people whom God has in mind.

live there for a year. They would number fewer than ten, and they would commit to work in or near the neighborhood where they live. They would live simply, and they would first of all learn the neighborhood, and from the neighbors.

A fatal temptation for Christians who are relatively well-off is to assume that we can enter such a neighborhood with answers. No. We can only enter such a neighborhood with humility and a desire to meet some of God’s other children who live there.

Pilgrimage is a key metaphor for this work. Those who go there will encounter holy ground and the holy people who live there.

Grace Church closed in 1976, but Grace Hill continues in existence, a major provider of social services in St. Louis City. The Diocese of Missouri still owns the property of Grace Church, including the parish’s rectory.

We need a venue for mission in the Diocese of Missouri and in St. Louis City.

Old North St. Louis is a place where we have been before and it looks like a place for us to be again.

Let me backtrack to my earlier words about living within our means and some unintended and desirable financial consequences doing so. Our careful economy of money these past years leaves the Thompson fund with what looks like enough for the launching of this work.

The Thompson Fund, you will remember, is that generous gift to the Diocese of Missouri from the estates of Frank and Mattie Thompson, with the bishop as sole trustee. I have devoted most of the income of the fund to the Diocesan Budget for many years, and I am still putting in $465,000 this year.

There is still money left over. An unintended, and good, consequence of living within our means: we can afford to undertake this exciting new possibility.

I have big dreams about mission.

I dream that we might understand the work of mission as part of the curriculum for discipleship, that Scripture provides not simplistically a handbook for better living but a guidebook and a map for what God is doing in the world.

And how we might join in with that.

Mission changes the missioner and the pilgrim. Mission is very important for every church in every time. Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple wrote: “The Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members.” The Church is not the only place where God is acting in the world, and John 3:16 does not read “for God so loved the Church.”

No, it reads “for God so loved the World.” And yet the church is the irreducible servant of God’s mission in the world.

Mission is very important for every church in every time. It is nonnegotiable in times like ours. So whether in the neighborhoods around our 46 communities of faith, or in Lui Diocese, or in Old North St. Louis, we have to be about this work for the good of our souls and for the life of the world. Making disciples, building congregations, for the life of the world. I still think this is what we’re about.

I ask you to join me in this pilgrimage deeper into what God is accomplishing through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit for the transformation of an entire universe.

What a grand adventure it is!

The Right Reverend Wayne Smith is the Tenth Bishop of Missouri.

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Bu i l di n g C o n gre ga ti o ns

But a church Bishop Gra...a strategy for engaglike ours also needs ham Cray, a Bishop a venue close by, ing God’s mission in Suffragan in the still difficult, a a neighborhood in St. Diocese of Canplace requiring no terbury writes this: Louis City...an ancient crossing of oceans, “There is no quick a place no more one recovered and fix strategy for than three-hour work among those adapted...a strategy of drive from the who have no exfarthest reaches intentional Christian perience of church of the Diocese of and little knowlcommunity.

Missouri. Many of edge of the Chrisus have dreamt of tian story. It calls such a place for all for a long-term of us to have a share in; I have dreamt incarnational ministry.” Showing up of such a place. I think that a venue and and offering generous hospitality are a mission strategy are becoming clear. key practices in this model. And it Let me begin with a strategy for enhas proved enormously attractive for gaging God’s mission in a neighborhood young adults, who might crave an honin St. Louis City. It is not a new stratest community, who might be themegy. It is an ancient one recovered and selves be seekers, who might wonder adapted. It is the strategy of intentional about God’s call in their life (and I Christian community, the practices of am not just talking about ordination). which find their roots in monasticism.

This approach to mission in the Mindful of the necessary closing city would require a house for the comof Columbia Hope earlier this year, munity to inhabit; it would seek out inwhat I have in mind is not a traditional ternships and places for the residents Church plant. to work; and it would stake a claim for the rest of us to engage in God’s misIntentional Christian commusion. It could give all of us a venue. nity: people who live together, eat together, pray together, and work toImagine a weekend-long urban gether. Residents commit to a rule plunge for youth groups. Imagine a of common life, so much so that this place for after-school tutoring, and strategy is often called “the new moyour participating in it (this is already nasticism.” The model has found an expressed need from the neighborgreat success in cities around the USA hood). Imagine spending sweat equity and in the United Kingdom. People in helping to rehab an old house. Imagdo not literally become monks and ine a place for pilgrimage, for all of us. nuns with the goal of making life Imagine even more. vows, but they do live an avowed life A likely neighborhood for this for a time certain, usually for a year. work is Old North St. Louis, about The establishment of intentional a mile and a half north of here. Old Christian communities has historically North is a neighborhood of significant been a most effective long-term stratimpoverishment but also with signifiegy for evangelization, an old-fangled cant redevelopment at its core. The idea made new. It is commonplace new Mississippi River Bridge, compleknowledge that the Celtic monasteries tion date in 2015 or so, will open the in Britain formed the bedrock of what neighborhood for traffic-flow south to it means to be Christian in our own downtown. The two great landmarks heritage. But not Celtic only, for the are Grace Hill Settlement House, and arrival of Latin Christianity in EngCrown Candy Kitchen, that place with land came with Benedictine monks, a heart attack in every bite. whose first foundation was at CanOld North started as separate interbury. Our culture has an untapped corporated village in 1816 before behunger for genuine community, and coming part of St. Louis City in 1841. this strategy draws on that hunger. And Its elegant brick houses later turned the classic place for Christians to plant into rooms and apartments for newgenuine community is in a neighborcomers to the city, and it was densely hood of material need. urban. Late in the nineteenth century I am imagining a house for such Old North was a destination for immian intentional community in an impovgrants from Eastern Europe and Italy erished, changing neighborhood in St. in particular. It was also a first home for Louis City. Residents would commit to people moving into St. Louis from the

Missouri countryside. Grace Episcopal Church was in the neighborhood, and the parish saw what was happening all around them. In 1903 the parish and the diocese responded by building a settlement house, a safe place and a first place for these newcomers to call home as they settled into the neighborhood.

Maki n g Dis c i p l es

of Bishop Bullen Dolli and his succession by Bishop Stephen Dokolo. God willing, Bishop Stephen and his wife Lillian will join us tomorrow. Getting travel documents in a nation trying to invent itself has been a challenge, and we will know that the challenge has been met in the event that they are here tomorrow.

Winter 2011

DioceseMo.org

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172nd Convention Recap Even those who are not convention-junkies were excited about the prospect of the 172nd annual meeting of the diocese this year.

The presiding bishop, the first woman elected as primate in the Anglican Communion, was visiting the diocese during convention.

One of the resolutions to be voted upon was a renewal of the companion diocese relationship with Lui in South Sudan, and their bishop and his wife were traveling to be at convention for the vote. All of the events of convention were held in Christ Church Cathedral (and the attached building called Bishop Tuttle Memorial Building)—which was hosting an exhibit of modern icons which filled a good third of the cathedral space. Challenges or opportunities—how would convention interpret this time?

Friday morning, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori met with diocesan clergy. She spoke to them briefly, then invited them to prayer amongst the art in that holy space, then engaged them in conversation.

Before the gavel comes down, the Commission on Ministry meets and the Canon to the Ordinary Dan Smith, Secretary to Convention Jim Hood and Diocesan Chancellor Hal Burroughs hold “Convention 101,” a quick introduction or refresher on what the next hours will hold.

Registration is open. Convention delegates need to sign-in on both days to assure a quorum of delegates, everyone grabs a quick lunch and Bishop Wayne gavels the meeting into session.

The Standing Committee, the diocesan council of advice to the bishop, gave their report to convention in the form of a video which asked the question, What if? Diocesan Council vice-chair Alisa Barnes delivered their year end report. Convention acknowledged the closing of Columbia Hope by resolution. New clergy were recognized, nominees for the elected positions were in-

troduced, the budget was introduced...the first plenary session is a stop-motion presentation of the past year’s life of the diocese.

After a short break, hearing begin. This is where the work of the delegates begins in earnest as they discuss budget and resolutions submitted.

The second plenary officially begins, and the order differs from past years with Bishop Wayne’s address on Friday afternoon, text on page 1. Then a reception in the cathedral nave gave convention delegates and visitors a chance to meet and share a few words or pose for a photo with Bishop Katharine.

Saturday morning opened with Eucharist in the cathedral, Bishop Katharine preaching: Our old settled tradition of staying put in church and waiting for others to come to us doesn’t work so well with younger generations or the unchurched. Our message remains the same as it always has, but we need new ways of telling it and showing an effective response to the hungry outside our doors.

What does Jesus tell his band of wanderers? He sends the 70 out two by two to every city where he plans to go himself. He SENDS them OUT. That’s where our word “mission” comes from. When they arrive in the mission field, they’re supposed to find some place that’s interested in hearing what they have to say, and then stay long enough to build some community and have an effective conversation.

They’re supposed to start with good news of peace, and then share food, heal the sick, and tell about the coming reign of God. Our fall-back habits are rather different. For centuries we’ve depended on an established pattern of building beautiful churches and expecting that people will know where to find good news. That’s not quite the same as what Jesus told those 70 missionaries. Nor is the news that’s always proclaimed. We’ve often heard supposed Christians start out with words of damnation rather than peace—listen up, believe right, or you’re going to hell! And most of us still tend to continued on next page...

Seek is published quarterly by the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri.

Executive Editor: The Rt. Rev. Wayne Smith, Bishop of Missouri Editor: Ms. Beth Felice, Director of Communications Editorial Board: the Rev. Teresa K. M. Danieley, rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, St. Louis; Mr. Jerry Martin, St. Paul’s Church, St. Louis; Mrs. Susan Moenkhaus, St. Timothy’s Church, St. Louis; the Rev. Jason Samuel, rector of Church of the Transfiguration, Lake St. Louis; the Rev. Beverly Van Horne, Interim Dean of the Episcopal School for Ministry; the Rev. Dan Smith, Canon to the Ordinary, Diocese of Missouri.

Vol. 4, No. 4, Winter 2011

Episcopal Diocese of Missouri Offices of the Bishop 1210 Locust St, 3rd floor St. Louis, Missouri 63103 314-231-1220

Diocesan members may request a complimentary subscription by mail; send address to the Offices of the Bishop, attn. Seek subscription. Seek is distributed to each parish, mission, and preaching station in the diocese. Archived editions of Seek are available online at diocesemo.org.

Submissions by post, attn. Beth Felice, or by email to bfelice@diocesemo. org. Except for contributed articles and images labeled ©, this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 License. Printed in St. Louis by Nies Artcraft Companies, using soybased ink on recycled stock.

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Winter 2011

The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

The Episcopal Church’s Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori after preaching at Saturday morning’s convention Eucharist, and in a light-hearted moment after a presentation from Tamsen Whistler, Rector of Trinity Church in St. Charles and the president of Missouri’s deputation to the General Convention in 2012, presenting Bishop Katharine with a cap celebrating the 2011 World Series winning St. Louis Cardinals baseball team.

Elected to Cathedral Chapter, this year from outside St. Louis city or county, James Berger, parishioner from Trinity Church in De Soto and Catherine Hillquist, rector of St. Paul’s Church in Ironton and priest in charge of All Saints’ Church, Farmington.

Elected to Diocesan Council by convention were Michael Calvin, parishioner at All Saints’ Church in St. Louis and Jeffrey Klieve, parishioner at St. Martin’s Church in Ellisville.

Elected to Disciplinary Board (a new governance body after changes to our Constitution and Canons required by changes to the national church’s Canons: Title IV) were Jay Kloecker, parishioner at St. Peter’s Church in Ladue; Brooke Myers, rector of Church of the Holy Communion in University City (to fill a 2-year term); and Susan Skinner, retired priest in the diocese, most recently interim rector at Good Shepherd in Town and Country (to fill a 3-year term).

Elected to Standing Committee by convention were Harry Goff, parishioner at St. Barnabas’ Church in Florissant; Renee Fenner, rector of St. Barnabas’ Church in Florissant; and Anne Kelsey, rector of Trinity Church in the Central West End of St. Louis.

Bishop Wayne’s Visitations and Schedule Saturday, Dec 24 Christmas Eve at Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis Sunday, Jan 8 St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Warson Woods Sunday, Jan 22 Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral, St. Louis Sunday, Jan 29 St. Francis’ Episcopal Church, Eureka Sunday, Feb 5 All Saints’ Episcopal Cathedral, Farmington Saturday, Feb 11 Dismantling Racism Commission, Absalom Jones

celebration, Seeking our Past-Creating our Future,

Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis Sunday, Feb 12 Trinity Episcopal Church, St. Louis Sunday, Feb 26 Episcopal Church of the Advent, Crestwood Sunday, Mar 4 St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Fulton Sunday, Mar 25 Calvary Episcopal Church, Louisiana Sunday, Apr 1 Christ Episcopal Church, Rolla Saturday, Apr 7 Easter Vigil, Christ Church Cathedral Sunday, Apr 15 Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Webster Groves Sunday, Apr 22 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Sikeston Sunday, Apr 29 Episcopal Church of St. Michael and St. George, Clayton Sunday, May 6 Flower Sunday, Christ Church Cathedral

Dates for Episcopal School for Ministry (Spring and Summer Terms): December 17, 2011 Jan 27-28, 2012 Feb 24-25, 2012 Mar 23-24, 2012 Apr 21, 2012

May 18-19, 2012 June 15-16, 2012 July 20-21, 2012 Aug 18, 2012

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Resolutions passed by the 172nd Convention A-172

Implementation of Health Plan

Submitted by Diocesan Council 1. BE IT RESOLVED that this 172nd Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri require Congregations within the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri and the Offices of the Bishop to pay 100% of the cost of individual health insurance coverage (selected from the offerings included in the Denominational Health Plan and administered by the Episcopal Church Medical Trust) for all lay and ordained employees working 1,500 or more hours annually, in accordance with Title I, Canon 8 of the Episcopal Church and to be implemented no later than January 1, 2013; 2. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Lay and ordained employees of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri and the Offices of the Bishop eligible for required individual health insurance coverage under Section 1 of this resolution may elect not to participate in the Denominational Health Plan if they have access to coverage through other approved sources, e.g.

Medicare, Tricare, a former employer, or a spouse’s or domestic partner’s health insurance plan; 3. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Congregations within the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri and the Offices of the Bishop shall not reduce existing coverage or increase the cost of existing coverage to employees to comply with A177 or this resolution; 4. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that benefit design and premium support parity is required within each congregation of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri and the Offices of the Bishop in the provision of health insurance coverage for lay and ordained employees; 5. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED each congregation and the Offices of the Bishop may impose a monthly premium surcharge or incentive to lay and ordained employees who elect coverage for a spouse, domestic partner, or dependent who is eligible for comparable employer-sponsored health insurance (other than the Denominational Health Plan) through an alternate source; 6. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Congregations within the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri and the Offices of the Bishop are encouraged, if financially possible, to exceed the minimum standard of health insurance coverage for their lay and ordained employees; and 7. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that schools, day care facilities and other congregational and diocesan institutions, regardless of the independence of their incorporation or tax status, are encouraged to adopt the principles articulated in this resolution.

B-172

Companion Diocese

Submitted by the Companion Diocese Committee 1. BE IT RESOLVED that this 172nd Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri renews the commitment of the Diocese to the ongoing companion relationship with the Diocese of Lui in the Episcopal Church of Sudan for a second five-year period; 2. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this convention encourages the bishops of Lui and Missouri to review the existing companion relationship agreement and make any needed adjustments or revisions in consultation with the Companion Diocese Relationship Committee and other stakeholders in each diocese; and 3. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Diocese of Missouri will continue to partner with Blackmore Vale Deanery in Salisbury Diocese of the Church of England and the Diocese of Lund in the Lutheran Church of Sweden in their mutual relationship with the people of Lui Diocese through transparency, accountability, and communications, and whenever possible, through joint travels to South Sudan.

C-172

HIV/AIDS Awareness Sunday

Submitted by Metro IV Convocation

1. BE IT RESOLVED by this 172nd Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri that each congregation be encouraged to annually designate a Sunday for HIV/AIDS Awareness; 2. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each congregation be encouraged to have this HIV/AIDS Awareness Sunday on the Sunday closest to World AIDS Day, observed on December 1 each year; and 3. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that congregations may elect to recognize HIV/AIDS Awareness Sunday in one or more of the following ways: • By asking a speaker from an agency that serves people infected with HIV/AIDS to address the congregation. Examples of such agencies include, but are not limited to: Doorways, which provides housing; Food Outreach, which provides meals; and St. Louis Effort for AIDS. • By thoughtfully and intentionally preaching the good news of Jesus Christ in the shadow of the theological, ethical, and pastoral dilemmas raised by the HIV/AIDS crisis.

• By providing an educational program to parents/grandparents on how to discuss the risks of transmission of HIV/ AIDS with their children.

• By directly referencing those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS in the liturgy; for example, in the Prayers of the People or with a Litany, such as the one created by the ELCA for World AIDS Day.

D-172

Letters of Agreement

Submitted by the Venerable Mark D. Sluss, Archdeacon Substitute D-172 submitted by Resolutions Committee 1. BE IT RESOLVED that this 172nd Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri encourages rectors, vicars, vestries and bishop’s committees, as appropriate, to create or review letters of agreement with active, non-stipendiary clergy (presbyters and deacons) and presbyters in part-time cures; 2. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this convention encourages such letters of agreement to include provisions addressing: • Clear guidelines about time commitment, including time off • Necessary expenses for engagement with the diocese (e.g. diocesan convention and clergy days), • Membership expenses (e.g. MOCA, Association of Episcopal Deacons) • Budget for required continuing education • Mileage reimbursement 3. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this convention requests the Commission on Ministry, in consultation with the bishop, Canon to the Ordinary, and Finance Committee of Diocesan Council, to study the work conditions and expense allowances for active non-stipendiary deacons and presbyters and for presbyters in part-time cures and to develop a diocesan standard and model letters of agreement for adoption at the 2012 convention.

E-172

The Rev. Whiting Griswold

Submitted by St. John’s Church-Tower Grove (St. Louis) and Metro II Convocation BE IT RESOLVED that this 172nd Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri recognize and uphold the Reverend Whiting Griswold as an example of Christian sainthood, and encourage his recognition within the wider church, passing along this Resolution and Rationale to the Standing Liturgical Commission of the Episcopal Church, to consider adding the Rev. Whiting Griswold to the commemorations in Holy Women, Holy Men.

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F-172

Restructuring the Episcopal Church

Submitted by Ms. Lynette Ballard, St. Matthew’s-Warson Woods; the Very Rev. Ronald Clingenpeel, Trinity-CWE, St. Louis; Ms. Kathryn Dyer, St. Timothy’s-Creve Coeur; Mr. Donald W. Fisher, Christ Church Cathedral; Ms. Lisa Fox, Grace-Jefferson City; the Rev. Jason Samuel, TransfigurationLake St. Louis, the Rev. Doris Westfall, St. Matthew’s-Warson Woods; the Rev. Tamsen Whistler, Trinity-St. Charles BE IT RESOLVED that this 172nd Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri affirms the following resolution and hereby submits it for consideration by the 77th General Convention of The Episcopal Church: Resolved, the House of ____________ concurring, there shall be a Special Commission on Missional Structure and Strategy, the composition of which shall be at the discretion of the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies and the members of which shall be appointed jointly thereby not later than thirty days following the adjournment of this 77th General Convention. The Special Commission shall be charged with presenting a plan to the Church for reforming its structures, governance, administration, and staff to facilitate this Church’s faithful engagement in Christ’s mission to proclaim Good News to the poor, release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, freedom to the oppressed, and the acceptable year of the Lord (Luke 4:18) in a way that maximizes the resources available for that mission at all levels of this Church.

Resolved, the Special Commission shall endeavor to issue its report and recommendations along with resolutions necessary to implement them, including proposed amendments to the Constitution and Canons of this Church, so that they might be considered by a special General Convention prior to the convening of the 78th General Convention in 2015, in any event, not later than February 1, 2015.

Resolved, The General Convention requests the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $100,000 for the implementation of this resolution.

G-172

Minimum Clergy Compensation

Submitted on behalf of the Diocesan Council

1. BE IT RESOLVED that this 172nd Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri set the annual standard base compensation for full-time clergy in 2012 as follows: CASH SALARY $40,700 HOUSING ALLOWANCE $14,670 [The actual compensation should be determined by Resolution of the Vestry/Bishop’s Committee, in consultation with the clergy.]

2. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Church Pension Fund assessment will be paid by the congregation; Resolutions passed by the 172nd Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, meeting Nov. 18-19, 2011, in St. Louis, Missouri 3. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that $50,000 group life will be paid by the congregation; 4. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that medical coverage for clergy and eligible dependents, will be paid by the congregation; 5. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a standard of ten days per calendar year and $500 will be provided for continuing education;

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6. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the standard auto allowance will be $2,000 per year; 7. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all parishes and missions encourage their full-time clergy to set aside the equivalent of two days each week for personal time, 24 hours of which must be consecutive; and 8. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all parishes and missions be strongly encouraged to provide dental insurance for clergy and eligible dependents, or be assured they already have such coverage.

I-172

Old North St. Louis Initiative

Submitted from the floor by the Standing Committee

1. Be it resolved that this 172nd Convention of the Diocese of Missouri concur with Bishop Smith that he create and appoint a task force to investigate the possibilities for mission and ministry in the Old North neighborhood of the City of St. Louis, and that this task force conduct its work in collaboration with the Bishop and the Standing Committee, and make regular reports on its work to that body and to future conventions of the Diocese of Missouri; and 2. Be it further resolved that this Convention of the Diocese of Missouri encourage Bishop Smith and the task force of his appointment to explore the possibility of establishing a residential site on the model of Episcopal Service Corps internship programs; and 3. Be it further resolved that this Convention of the Diocese of Missouri ask the task force to keep in view as a goal for the program opportunities for the congregations and the people of the Diocese of Missouri to cooperate in the program’s mission and ministry.

172nd Convention Recap

continued from previous page

think that a bit of bread and a sip of wine is the only meal that’s really needed, and that an hour on Sunday morning is enough to build the reign of God—Well it is and it isn’t...

While third plenary began on the fourth floor, Richard Schori led a conversation with spouses and partners of Missouri clergy.

On the convention floor voting began. Nomination and resolution results are included in this newsletter. The budget passed as presented. Each resolution came to the floor for discussion and a vote. The Standing Committee was moved after hearing the bishop’s vision for a mission presence in Old North St. Louis neighborhood to submit a resolution of next steps on the convention floor.

It was passed. The final reports and courtesy resolutions were adopted and convention closed. The Standing Committee then meets with its newly elected members.

You can find links to the reports, budget, videos as they become available, sermon and speech texts, photos, resolutions passed, and convention minutes as they are made available all gathered into one place online at the diocesan website—http://diocesemo. org/172ndConventionOverview .

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Weaving stories of Sudan, stories of Missouri of the King being chartered there.

While in Missouri, the Dokolos stayed mostly with Bishop Wayne and Debbie Smith. Transportation was coordinated using an online calendar and cell phones outfitted for the Dokolos while stateside.

Much of the coordination fell to Debbie Smith or newly named chair of the companion diocese committee Evelyn Smith, but both remarked this trip could not have gone off so smoothly without the help of so many members of this diocese.

After their first Sunday at Advent, it was clear that Lillian needed warmer clothes if she was going to make it through the several weeks of the visit.

A few days to recover from their flight and they were ready to visit St. Francis’ Church in Eureka for a Thanksgiving Eve service. Vicar Sally Weaver had described it as an interactive service; parishioners offered their thanksgivings and the Dokolos, too, spoke about what the relationship with Missouri has meant for the people of Lui. Each time Bishop Stephen began a sermon or a presentation, he was intentional about greeting everyone assembled in the name of Jesus, and of making sure that people knew that his diocese wanted to convey warm greetings from everyone to everyone.

After the service, another pilgrimage to a favorite St. Francis afterchurch hang-out, the restaurant Steak and Shake. The hit of the evening were the milkshakes, and ice cream remained a popular request through their stay.

Many people talked of the “thanksgiving” event, and the Dokolos were eager to experience this family time with the Smith family.

Friday after Thanksgiving was spent with a family at the Missouri History Museum, and finding items like phone calling cards to Africa. The Dokolos son David and daughter Vicki stayed with family in Kampala, so enough phone minutes were very important.

Saturday morning was a reception at Trinity Church in St. Charles. Trinity’s community had been influenced by the first visit of Bishop Bullen Dolli to Missouri, and his stories of the civil war. The children of Trinity had asked him, bishop, there are so many things you don’t have—what is one thing that we children could do to help you in Lui. Bullen told them that his priests had to A MAP OF LUI DIOCESE - MUNDRI COUNTY, SOUTHERN SUDAN

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walk very long distances between parishes, and something as simple as a bicycle would be a huge gift. Relatable, it captured their imagination, and for several years the young people of Trinity held a “Bike for Bikes” fundraiser.

The story of the bikes, the money collected and their distribution, is emblematic of the relationship’s complexity. Uganda offered sturdy bicycles with repair kits, well suited to the Lui landscape, at around $100 a unit. Money continued to be collected in Missouri, but as Debbie Smith explained last November, “We received mixed messages about the need for additional bikes from Lui diocesan staff, who were eager to pursue other transportation projects. They told us we had bought enough bicycles. We considered the possibility of turning the money to other transportation needs with the permission of the donors. But after asking pastors and youth from around Lui Diocese, for several visits now, it has become clear that not all of them share the vision of their diocesan staff because so many are still traveling many miles and many hours on foot.

One pastor this month walked 11 hours to get to our pastors’ conference.”

Last fall, Missouri transferred all the bicycle money to the Diocese of Lui to buy 30 new bicycles and one motorbike. The bikes were to be divided evenly among the seven archdeaconries for use by anyone who needed one to make a long trip. The motorbike was for the diocesan youth coordinator, who has to be able to get to all seven archdeaconries. At 4 bikes per archdeaconry it seemed enough to share, and Missouri could turn to other partnership projects.

Over the years, donated bicycles have been given to individuals in order of rank and seniority, and that’s how the Missouri bikes were distributed. Smith continued, “while we expected all the pastors at our conference to have ridden bikes if they came far, we found that most of them had walked, while the archdeacon at home kept the bike.” Dokolo and Smith used it as a teaching moment in the conference to explain what each had intended. It was a useful moment that gave the Westerners a clearer understanding of Moru culture, and the bikeless pastors hope that they’d be next in line.

The second Sunday of his stay Bishop Stephen preached at Emmanuel Church in Webster Groves

31°E

30°E River Yei

6°N TEREKEKA COUNTY

● Losi

● Tapan

◘ Lakamadi

● Amadi

◘ Wandi

● Doso WEST MUNDRI COUNTY

Mundri

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● Agyi

● Wiro

● Lanyi ● Lozoh ● Doro◘ Buagyi

5°N

● Magyiri

◘ Minga

● Movo ◙ Lui

● Bekenye ◘ Kediba

● Singirijwa

● Gabat ◘ Mideh

● Kporolo ● Mariba Diocese Boundary Road Diocese Centre

JUBA COUNTY

◙

Archdeaconry Centre ◘ Village ●

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then attended an open house. Monday took the Dokolos to a presentation for high school students at MICDS with missioner Sandy Coburn. Tuesday was a trip to Hannibal for some Missouri history, caving, and an afternoon meeting with Dawn-Victoria Mitchell, rector, and parishioners from Trinity Church in Hannibal.

On Wednesday, Bp. Stephen joined members of St. Stephen’s Church in Ferguson for a healing service, a potluck dinner, and a presentation followed by questions.

Again, the Dokolos outlined some of the needs and hopes for Lui, and St. Stephen’s members started imagining how they might be involved. A question often asked during their visit—could we just send this to you in the mail?

The twenty years of civil war with the north took the already poor area of South Sudan back to having practically nothing. And even by Sudanese standards, the Diocese of Lui is rural, no running water, simple latrines for waste, electricity the hours that a generator runs. There is no bank to transfer funds, there is no post office.

The diocesan post office box is in Juba, a 100 kilometer drive south from Lui on the unpaved “highway.” Should mail be destined for an outlying archdeaconry, say Lakamadi, it has to be taken first to the diocesan office in Lui, then on up the road to Lakamadi.

And that, said the bishop, is assuming the item actually made it was still at the post office in Juba to be picked up.

The Toyota Landcruiser sits in disrepair, too old for the spare parts that can be found. Partners in the Diocese of Lund, Lutheran Church of Sweden are raising money to purchase a new car, but in the meantime, the trip to Juba happens on a bus. Lui is a small town on the bus route from large city to city, sometimes the bus is full as it drives by en route. Bishop Stephen described his journey to attend Lillian’s graduation from university: busses not stopping, waiting days for one that had a seat, transfers and more waiting, and arriving at 3 a.m. to attend her 9 a.m. graduation ceremony.

Thursday the Dokolos and members of the companion diocese committee talked with Missouri clergy at clergy day, then attended the play Tom Sawyer at the St. Louis Repertory Theater.

Between all of these larger events were sprinkled lunches and trips, and many phone calls to Sudanese bishops and priests and friends in the States.

Saturday the Dokolos spent time with students at the Episcopal School for Ministry, then inaugurated the first Saturday evening service beginning at St. Martin’s Church in Ellisville. Called the “5:05” and promising to offer many styles of Anglican and Episcopal worship, they began with a Kenyan liturgy and drum circle.

The pace kept up in their third week. Sunday began with preaching and presiding at Christ Church Cathedral and ended at a Lessons and Carols service at Grace Church in Kirkwood.

Tuesday was an important debriefing and strategy meeting with the companion diocese committee to discuss fundraising priorities and trips.

Then began the mid-Missouri portion of the trip. Wednesday they continued on next page...

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12/20/2011 8:46:45 PM

Westerners...the climate is hard. The living conditions are hard. Travel within the diocese is hard. In the aftermath of the long civil war, very occasionally, the situation turns dangerous. Digging wells, buying bicycles, supporting education—we have all had a part in these things.

What is it like to be among these, some of God’s other children? How can we retell their stories, and add those of our own?

I believe that we need to have a presence in a place that is distant, and hard, and where God is so evidently at work. I believe that at this juncture we need to be in Lui Diocese.”

Much of what is posted about our partnership with Lui appears first on the Lui Network. While Bishop Stephen was here, we got him signed up, too, so that his voice will be added to that community.

Please consider adding your own stories from the visit, your own understanding. The next issues of Seek will carry reflections and photographs, and you are invited to submit them via email or post, addresses on page 4. Lui stories at http:// luinetwork.ning.com. Hundreds of photos at http://flickr.com/diocesemo

SIDEBAR December 19, as we go to print: With a joy and fellowship filled 4 weeks time with the Diocese of Lui’s new bishop Stephen Dokolo and his wife Lillian just concluded, diocesan members were stunned to read the Dec. 17th letter from Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul, primate of the Episcopal Church of Sudan.

In the letter he writes to Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, “It is with a heavy heart that I write you informing you of our decision as a House of Bishops to withdraw your invitation to the Episcopal Church of the Sudan (ECS).

We acknowledge your personal efforts to spearhead prayer and support campaigns on behalf of the ECS and remain very grateful for this attention you and your church have paid to Sudan and South Sudan. However, it remains difficult for us to invite you when elements of your church continue to flagrantly disregard biblical teaching on human sexuality.”

An attached statement from the House of Bishops of ECS recognizes the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) as the “true faithful Orthodox Church” and continues, ”we will work with them to expand the Kingdom of God in the world.

Also we will work with those Parishes and Dioceses in TEC who are Evangelical Orthodox Churches and faithful to God.” “What we know right now,” said Bishop Wayne Smith, “is just the contents of this letter. I would encourage the people of this diocese to avoid the rush to judgment until all facts are in, especially since the inner workings of ECS are often complex.” Smith has calls in to the Presiding Bishop’s office; to Suffragan Bishop David Jones of Virginia, president of AFRECS (American Friends of the Episcopal Church in Sudan) and who was at the November meeting of the ECS Bishops; and Bishop Stephen Dokolo of Lui Diocese– and will advise this diocese (through diocesemo.org) as more is learned.

Anglican Covenant study materials available The Diocesan Anglican Covenant Task Force was appointed by Bishop Wayne in August of 2011 and charged with helping the congregations of the diocese prepare to engage in thoughtful discussions on the proposed Covenant that will be brought to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in July of 2012.

The efforts of the task force culminated in the preparation of a discussion packet which has just been mailed to parishes and is also available online at diocesemo.org/ anglicancovenant “From the very beginning of our work, our hope has been to provide the best and most charitable representations of the positions held on the Anglican

Covenant,” writes task force chair Doris Westfall, rector of St. Matthew’s Church in Warson Woods, and member of the deputation from to General Convention in 2012, “so that a space for generous listening and open hearts could be created. This packet is far from exhaustive, but it is a starting place for those congregations who wish to begin to engage in thoughtful and compassionate dialog.”

Other members of the task force included Michael Booker, parishioner of St. Francis’ in Eureka, Lisa Fox, parishioner at Grace Church in Jefferson City and a deputation member, and Mike Kinman, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral.

Making Disciples Building Congregations

traveled to working farms, toured with a Missouri extension agent, sampled goat’s milk, and finished the day with a Eucharist celebration at Calvary Church in Columbia, followed by a potluck and presentation for Calvary members and Episcopal Campus Ministry. An overnight at the farm of the senior warden of St. Matthew’s Church in Mexico and it was on to Poplar Bluff.

Friday morning they met with area clergy, visited home-schoolers, and celebrated Eucharist at Holy Cross Church in Poplar at 7 p.m. Parishioner Barbara Pinkerton drove them back to St. Louis that night, so they’d be ready to leave for Kirksville the next day.

Final Sunday was at Trinity Church in Kirksville, during the scheduled visitation of Bishop Wayne.

If in reading this, you are beginning to feel tired, perhaps in a blur, that would be understandable.

The Dokolos fourth week began with Bishop Stephen getting dental work done, including a root canal. On Tuesday they graciously spent the day videotaping, helping organize our Lui prayer cycles, helping make sense of maps and timelines and lists of needs, and lists of work accomplished. Expect this to be published in the months to come.

Thursday the 15th we said our good-byes at the airport. Bishop Wayne sent them off with a short prayer service along with missioners, friends and diocesan members. Lillian told us about the love she had felt from Missourian from day one. Bishop Stephen blessed everyone with his steady words.

And then they were off to the gate.

Now we come to our work of reflection and telling these stories of our own and our Moru friends. I imagine it will take some time for all of us to process this visit, what we learned, and where it will take us in our own pilgrimages.

Life in Lui is not easy, Lui challenges us in many ways. As Bishop Wayne said, “Being there is hard for

Freedom Rider Rip Patton visits the diocese Christ Church Cathedral and the diocesan Commission on Dismantling Racism welcome Dr. Rip Patton to St. Louis this February 11 & 12, 2012.

In May 1961 a young African-American music education student joined fellow young people and civil rights activists as a Freedom Rider, in a protest that would involve more than 400 black and white Americans who risked arrest and their lives simply by traveling together on buses and trains in an attempt to integrate the Deep South.

Ernest “Rip” Patton, Jr. drum major of the marching band at Tennessee A&I, boarded one of the first busses to Jackson Mississippi, where he was arrested and sent to Parchman Maximum Security Prison.

He was imprisoned for a total of 62 days.

He was expelled from university.

Patton has continued his non-violent civil rights and social justice activism through today, in the hopes it may help inspire a new generation of youth.

In 2008, Rip Patton and thirteen other Freedom Riders were honored by

Tennessee State University and received the Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

Following the Freedom Rides, he worked as a jazz musician, and later as a long-distance truck driver and community leader. For the past years, Patton has served as the Freedom Rider on an annual university sponsored Civil Rights tour of the Deep South.

On the 50th anniversary the PBS series American Experience with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities created a documentary about the Freedom Riders. The documentary can be viewed online, at an interactive website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/freedomriders/ Sunday, February 12, Patton will be guest preacher at the cathedral, and afterwards will lead a conversation.

On the 11th, Patton will present “Revisiting our Past” in conjunction with the launch of the diocesan project to prayerfully examine our participation in institutionalized racism. (See back page for more on this event.)

Making Disciples • Building Congregations • For the Life of the World

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Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis • All Saints’, Farmington • All Saints’, St. Louis • Church of the Ascension, Northwoods • Calvary Church, Columbia • Calvary Church, We •are 12,500ofbaptized members in 44 46 •congregations Louisiana • Christ Church, Cape Girardeau • Christ Church, Rolla • Church of St. Michael & St. George, Clayton Church the Advent, Crestwood Church of the in the eastern half of Missouri, Good Shepherd, Town & Country • Church of the Holy Communion, University City • Emmanuel Church, Webster Groves • Grace Church, Jefferson City • Grace Church, Kirkwood • Holy Cross Church, Poplar Bluff • St. Alban’s, Fulton • St. Barnabas’, Florissant • St. Francis’, Eureka • St. John’s, Eolia (Prairieville) • Camp Phoenix • Care and Counseling, Inc. • Christian Formation • COEDMO • Commission on Dismantling Racism • Commission on Ministry • Community Gardens • Community Making Disciples Quarterly from the Episcopal Church in Missouri Diocese Health and Wellness Ministries • Community of Hope • Companion Diocese Relationship Committee • Diocesan Council • Diocesan Convention • Diocesan Mission Congregations Trips • Episcopal Campus Ministry • Episcopal City Mission • Episcopal Church Women • Episcopal Recovery Ministry •Building Episcopal Relief and Development • Episcopal School for Ministry • Fresh Start • General Convention • Grace Hill • Happening • Hunger and Food Ministries • Journey 2 Adulthood • Missional Model Congregations For the Life of the World • Oasis Missouri • Paseo Con Christo • Rite 13 • St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors System (STARSS) • St. Luke’s Hospital • Standing Committee • Sustain A Faith • The Mission of the Diocese of Missouri is Task Force for the Hungry • United Thank Offering • Youth Ministry • St. John’s, Tower Grove • St. Luke’s, Manchester • St. Mark’s, Portland • St. Mark’s, St. Louis • St. the Ellisville mission •ofSt.allMatthew’s, baptized Mexico Christians: Martin’s, • St. Matthew’s, Warson Woods • St. Paul’s, Carondelet • St. Paul’s, Ironton • St. Paul’s, Palmyra • St. Paul’s, Sikeston • St. to teach to spread Ferguson the Gospel Peter’s, Ladue •and St. Stephen’s, • St. Thomas’ Church for the Deaf,Episcopal KirkwoodDiocese • St. Timothy’s, Creve Coeur • St. Vincent’s-in-the-Vineyard, Ste. Genevieve • of Missouri andofits of salvation all •people; Church theknowledge Transfiguration, Lake St. to Louis Trinity Church, Jefferson County Trinity Church, 1210• Locust Street Hannibal • Trinity Church, Kirksville • Trinity Church, St. Charles • Trinity St. Louis, Missouri Church, Trinity Church, Central WestinEnd Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis • All63103 Saints’, Farmington • All Saints’, St. Louis • Church of the Ascension, andSt.toJames make• the love of Christ known the• world Northwoods • Calvary Church, Columbia • Calvary Church, Louisiana • Christ Church, Cape Girardeau • Christ Church, Rolla • Church of St. Michael & St. George, through our own actions as individuals, Clayton • Church of the Advent, Crestwood • Church of the Good Shepherd, Town & Country • Church of the Holy Communion, University City • Emmanuel Church, as congregations, and as the diocese, Webster Groves • Grace Church, Jefferson City • Grace Church, Kirkwood • Holy Cross Church, Poplar Bluff • St. Alban’s, Fulton • St. Barnabas’, Florissant • St. Francis’, by• feeding the hungry, welcoming stranger, Eureka St. John’s, Eolia (Prairieville) • Campthe Phoenix • Care and Counseling, Inc. • Christian Formation • COEDMO • Commission on Dismantling Racism • Commisclothing the• Community naked, housing the• homeless, sion on Ministry Gardens Community Health and Wellness Ministries • Community of Hope • Companion Diocese Relationship Committee • Diocesan Council • Diocesan • Diocesan Mission Trips • Episcopal Campus Ministry • Episcopal City Mission • Episcopal Church Women • Episcopal Recovery caring for theConvention sick, visiting the prisoner, Ministry • Episcopal Relief and Development • Episcopal School for Ministry • Fresh Start • General Convention • Grace Hill • Happening • Hunger and Food Ministries and comforting those in times of trouble .

• Journey 2 Adulthood • Missional Model Congregations • Oasis Missouri • Paseo Con Christo • Rite 13 • St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors System (STARSS) • St. Luke’s Hospital • Standing Committee • Sustain A Faith • Task Force for the Hungry • United Thank Offering • Youth Ministry • St. John’s, Tower Grove • St. Luke’s, Manchester • St. Mark’s, Portland • St. Mark’s, St. Louis • St. Martin’s, Ellisville • St. Matthew’s, Mexico • St. Matthew’s, Warson Woods • St. Paul’s, Carondelet • St. Paul’s, Ironton • St. Paul’s, Palmyra • St. Paul’s, Sikeston • St. Peter’s, Ladue • St. Stephen’s, Ferguson • St. Thomas’ Church for the Deaf, Kirkwood • St. Timothy’s, Creve Coeur • St. Vincent’s-in-the-Vineyard, Ste. Genevieve • Church of the Transfiguration, Lake St. Louis • Trinity Church, Jefferson County • Trinity Church, Hannibal • Trinity Church, Kirksville • Trinity Church, St. Charles • Trinity Church, St. James • Trinity Church, Central West End • Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis • All Saints’,

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We Are the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri Please Join Us in Worship This Week

Seeking Our Past, Creating Our Future Program for the diocese from Dismantling Racism Commission to launch at Absalom Jones & Richard Allen Celebration

Absalom Jones

At last year’s diocesan convention Bishop Wayne Smith spoke of racism in Missouri and his concerns that our diocese actively participate in efforts for racial reconciliation and healing.

At the 2009 General Convention of the Episcopal Church we adopted Resolutions 143 and 144, which require parishes of the Episcopal Church to openly and prayerfully explore our collective history in order to move together into a more truthful, open, and welcoming future. Resolution A-143 called for dioceses “to continue over the next six years a process to gather information in its community on (1) the complicity of the Episcopal Church in the institution of slavery and in the subsequent history of segregation and discrimination, (2) examples of resistance to slavery and discrimination and (3) the economic benefits derived by the Episcopal Church from the transatlantic slave trade and the institution of slavery.”

“As Bishop, it will be my responsibility to report on our progress with these efforts in Missouri diocese at the 2012 General

Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012

8:30 AM - 12:30 PM Dismantling Racism Commission Dr. Ernest “Rip” Patton

ChristChurch Cathedral Free, RSVP required

Convention in Indianapolis,” said Smith. “To that end, I have tasked the Commission on Dismantling Racism with developing a process for our parishes to meet this goal.”

The Commission has developed the program “Seeking Our Past, Creating Our Future” which presents parishes tools: • to explore their past • to create avenues for open and honest dialogue • to work together with prayer and mutual support to create a more open, accessible, and welcoming Episcopal Church.

At the annual celebration of the ministry of Absalom Jones and Richard Allen which is organized

From Bishop Wayne Smith’s address last year, concerning racism and the Diocese of Missouri One hard truth about life in the eastern half of Missouri is the presence of racism—which is simply part of our context be it urban, town, or rural. Racism and its structures are present, and so much a part of the landscape that they are often invisible to us, particularly those of us in the dominant culture.

The Diocese of Missouri is blessed to have at our service an exemplary Commission on Dis-

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mantling Racism. I have been in conversation with that Commission, dreaming about what our next steps might be.

Two things I ask of you, the Clergy and Delegates at this convention: First, I ask you to join me in examining context around this issue and identifying texts to make sense of it. The Commission has to take a lead in this work, but I commend it to everyone in our Diocese. Context and text have

in our diocese by the commission, this program and the materials developed for our 46 communities (44 parishes and missions and 2 campus ministries) will debut.

“Our church cannot effectively engage the broader community in efforts toward exploring our common history, open dialogue, and reconciliation and healing until we engage in the same process internally,” continued Smith.

Teams from each congregation in the diocese are encouraged to attend. The morning workshop will include Ernest “Rip” Patton, one of the freedom riders (profiled on the previous page) speaking 8:30 AM Registration 8:50 Opening Remarks, Prayer 9:15 Ernest “Rip” Patton, Revisiting our Past 10:15 Break 10:30 Scripture: Genesis 50:15-21

Q&A/debriefing 11:00 Presentation of Parish Packets Noon Breakout -Congregational Teams 12:15 Reporting back / Closing 12:30 Adjourn

some clarity for me, but action is less than clear. Study, listen, and dream with me.

Second, I ask you to begin work in your various communities of faith to identify any legacies of slavery and racism in your midst, and ours. The General Convention last year, by resolution, has asked us to do just that.

This is heavy lifting, dear friends, and I stand ready to lend a hand. The Commission on Dismantling Racism plans to provide practical resources for all of us, next spring and summer.

Absalom Jones was the first AfricanAmerican ordained in the Episcopal Church: to the diaconate in 1795 and the priesthood in 1802. Richard Allen was the first bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

about revisiting our past. After a break and consideration of scripture, the materials developed by the commission will be passed out to congregation groups, and discussed in small groups.

This exploration will be a significant effort for the both the commission and our individual congregations. Those churches in our diocese that have already begun work on this process are a way from reaching defined conclusions—parishes just beginning the process will have the benefit of their experiences.

Representatives of the commission will be available to work with groups in your congregation as you move forward.

The Commission on Racism’s liaison in the Offices of the Bishop is Tracy Grigsby. You can RSVP to her and also have her direct your request for more information to the appropriate commission member. Contact Tracy at tgrigsby@diocesemo.org or 314231-1220.

We who are the Church, after all, are accountable to another vision from the Book of Revelation, that image of the saints of God in the age to come, praising God and Christ the Lamb, a royal priesthood from every family, language, people and nation. We do not inhabit that vision perfectly, and we will not so inhabit it of our own doing—but we remain accountable to it. That vision alone means that we must combat racism.

Bishop Smith’s address to the 171st annual meeting of the Diocese of Missouri, November 2010, St. Charles, Missouri.

DioceseMo.org

12/20/2011 8:46:48 PM