Seek, quarterly from the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

Volume 5, Number 2, Post-General Convention 2012

A convention unlike others in recent memory Eight days; early morning to late in the evening; close to 450 resolutions from committees, dioceses and individuals considered, debated, and prayed over; over 1500 celebrating Eucharist, each morning in English and other languages: these are just some of the General Convention moments you will read about in this issue of Seek.

If after reading this issue you find your appetite whetted for learning more about the Missouri presence at General Convention, consider reading the deputation’s online blog at missourideputation.blogspot.com. There you will find over 50 articles, reflections, rever-

ies, transcriptions of streamed legislative sessions and press conferences, and behind-the-scenes glimpses. A few have been cherry picked for this issue, but the bulk remains available online.

The Diocese of Missouri was well represented by bishop and deputies, our Canon to the Ordinary, Episcopal Church Women delegates to Triennial, and the many diocesan members who volunteered, visited, and worked in the exhibitor booths. Bishop Wayne Smith was cognate chair of the Prayer Book Liturgy and Church Music Committee (the larger committees have chairs in both houses). Many of the continued on page 5

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

Presiding Bishop’s Message to the Church on General Convention The General Convention which took place in Indianapolis in July offered new and creative responses to the call of the gospel in our day. We saw gracious and pastoral responses to polarizing issues, as well as a new honesty about the need for change.

General Convention addressed a number of significant issues that will impact the life and witness of this Church for years into the future – and they include many more things beyond what you’ve heard about in the news. The way we worked together also represented a new reality, working to adapt more creatively to our diverse nature as a Church.

It is that way of creative engagement that ultimately will be most transformative for The Episcopal

Church and the world beyond it. On issue after issue, the resolutions addressed by General Convention emerged in creative responses that considered, but did not end in, the polarized positions expected as we went into Convention.

People listened to the movement of the spirit and discerned a way forward that was mutually up-building, rather than creating greater divisiveness or win-lose outcomes.

The hot-button issues of the last decade

We emerge with abundant hope, better discipline for working together and with partners beyond this Church, for our fundamental reason for being— engagement with God’s mission.

have not been eternally resolved, but we have as a body found creative and pastoral ways to live with the differences of opinion, rather than resorting to old patterns of conflict. There is a certain expansive grace in how these decisions are being made and in the responses to them, a grace that is reminiscent of the Elizabeth settlement. We’ve said as a Church that there is no bar to the participation of minorities of all sorts, and we are finding continued on page 4

Bishop Wayne Smith: Charting a way ahead for the diocese The Public Affairs Office at the Episcopal Church Center has released a list of thirty-nine noteworthy actions from the 77th General Convention of the Episcopal Church. As I read the media, however, I realize that one action stands out in public awareness, and that is the approval of provisional rites for same-sex blessings. The other thirty-eight actions are in fact noteworthy, and many of them will make a difference in how our Church lives, but they are just not as newsworthy.

Writing these words, I do understand that Jay Akasie’s opinion piece about the Episcopal Church in the online edition of the Wall Street Journal has received a lot of attention. Alas, his article does not meet the fact-check test, as several respondents have pointed out. I’ll not rehash their points.

Let me instead chart a way ahead for the Diocese of Missouri, as we consider implementation of the blessing rites, beginning in Advent of this year. Since the diocesan bishop oversees the use of these rites— and I expect to be hands-on as I do this—it is only fair that I sketch out my intent.

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Parishes and other worshiping communities need to prepare before incorporating these rites into their life, and they must satisfy me that they have done so. Doing less is to invite conflict and misunderstanding, and to dishonor anyone who is to receive the Church’s blessing. Likewise, those persons receiving the blessing must prepare beforehand, under the direction of the priest, who then will demonstrate to me that the preparation has happened. Moreover, these are Churchly rites, radically communal in their setting, and they are for Christian people who already know the life of the Church. I will expect clergy to show how such is the case, in the lives of the two persons preparing for this blessing. So, in short, I will consider the implementation of the rites, parish-by-parish and person-by-person.

The rites are permissive and by no means required, a fact to hold in mind.

The enabling resolution from General Convention allows the rites, but only with the bishop’s permission and oversight. Some bishops will not permit these liturgies, and others will. Also, the resolution protects clergy and lay

people who may dissent from the use of same-sex blessings. It also protects those who desire to implement the blessings in places where they are not allowed. As with marriage, a cleric may decline to preside at a particular blessing--or all blessings. But note that these materials go out of their way to distinguish the liturgies for same-sex blessing from the Church’s marriage rite.

They are related but nonetheless distinct.

In all things, It is imperative that we maintain mutual regard, as we live together in the body of Christ. The broad theological and dispositional diversities of our Church are some of our strengths, not our weaknesses.

This fall I hope to convene a group of Episcopalians from our Diocese to advise me in the drafting of guidelines for the rites of same-sex blessing. These corporate rites deserve corporate input. I look forward to their implementation--prayerfully, carefully, pastorally, and hopefully.

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For th e Lif e of th e Worl d

Bigger than any of us: St. Baldy’s 2012

Julie Seidler

Have you ever done My first hint something just to see what that this was someit’s like, and it turns out to thing bigger than be the right thing to do for me was when I reyourself and others? That’s membered a former what happened to me and college roommate another member of Trinhad lost a son to leuity Church in Kirksville, kemia several years Stephanie Zimbelman, ago, so I decided to when we got involved in a dedicate my bald St. Baldrick’s event at Truhead to Jason. I’ve man State University. also watched sevSt. Baldrick’s is a eral of my friends charity that raises money battle the disease, for children’s cancer reso I realized I’d search by having people be bald in soliget their heads shaved and darity with them. having their family and That year friends pay to see the reI ended up raissults. Since 2005, the oring $700, much of ganization has given over it from the good $101.6 million in grants to people of Trinity. groups like St. Jude’s ChilThat surprised me dren’s Hospital for finding since I was a fairly ways to cure childhood new member of the cancers. parish. It shouldn’t The first time I parhave, though, beticipated was in 2008. I cause many of them was a communications are faculty and staff professor at the univer- Julie Seidler (l.h. column) and Stephanie Zim- at the university. sity where the service fra- belman meet the clippers of St. Baldrick’s.

At first, not ternity Alpha Phi Omega having any hair felt was hosting a shaving. When I heard weird, but I later found it to be quite freeing. about it my first thought was, “Wow, I saved a ton of money on shampoo, and I how fun would that be? I’ve always won- didn’t have to worry about “hat hair” from my dered what it would be like to be bald!” bike helmet or figure out what to do with my

Manna from Heaven?

Sometimes weird things turn up in church, but I had never found dog biscuits before. It was Saturday, April 28. We were cleaning up after evening worship. In the corner of the back pew near the table we use for Eucharist at the 5:05, I found them. Four bits of dog biscuit. I scooped them up and looked at them in the palm of my hand as if receiving Communion. I could picture loyal dogs of my youth and thought about owners giving their pets little treats to reward good behavior.

“Look, Ruby. Dog biscuits. I think I’ll keep these,” I said to St. Martin’s member Ruby Downs. She asked if I have a dog. I opened my hand again and peered at the pieces. “No, but I’m going to keep these.” I stuffed them in my jeans pocket. Sometimes people look at me weird in church, so that was nothing new. Besides, Ruby is a cat person.

Sunday came—time to look a bit more formal. But when Monday

“mop” when I played softball.

Then again, I never liked my hair Dr. Julie Seidler is a member of because it’s so Trinity Episcopal Church in Kirksville. straight I can’t so anything with it.

But beyond all that, I felt proud knowing that my “sacrifice” helped fund research that could save lives. So, I decided to do it again in 2009. And again this year.

I made an announcement in early spring during church, as I had for the two previous events. That’s when Stephanie, a second-year medical student at A.T. Still University/Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, decided to join me for many of the same reasons I got involved.

“At first, I just wanted to see what being bald would be like,” she said.

“Later, I realized as a future physician, it’s important to raise money for research into diseases I might encounter with my patients.”

Again the people of Trinity rose to the occasion and between us, Stephanie and I submitted over $1,000 to the charity. And we had fun doing it!

One thing we’ve learned from the experience is that God can take something fun and make it bigger than any of us. © Julie Seidler 2012 To find out what it’s like to be bald or to donate to St. Baldrick’s go to www.stbaldricks.org and find an event near you.

Emily Hillquist Davis rolled around, I pulled my jeans on again and went to a coffee house to do some Magdalene St. Louis networking. Just as we were closing with prayer, I received a call to come and give Ministration at the Time of Death to a St. Martin’s parishioner.

On the way there, I changed into my clerical collar in a McDonald’s bathroom, hoping I didn’t look too sloppy.

At least these jeans weren’t torn.

At Cathy’s house, I didn’t need to ring the doorbell. Cathy’s dogs Hershey and LB barked to announce my arrival—which reminded me of the crumbs in my pocket. With permission, I shared the treats. My new friends stayed close during the visit.

When we humans circled up chairs around Cathy’s recliner so she could hear her friends share their memories, the dogs wiggled right into our midst.

It was then I learned how important the dogs were to Cathy.

The doctor had given Cathy two months to live. Within two weeks of that prognosis, she had all her affairs in order—except for finding a home for her “boys.” Finally, a caretaker offered to adopt the cocker spaniels in as soon as a fence could be built. The moment that was settled, Cathy began to die. It had been only two days. Her dogs were key. Two days ago… the day I found the dog biscuits from heaven.

There had been a bunch of fidgety young folk in that pew that evening. I wonder which of them provided the dog biscuits from heaven. Sometimes weird things like this happen.

Let’s keep our eyes and hearts open for blessed coincidences and our part in these mysteries, for even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the Lord’s table.

The Rev. Dr. Emily Hillquist Davis is assistant priest of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Ellisville. © Emily Davis 2012, first published in St. Martin’s Messages, July 2012

New Diocesan Website Timeline • late September: building the wireframe (a test site to set up basic structure) • mid-October through December: moving all files across, navigation and structure improvements • mid-January through February: graphic look and feel • March: testing, then an Easter debut Interested in being a tester at any stage of development?

Have opinions to share about what you’d really love on the new diocesan site?

Struggling with your own web site and want to watch behind-the-scenes?

Backstage passes issued to any interested diocesan member, and we’ll be blogging the process at diocesemo.blogspot.com .

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Post-General Convention 2012

The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

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.

SEEK, Vol. 5, No. 2, Post-General Convention 2012 Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, Offices of the Bishop 1210 Locust St, 3rd floor, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, ph.

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 also 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-NonCommercialNoDerivs 3.0 License. Printed in St. Louis by Nies Artcraft Companies, using soy-based ink on recycled stock.

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

9/4/2012 2:45:21 PM

A Journey with the Community of Hope Come, follow me. --Matthew 19:21

Once upon a time a man who felt satisfied with his life, family, house, and work received a call from a priest. The priest was perceptive; she thought that the man lacked something, and she knew what could fill him up. She shared Matthew 19:21: "Come."

Come be a part of a pastoral listening ministry, the Community of Hope.

The informational meeting he attended led him to take a training course that equipped him to be a pastoral care lay chaplain, one of the best decisions of his life.

The man visited hospitals, elder care fa-

we are entering. A community that dares to dream along with God about justice and compassion for all creation—and then enacts those dreams here in St. Louis Hills… and beyond.

How much is enough? In our economy we’re often fixated on things: too many, too few? In God’s economy it’s all about abundance: boundless love and forgiveness and welcome. We are so blessed to be sharing in that abundance here at St. Mark’s.

Upon our arrival we found a card in the rectory that read: “Welcome Home.” It is good to be home. And that is more than enough. © Mark Kozielec 2012

a truck and then told us what it weighed.

Three-plus-tons? Really? How much is enough?

We are, of course, products of our culture. We live amid an embarrassment of riches and choices. How we deal with these choices in our own lives and in the lives of the communities we inhabit says much about who we are—especially those of us who call ourselves “Christian.” I don’t think we are called to obsess about all of the things in our lives; it’s more about whether our things keep us from something more profound.

That’s why Jesus sent his friends out with next to nothing. Not as some sort of statement about how special or pious they were in their poverty. Rather, as assurance that they would need to enter into relationship with others in order to survive—they would have to be in community.

And so Chuck and I arrive here at St. Mark’s with a bit more than some tunics and sandals. But the important thing for us— amid all of the unpacking and arranging of so many things—is in the relationships we are building and the community into which

The Rev. Mark Kozielec is the newly called rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in St. Louis.

The Renewal of Ministry service for Kozielec and St. Mark’s will be at celebrated at 6:30 p.m. on October 24, 2012 at St. Mark’s. Kozielec comes to Missouri from Trinity Episcopal Church in Tilton, NH, where he was been priest-in charge for the past five years.

Christopher Kurth

cilities, and even a prison and listened with "the ear of the heart" to those who were ill, isolated and imprisoned. The Christ inside those people filled the man and made him very happy.

My name is Christopher Kurth, and I am that man. I have participated as a lay chaplain in the Community of Hope within the Diocese for nearly two years. I received that call, and now I call you.

If you want to take the next step on your journey to Christ, I can affirm that the Community of Hope is for you. If you are already standing by in faith, I can also

affirm that the Community of Hope is for you. Based upon Benedictine spirituality, the Community of Hope welcomes you wherever you are as a Christian. It is a lay ministry with an international network that has equipped me for person-to-person pastoral contacts.

Come to an informational meeting about Community of Hope on Wednesday, September 12, at 7:00 PM at Grace, Kirkwood, or on Sunday, October 7, at 12 noon at Holy Communion, University City. A winter training course is set for early 2013, and I invite you to consider applying for it. © Christopher Kurth 2012

High Tea and Boutique Saturday, Sept 15, 3-5PM at Trinity Church in St. Charles Preparations underway with the assembly of Christmas Angel dolls by Trinity members. Tickets for this parish fundraiser are $15.00 each, or $20.00 at the door, if available. www.trinity-stcharles.org

Liturgical Fashionistas On Monday, October 8, on the eve of St. Louis Fashion Week, Jeff Wunrow presents “Fashions for the Faithful,” a runway show of liturgical vestments.

Beginning at 7:30 p.m., at Christ Church Cathedral, two dozen clergy from several faith traditions will model stoles and chasubles.

Among the “models” are clergy and lay leaders from Trinity ChurchCWE, Church of the Ascension in Northwoods, Christ Church Cathedral, St. Timothy’s Church in Creve Coeur, and St. John’s in Tower Grove.

Wunrow’s portfolio can be found online at www.jeffwunrow.com.

Please check our online calendar for all listings and more complete information about individual listings at diocesemo.org .

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

That’s a question I often found myself asking over the last couple of months—especially while planning and executing the move to St. Louis.

How many books are enough? Each time Chuck and I have moved over the last ten years I generally gave away up to half of my library. This time, I was able to come up with only a couple of boxes of books with which I was willing to part.

What about clothes? Even taking into consideration the New Hampshire winter items (and who knows, maybe this winter in St. Louis will be as extreme as this summer), are six wardrobe boxes too much?

A few Sundays ago the Gospel reading from Mark had Jesus sending disciples out in twos, taking only a tunic and some sandals. They were to rely on the folks they met along the way, accepting offers of food and shelter, and shaking the dust off their sandals as they left places that weren’t so welcoming.

That reading has resonated with me these last weeks—especially when the movers came and loaded all of our stuff on

Mark Kozielec

Maki n g Dis c i p l es

How much is enough?

Gene Robinson to present 2012 Pfautch lectures Getting Into Gospel Trouble: Monday, October 15, 2012, 7 pm Of Prophets and Spirituality Tuesday, October 16, 2012, 7 pm The ninth bishop of New Hampshire, the Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, will offer this year’s Pfautch lectures at Second Presbyterian Church in St. Louis. Cohosts are Christ Church Cathedral and the Metropolitan Community Church of Greater St. Louis.

Clergy wellness has long been a focus of Bishop Robinson’s ministry He initiated A Fresh Start, the two-year mentoring program for all clergy in new positions in New Hampshire, and co-authored the Fresh Start curriculum, now in use in nearly half of the dioceses of the Episcopal Church, including the Diocese of Missouri.

Much of his ministry has focused on helping congregations and clergy, especially in times of conflict, utilizing his skills in congregational dynamics, conflict resolution, and mediation. Co-author of three AIDS education curricula for youth and adults, Robinson has done AIDS work in the United States and in Africa (Uganda and South Africa). He has been an advocate for anti-racism training in diocese and the the wider Church.

Robinson helped build the Diocese of New Hampshire’s close working partnership with the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, advocated for debt relief for the world’s most impoverished nations, and lobbied for socially-responsible investment within and beyond the Church.

Bishop Robinson has been active particularly in the area of full civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gender people. Working at the state, national and international levels, he has spoken and lobbied for equal protection under the law and full civil marriage rights.

Free and open to the public.

More information online at http://secondchurch.net

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Post-General Convention 2012

DioceseMo.org

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A fellowship of thousands, a glimpse of heaven Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I was very blessed to attend two full days of General Convention in Indianapolis on July 9-10. The days started with worship in the mornings, and then moved into legislative sessions with the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies meeting each morning and evening. I was very impressed by the diversity in the morning Eucharist worship, which included music ranging from traditional Anglican choral to Hispanic bilingual praise songs with guitar accompaniment. The multi-cultural preaching was engaging and was representative of the best the Episcopal Church has to offer, including Native American, African-American, Caribbean, European and Hispanic perspectives.

Hearing the liturgy communicated in different languages was a reminder that the Holy Spirit is moving in creative ways across human boundaries.

The daily Eucharists helped focus the business of each house’s work in the direction of the Church.

The resolutions that garnered the most attention pertained to provisional liturgies for same gender blessings, the structure of the Church, the budget for the next triennium and peace in the Middle East and Sudan.

Jon Hall

If there was a long discussion about a particular resolution, a house chaplain took time to lead everyone in prayer.

The combination of education, open dialogue and prayer for each issue set a positive tone for healthy discussion.

The Five Marks of Anglican Mission, developed by the Anglican Consultative Council in 1994-2000, served as the focus for each day’s discussion of the resolutions, too.

of the worship and the work The Episcopal Church exhibited. I believe that the decisions made contained a solid theological base and will serve the communities we live in bravely.

The 78th General Convention will meet in 2015 in Salt Lake City.

I encourage you to consider going for even part of it—whether as a deputy elected through our diocesan convention or as a daily visitor. The fellowship of thousands of our brothThe Five Marks of Mission are: ers and sisters is a glimpse of heaven.

•To proclaim the Good News The work of the Church is exciting to of the Kingdom see unfold through prayer, song, and •To teach, baptize and nurture even legislative processes. Functionnew believers ing as different parts of one body, the •To respond to human need by Church discusses, discerns and decides loving service how to follow Christ in a deeper way.

•To seek to transform unjust I encourage us to celebrate our structures of society •To strive to safeguard the growth as the body of Christ on the integrity of creation and sustain local level, too, as we ask challenging and renew the life of the earth. questions regarding our role in sharing the good news at and through our I am very grateful for the oppor- faith communities. tunity to have attended part of this 77th General Convention. I was imThe Rev. Jon Hall pressed with the civility of conversais rector of tions in both houses. The views were St. Martin’s Episcopal Church diverse and yet while people were ofin Ellisville. ten passionate about these resolutions they sought to listen to one another with respect and dignity. I am proud

General Convention Bites Deputies Lisa Fox and Doris Westfall in the house.

In session, Alternate Jay Kloecker and Deputies Kathy Dyer and Tamsen Whistler.

The House of Bishops in session.

Deputations decorate their tables; Missouri’s deputation decked out the diocese sign with a rally squirrel and a Cardinals flag.

Photo of HOB ©TEC, HOD photos ©Deputy Jason Samuel

Presiding Bishop’s Message to the Church (continued)

Photo of Bishop Katharine at a General Convention press conference © 2012 M.Woerman/Diocese of KS

pastoral ways to ensure that potential offense at the behavior or position of another is minimized, with the hope that we may grow toward celebrating that diversity as a gift from God. If we are all sinners, then each of us may be wrong about where we stand.

Human beings, made from humus, become Christlike when they know humility.

Major issues addressed at General Convention included approval of a trial rite for blessing same-sex unions. It may be used in congregations beginning in Advent, with the approval of the diocesan bishop.

Bishops are making varied responses to the rite – a prime example of this emerging reality of local adaptation based on context – something which is profoundly Anglican.

The decision to provide a trial rite for same-sex blessings was anticipated by many across the Church – some with fear and trepidation, others with rejoicing, and yet others with frustration that more would not be offered. The decision of General Convention may not have fully satisfied anyone, yet it has provided more space for difference than most ex-

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pected. The rite must be authorized by a diocesan bishop, which permits bishops who believe it inappropriate to safeguard their own theological position. Some of the responses by bishops with questions about the appropriateness of such rites in their dioceses show creativity and enormous pastoral respect for those who support such blessings. The use of this rite is open to local option, in the same way we often think about private confession: “all may, some should, none must.”

General Convention also produced creative responses to a number of other challenging issues – in particular, peacemaking in Israel-Palestine, the Anglican Covenant, and the call to restructure The Episcopal Church. The resolutions adopted reflect a higher level of investment in the health of diverse opinions and positions in the Church than we have seen for a long time. We can celebrate a bit of “growing up into the full stature of Christ” and the kind of welcome we claim to exemplify: “The Episcopal Church welcomes you,” whoever you are and wherever you stand. As a Church, when we’re at our best, we earnestly believe that that diversity helps to lead us toward the mind of Christ.

The call to restructure the Church is a response to growing grass roots awareness that we must change or die. I’ve heard it put this way, “It’s not a matter of tradition or change – tradition IS change!” We live in an age of rapid change, and if we are going to be faithful to our baptismal work of going into the world and proclaiming the gospel, our methods and support systems also need to change.

We need to be more responsive and able to engage opportunities, more nimble.

Nimble is not a word usually associated with Episcopal churches, but

Post-General Convention 2012

the passion and energy at our General Convention was certainly moving in that direction. Most of us probably associate that word with Mother Goose and Jack who is nimble enough to jump over the candlestick. But there is a character to Jesus’ own ministry that has something to do with a flexible and creative responsiveness that might be called nimble. It certainly characterized the explosion of his followers across the Mediterranean world and then to India, Africa, and Europe. Nimbleness has something to do with creative risk-taking; it may have a playful character that is also profoundly creative, and it partakes of joy.

We’re looking for a 21st century Episcopal Church that can adapt and respond to a myriad of varied local contexts and missional opportunities.

We’ve begun to realize, pretty widely across the Church, that the way we’ve “done church” for the last century or more no longer fits many of our contexts. We haven’t been terribly effective at evangelism with unchurched populations; we haven’t been terribly effective at retaining the children born to Episcopal parents; family structures are changing and our ability to address the needs of those families has not kept pace, whether we’re talking about ECWs and women in the workforce, or single-parent families, or special needs children.

The General Convention decided to address needs for structural change, by looking at the ways in which we live and move and have our being as a Church. A task force will be appointed to listen broadly within the Church and offer a proposal by late 2014.

General Convention adopted a budget for the coming triennium based on the Five Anglican Marks of Mission, which includes some creative initiatives in partnership with

dioceses, other parts of the Anglican Communion, or those churches with whom we are in full communion or other relationships. One notable example: “Mission Enterprise Zones” will facilitate creative initiatives at the diocesan level, funded in partnership with the broader Church.

General Convention asked for a task force to study our theology of marriage.

Remarkably, this happened only a few days after the Anglican province of Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia did the same thing. This may offer some very creative opportunities for study across provincial boundaries in the Anglican Communion.

The General Convention affirmed the implementation of the Denominational Health Plan, and offered some greater flexibility and more time to address health care parity issues for lay and clergy employees at the diocesan level.

All of this creative work means that we emerge with abundant hope, better discipline for working together and with partners beyond this Church, for our fundamental reason for being – engagement with God’s mission. We have moved beyond the entrenched conflict of recent years. I pray that our growing confidence is a sign of new humility, knowing that we are finite creatures who can always be wrong, that we can do God’s work only as part of the Body, and that disagreement is a mark of possibility.

God still seems to have a use for this Church, if we can remember our central focus – to love God and our neighbors as ourselves, wherever we go, and wherever we find ourselves.

May God bless the journey, and may we learn to travel light.

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori is Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church

The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

9/4/2012 2:45:27 PM

A convention unlike others (continued) resolutions came through that committee, and the bishop had a good deal of podium time in the House of Bishops and at hearings and meetings before and after the days’ legislative sessions. Five of the eight deputies had committee assignments including Dan Appleyard, rector of Emmanuel Church, who chaired the Ecumenical Relations committee. Deputies Mike Clark, member of the cathedral, served Evangelism; Jason Samuel, rector of Transfiguration-Lake St. Louis, Ministry; Tamsen Whistler, rector of Trinity-St. Charles, Education; and Kathryn Dyer, member of St. Timothy’s-Creve Coeur, Credentials. Other deputation members were Lynette Ballard and Doris Westfall, member and rector (respectively) of St. Matthew’s Warson Woods; and Lisa Fox, member of Grace Church in Jefferson City. Alternates were Jeanette Huey, CSMSG; Jay Kloecker, St. Peter’s Ladue; and Don Fisher, cathedral. Triennial delegates were Karen Birr, ECW president and

member of St. Barnabas’-Florissant; Pat Heeter, member of All Saints’-St. Louis; and Rosemary Bagin, UTO coordinator and member of Transfiguration-Lake St. Louis.

Deputies have shared their experiences in two reporting sessions and in various adult fora in the diocese. The reporting session in Jefferson City is available on video at www. vimeo.com/diocesemo.

For Clark, this was his 5th convention. After each one he debates whether or not he wants to return.

“It is a ministry that I’d commend to everyone,” he said. “It is a way to take your love of the church to another level—you’ll find you love your church even more after this experience.”

Samuel reported the experience to be very intense, “but there is such a joy being on the floor with hundreds of people, sharing the gift of our heritage of love of not only Christ but of the church. It’s a lot of hard work, but some of the most rewarding I’ve been involved

with. It’s an incredible experience.”

Samuel said that of all the times he has served as a deputy, this convention was the most enjoyable, partly due to the comfort of the Missouri deputation with one another. “When we sat down, we were ready to go.”

All agreed that the mix of experienced deputies and first-timers kept the experience fresh.

The deputies are not delegates and as Clark said, “You don’t go into this with a way you are going to vote, you prayerfully consider each one of the resolutions as they are presented.

We’re all from Missouri, yes, but we didn’t vote the same way on each issue.”

Ballard explained her understanding of the process: access to information and wisdom and opinion about each resolution, but no feeling of pressure that she had to agree with other opinions. “We vote transparently,” she said. “Also after the vote, there was no pressure; the Holy Spirit truly is a part of the process.”

She also recounted a vote on restructuring the church, a resolution

which several dioceses including Missouri, sent to General Convention.

“There were over 800 deputies and the vote was unanimous.” Fox continued the story, “There was an audible gasp in the house. I mean, we had not voted unanimously on the most perfunctory of resolutions.” That moment was one that many deputies and visitors note as take-away moments, for the feeling of oneness and being part of something (the church) which is larger than we often see in our parishes and diocese.

Ballard continued, “There was such a great diversity, but the carefully developed structure and rules helped this diversity work together.”

“There is a cohesiveness that comes when least expected,” said Samuel.

“There is a noticeable shift in the way we are church working together.”

Making Disciples conference networks diocesan feeding ministries Last month’s Making Disciples conference brought author Sara Miles to present “Holy Food and Groceries,” her journey finding Jesus through St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco and setting up a weekly food pantry ministry there that now serves 800 each week. The talk was inspiring, and spirited discussions peppered the day.

Episcopal School for Ministry has taken on the planning of the MD conference, and added two local touches. The food for the day was organized by active diocesan food ministries: the Church of St. Michael and St. George provided breakfast and a team from the Red Door Church (Christ Episcopal Church in Cape Girardeau) prepared lunch for the 150 gathered, with vegan, vegetarian, and meat options.

Several diocesan feeding ministries were invited to set up displays during lunch—an opportunity for conference participants to compare notes and network. Their stories of ministry echoed the presentations from Miles with themes of ecumenical

Moment in Time Gala

partnership and miracles of budget.

Nancy Belcher from Grace Church in Jeff City reviewed a display of old and new program partnerships and said, “Almost all of our food ministries are ecumenical.” Among them are a weekend backpack project (nationwide) and Food for Kids, a summer feeding program. “My husband just learned that 47% of the kids in Jeff City are on assisted lunch programs,” added Belcher. “Today we heard 20% was the norm, but we are at 47%.”

She said that was both disheartening and motivating to continue.

Beth Simpson from Calvary Church in Columbia talked about their Saturday Breakfast Club, an idea that had sprung from an initial conversation she had with Bishop Wayne as part of the discernment process. “We talked about what deacons do, and he asked me to think more about what Calvary could be doing,” said Simpson. The homeless population there has a place M-F, but not Saturday, so they began a breakfast. Modeled on the cathedral’s bag breakfast, they grew into hot meals—and from a give-away

Episcopal City Mission's annual gala, Moment in Time, will be held on Thursday, September 27, 2012 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Clayton. The evening begins at 6:00 pm with a cocktail reception and the musical delights of the Just In Time Ensemble. ECM will be honoring the previous nine Chairpersons of the Board of Directors at this year's MIT. Please contact Rhonda Choflet at 314436-3545 or ecitymission@sbcglobal. net for more information or tickets.

16th Annual Gospel Jubilee Episcopal Church of the Ascension will host their annual Gospel Jubilee on Sunday, October 21 at 3:30 PM. More online at www.ascension-episcopalstl.org

Photos from the online videos of diocesan food ministries at the conference, top to bottom: Beth Simpson, Calvary Columbia; Nancy Belcher, Grace Jefferson City; Annette Joseph, Holy Cross Poplar Bluff; and Bob Towner, Christ Church Cape with the lunch preparation crew.

“The Carols of Christmas” at Calvary Columbia December 1- St. Nicholas Advent Bazaar “The weather has cooled; we hope the rains have begun,” writes Liz Schmidt in Calvary’s Salter. “The students and faculty are back at their tasks, and football is HERE. Advent begins Dec. 2. Thus, it is time to think about the Advent Bazaar. This is Calvary’s fun event for fundraising for the year.”

Preparations have begun. The Holy Rollers of the Beeswax Candles will begin rolling in early October. “Mice are even now stirring in their nests as they prepare to pounce on our doorstep in the wee hours of the morning on Dec. 1,” continues Schmidt, “Can you hear their sweet squeaky voices singing those carols? “ This year the Handmade Room will a spa table, items for the garden, bird houses, knitted goods, and a Christmas table and fine goodies table. Other specialty rooms include White Elephants, Treasures, Books, Gently Used Children’s Items, and Baked Goods.

But the star of the bazaar is the handmade “church mice” who are each year dressed and staged according to a theme. This major fundraising event at Calvary is well attended by the community, a line forms around the parish before the doors open. It is not unusual for the mice to sell out before the first hour has concluded.

Mark your calendars, and look for more information on www.calvaryonninth.org .

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in the tiled entrance to a full fellowship in the parish hall. Neighborhood churches joined, now four take turns with months of breakfasts.

Annette Joseph, rector of Holy Cross Church in Poplar Bluff talked about their food pantry and the need to not duplicate ministries already existing. “It doesn’t make sense to repeat ministries, it makes sense to build things together,” she said, “because that’s what we are as the Body of Christ, we are builders.”

Bob Towner, rector of Red Door Church, said, “It’s one month at a time...We don’t have a penny in our budget to do this work. We stepped out in faith, because it was what needed to be done. God has provided and God has been glorified, because as everybody knows, we couldn’t have done it otherwise.” Towner continued, “I just want to put this out there as a really important principle: if you want to do this, if you believe God is asking you to do this, then do it and the resources will follow.”

You can watch videos of each interview online at www.vimeo.com/ diocesemo .

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Privilege of the Floor I am Martha K. Baker from Trinity Church in the Central West End, and I attended General Convention for the first time this year. I had no official duties—I am neither delegate nor deputy nor clergy—and, thus, could exercise what a priest friend in New York state calls “the privilege of the floor,” that is, I could come and go as I pleased.

The weather for the week was unflaggingly hot, as hot as [insert vulgar simile here], and my trips to and from the convention hall were on asphalt and concrete, not desert sand, but not so hot as to keep me from appreciating Indiana’s capitol and Indianapolis’ massive State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, which gloomed over Christ Church Cathedral.

I went to the convention because I had spent 18 months on the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, filling out another commissioner’s aborted term. In that time, I working on the same-gender blessings (rites and resources), on the Calendar Committee responsible for Holy Women and Holy Men, on Daily Offices for All Seasons, and on adoption liturgies.

I wanted to follow what happened to these materials and the resolutions about them at General Convention.

I had never been to a GC before, and I decided at the last minute to attend because 1) it was in Indianapolis, near home; 2) I could carpool with fellow-Trinitarian Jeff Wunrow, who offered his gorgeous hand-sewn stoles for sale in the exhibition hall; and 3) I could stay for free in a friend’s apartment 20 minutes from the Convention Center. I volunteered for two days, thereby ensuring that attendance cost me zilch, but I had to don the obligatory volunteers’ vest in a blue not known to nature (I figured its hideosity was purposeful so that no one would steal it, but we were assured that we could take it home. Thank you?). So the trip cost me next to

Martha K. Baker

nothing in terms of American dollars, but what I learned about the big tent of The Episcopal Church is priceless.

Because I went early, I was able to troll the Exhibition Hall (aka Mall of Episcopalia) the minute it opened and without the crush of cruisers the next day. I learned a lot about what’s going on in the church by chatting with exhibitors from seminaries, political causes, publishing houses and t-shirt purveyors. I was forced, out of courtesy, to enjoy the candy offered at each booth. Sweet Jesus, indeed!

I also toured the Ecclesiastical Art Exhibition, which included the gold and white mosaic stole Jeff designed and sewed for the Rev. Harry Leip, deacon at Trinity-CWE. On display were vestments, including the chasuble and mitre from Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori’s installation as Presiding Bishop, and paraments, furniture and hangings—each a testament to hand-work.

On July 4, I attended the joint meeting of the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops. The Rev. Canon Dr. Gregory Straub officiated in a jacket of giant black and white squares (comparable to the boards for larger-than-life games of chess), complemented (or not) by a black and white polka dot tie. He could be seen without benefit of the JumboTron.

Spiritually and clerically, Greg is all business; sartorially, Greg is a gas— and natty, too. The Most Rev. (Dr.) Katharine Jefferts Schori addressed the assembly in her warm and welcoming voice, advising everyone to cool his or her partisan jets, or words to that effect; Canon Bonnie Anderson, 32nd President of the House of Deputies, addressed the faithful with her maternal and professorial voice, also asking for ears that listen to be more open than mouths. Both women, filled with the Holy Spirit, exude and articulate intelligence and joy.

The next day, the Conven-

tion began officially at Holy Eucharist with Bishop Katharine honoring proposed “saints” Walter Rauschenbusch, Washington Gladden, and muckraker Jacob Riis in her sermon.

She moved smoothly between Spanish and English as she celebrated. Translators were there, and throughout the Convention, for Spanish speakers and American Sign Language followers.

One of the hardest aspects of the Convention was finding out what was happening when and where, but the interactive monitor at the J.W. Marriott helped. Communications ranged between cookie crumbs drizzled along the forest paths and hi-tech shout-outs e-mailed in the cloud. It’s easier to follow General Convention from home, via blogs and news reports, than it is from the middle of it. I found out from the grapevine of gossip, for example, that GC had voted to relocate Church Center from 815 Second Avenue.

Throughout the next few days, I sat in on hearings by committees (for “open table” and for “baptism v. confirmation as the gatekeeper rite”) and on legislative sessions of the Houses of Bishops and Deputies. Witnesses were called to speak, pro then con.

Attention was paid, serious attention, for the vote of the committees matters in the legislative sessions of the Houses. The meetings are run by Robert’s Rules of Order, which means great fairness abounds; it also meant yawning chasms when the presiders called on the parliamentarian to rule on details, such as whether discussion of an amendment to an amendment could be held before or after a vote.

Democracy ain’t purty, but it sure beats the alternatives of rule of thumb or papal bull.

On Thursday evening, I joined members of the Missouri delegation, including representatives of Episcopal Church Women, whose convention coincides with GC. We

Reflection on Same-Sex Blessings Hearing and Debate It’s no secret that one of the most controversial issues of the 77th General Conventions was going to be the issue of same-sex blessings. In the last General Convention, the Committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy and Church Music was given the task of creating a draft liturgy for provisional use. The approval of the draft ceremony was entered into consideration as resolution A049.

I was impressed in the way that the General Convention handled this extremely contentious issue. Given the binary nature of the proposal, one camp, either the traditionalists or the progressives, was not going to have their way on A049. I know that the traditionalists have been feeling disrespected and disregarded in prior discussions of same-sex unions.

The evening of July 7th, the hearing on A049 was presided over by Bishop Wayne Smith. I don’t know how it could have been better run.

The meeting opened with an explanation of process. People who signed up to speak were each given two minutes to speak. This limit was rigorously enforced. The pro and con positions were alternated for one hour. After the first hour, there was an opportunity to speak to the actual proposed ceremony.

The gathering for the hearing

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was very large--perhaps a thousand people, but I didn’t count. The audience was respectful and the only obvious response in the hour was a round of applause for a particularly moving presentation. The pro presentations were typically oriented towards individual stories of same-sex relationships. The con presentations typically centered on the Bible and the policy’s impact on churches outside of the United States.

After the first hour, there were about fifteen minutes of presentations concerning the specifics of the proposed liturgy. That went quickly, so Bishop Smith allowed individuals to speak who had registered to testify but who couldn’t speak during the first hour. The presentations at that point were not balanced; there were more pro than con speakers. All registered speakers were able to have their say during the scheduled two-hour hearing.

Based on the input from the hearing, there were several changes made to the proposed liturgy. On July 9th, A049 came before the House of Bishops. The Presiding Bishop asked for Bishops who wished to speak about the resolution to indicate whether they wanted to speak pro or con. The speakers were alternated until the pros exceeded the cons. At

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Michael Booker

that point, the resolution was brought to a roll call vote.

The resolution passed (the vote being 111 in favor, 41 against, and 3 abstentions). Many of those who rose to speak against the resolution expressed appreciation for the transparency of the process and the language in the resolution making exclusions of conscience central to the provisional liturgy. No bishop or priest is required to preside over the service if they have theological or moral reservations about it.

Given the enthusiastic support in some quarters for the resolution, I expected some “high fives” when it passed. Nothing could have been further from the actual behavior of the bishops. It was proposed that the chaplain of the House of Bishops offer a prayer prior to the vote, and that prayer contained beautiful language about humility, care, and listening to the Spirit of God. The vote was taken and the results announced; there was no celebration and the house moved to further business.

I know that there are people who are disappointed by the results of General Convention, but I think that anyone who was there could not help but be impressed by the process that was used.

The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

met in the diocesan hospitality suite for what I thought was going to be a brief gathering for snacks and chats, but we stayed three hours. Old-timers shared tidbits with newbies about protocol and perseverance. After refueling with beer and soda, fruits and nuts—and Reese’s peanut-butter cups (as per request of the Rev. Doris Westfall)—the Rev. Tamsen Whistler, chair of the deputation, asked the group to debrief on the day’s committee hearings and, if needed, to seek advise and counsel on the next day’s.

We talked passionately about the “open table” resolution on the next day’s docket before the committee on evangelism, which was Deputy Mike Clark’s assignment. For fairness, a pretzel became a talking stick—until Deputy Lisa Fox broke it (oops).

At my first meeting with the Commission in October 2010, I thankfully had sat next to the Rev. Gregory Howe, custodian of the Book of Common Prayer. It was to him that I whispered questions about the differences among A resolutions and B and C and D; to him, I turned for answers regarding committees and hearings at convention. When I saw this grand old curmudgeon at Convention, I admit I had to ask him some of the same questions again.

And then, for an hour, standing in the lobby of the downtown Marriott, he regaled me with “war stories” from GCs he’s attended since the early Seventies (nomination for sainthood, pending).

Surely, the 77th General Convention of The Episcopal Church will warrant a few war stories of its own, what with historic votes for restructuring the church and for approving the trial use of same-gender blessings.

I was glad to be there, glad to be one of the faithful, glad to be an Episcopalian.

Dr. Michael Booker is a member of St. Francis’ Episcopal Church in Eureka.

He visited general convention, attended sessions in both Houses, and talked with a number of deputies and participants. Booker, a professor of Philosophy at Jefferson College, will graduate from the Episcopal School for Ministry this September 29.

General Convention Bites President of the House of Deputies Bonnie Anderson announced she was resigning the position after the business of General Convention had concluded.

Elected as the next President of the House of Deputies is the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, clerical deputy, Diocese of Ohio.

After nearly eight years and three General Conventions, the Rev. Canon Dr. Gregory Straub, Executive Officer of the Episcopal Church General Convention, has announced his retirement effective January 1, 2013. ©Photo credits: top, Diocese of Kansas:M.Woerman; bottom two The Episcopal Church, used with permission.

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Summary of major resolutions considered by the 77th General Convention Anglican Communion B005 Ongoing Commitment to The Anglican Covenant Process: Recommends the Presiding Officers appoint a Task Force of the Executive Council, to continue to monitor developments of the Anglican Covenant, and report on such developments to the 78th General Convention.

D008 Affirm Anglican Communion Participation: Expresses gratitude to those working at encouraging dialogue in the Anglican Communion, reaffirms the commitment of The Episcopal Church to the Anglican Communion, and encourages the Church to engage in further education about the Anglican Communion to support its work.

Bible C083 The Bible Challenge: Directs the Church to extend an invitation to members and the wider community to read the Bible in 2013.

Budget A007 Reaffirm the Five Marks of Mission for Budgeting: Continues the affirmation of the Five Marks of Mission as the framework of the Budget for the Episcopal Church.

A011 Reaffirm Commitment to Millennium Development Goals as a Mission Priority: Pledges not less than 0.7% of non-governmental revenue of the Church to be directed to support the Millennium Development Goals through Programs of Episcopal Relief & Development.

A122 Financial Oversight and Budgeting Process: Directs the Standing Commission on the Structure of the Church to review and recommend revisions to the Constitution and Canons with respect to financial oversight and budgeting processes.

D025 Establishing a Churchwide Development Office: Authorizes the creation of a Churchwide Development Office, to be directed by the Presiding Bishop and Chief Operating Officer in consultation with the Executive Council.

Canons A031 Amend Canon III.11.4(a): Discontinues the practice of consents to the election of bishops occurring at the General Convention for elections occurring less than 120 days before the start of Convention.

A062 Amend Canon II.3.5: Allows the Custodian of the Book of Common Prayer to offer translations of the Standard Book of Common Prayer in other languages using a style that reflects the idiomatic and cultural contexts of such languages.

A105 Amend Canon I.2.1: Provides the Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop a structure and process for the undertaking of their work.

D002 Affirming Access to Discernment Process for Ministry: Adds gender identity and expression as a protected class for the discernment process.

D019 Amend Canon I.17.5 - Extending the Rights of Laity: Adds gender identity and expression as a protected class for participation in the life of the Church.

D021 Amend Canon II.2: Adds translations of the Bible authorized by canon for use in the reading of the Lessons prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer.

Christian Formation A046 Commend Continued Development of Lifelong Christian Formation: Commends the use of online Christian formation and leadership certificates, and the work of lifelong Christian formation groups.

C069 New Ministries in Community Colleges: Supports the creation of new campus ministries at community colleges, and directs the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministries to oversee a grant fund for such ministries.

Church Calendar A052 Identify Additional Church Calendar Commemorations: Directs the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to consult with the Executive Council Committee on the Status of Women and other groups to identify additional women for commemorations in Holy Women, Holy Men and authorizes a supplement for trial use.

Communications A024 Recognize Communications as Ministry: Identifies communications as an essential ministry of the Church, and expresses a desire for adequate funding of such ministry.

A025 Challenge Congregations to Develop Websites: Challenges congregations to have an effective, dynamic, and current website by 2015.

Congregations A073 Establish Diocesan Mission Enterprise Zones: Authorizes the creation of the Mission Enterprise Fund, a matching grant fund of the Executive Council, and invites dioceses and their standing commissions to work to establish Mission Enterprise Zones to engage with underrepresented groups in the life of the Church.

Health Plan: Reaffirms the December 2012 deadline of enrollment in the DHP, and establishes a lay-clergy cost parity deadline of December 2015.

Disabilities D068 Move Towards Full Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities: Authorizes the creation of a task force for the gathering and creation of resources to drive the inclusion of persons with developmental disabilities.

Human Rights A132 Dismantling of the Effects of the Doctrine of Discovery: Authorizes the creation of a task force, through the Chancellor of the Presiding Bishop, to develop guidelines for dioceses and churches to protect sacred sites of indigenous peoples and comply with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990.

Diversity A096 Reduce Barriers to participation in Church Leadership and Governance: Recommends dioceses and congregations explore creative ways to reduce impediments to participation in the governance and leadership of The Episcopal Church.

Doctrine A136 Affirming the Compatibility of Science and the Christian Faith: Supports the complementary and compatible natures of Science and Christian Faith, and encourages the establishment of Christian education programs that explore such relationship.

C029 Access to Holy Baptism and Holy Communion: Reaffirms baptism as the entry point to the reception of the Holy Communion and the call of Christ to go into the world and baptize all peoples.

Ecumenism A036 Further Dialogue with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: Encourages the Lutheran-Episcopal Coordinating Committee to address areas of common life where ecclesiological practices differ, report to the Standing Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations, and that the Standing Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations report to the 78th GC. A037 Approve and Commend Guidelines for Ecumenical Shared Ministries: Commends dioceses to use “Guidelines for Ecumenical Shared Ministries Outside of Full Communion or Interim Sharing Documents” as a way to establish relationships of shared ministries.

Employee Benefits C042 Extend implementation period for Lay Employee Pension Plan (LEPP): Adjusts the implementation of the lay employee pension system established by the 76th General Convention with respect to schools subject to the authority of the Church.

Environment B023 Environmental Justice: Calls on the Church to support “frontline” communities experiencing climate change, to resist the expansion of fossil fuel use, and support transitions to a post-carbon society.

D055 Advocate for Public Policy to Reduce Climate Changing Emissions: Urges restrictions on the use of carbon-based fuels.

Episcopal Church Center D016 Church Center Location: Expresses the will of the Convention that the Church Center be moved away from the Episcopal Church Center building at 815 Second Avenue.

Ethnic Ministries D093 New Visions Initiative for Transforming Congregations of African Descent: Affirms the ongoing work of the Office of Diversity, Social and Economic Ministries in increasing the efficacy of predominantly black congregations.

Evangelism A070 Develop a Multimedia-Based Evangelism Guide: Directs DFMS staff to develop an evangelism guide based in a multimedia format to assist dioceses and local congregations in participating in evangelism and with a particular focus on under-represented groups of the Church.

C075 Sudanese Community: Commits to the continued welcoming and sustaining of Sudanese communities being received in The Episcopal Church.

Family Planning A137 Strengthening Families: Urges health insurance providers used by the Church at its various levels to provide insurance options that offer coverage for infertility treatment, and reaffirms General Convention Resolution 2000-C042.

Health B026 Implementation of the Denominational

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HIV/AIDS A166 Week of Prayer for Healing of AIDS: Urges dioceses to participate in the National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS.

Interfaith Dialogue A035 Commit to Continued Interreligious Engagement: Reaffirms commitment to interreligious relations; directs diocesan staff (ecumenical and interreligious officers) to report on their work in interreligious relations to the Standing Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations; directs the Standing Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations to report on diocesan efforts in interreligious relations to the 78th GC. International Relations A019 Continue Advocacy for Peace in Sudan: Calls for continued advocacy and prayer from all Episcopalians for peace between Sudan and South Sudan, and urges the United States government’s continued support of the 2005 Sudanese CPA. Justice D050 Clergy Call to Action on Economic and Racial Justice: Requests the distribution of “A Prophetic Clergy Call to Action,” and encourages action to reduce poverty and to increase economic and racial justice.

Liturgy A048 Form Congregational Song Task Force Directs the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to form a congregational song task force for development of musical resources and to continue work on the World Music Project.

A049 Authorize Liturgical Resources for Blessing Same-Gender Relationships: Commends and authorizes the provisional use of “Liturgical Resources I: I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing,” with some modifications from the report of the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, beginning the first Sunday of Advent 2012; and directs the SCLM to further develop the resource with responses from the Church and Communion, and to report on such development to the 78th GC. A051 Continue Trial Use of Holy Women, Holy Men: Directs the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to continue revising HWHM with renewed attention to guidelines for revising the Calendar established by the 75th GC, as well as the form, poetry, and seasons of liturgical life in the Book of Common Prayer.

A054 Authorize Rites and Prayers for the Care of Beloved Animals: Makes available liturgical materials for the pastoral care of persons caring for animals.

B009 Authorize Use of 1979 Lectionary: Allows the use of the Lectionary originally printed in the Book of Common Prayer (1979), with approval of the Ecclesiastical Authority.

Matrimony A050 Create Task Force on the Study of Marriage: Authorizes the creation of a task force on the study of marriage to identify and explore dimensions of marriage, and directs it to consult with the Standing Commission on Constitution and Canons, the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, other churches in the Anglican Communion, ecumenical partners, couples living in marriage and other lifelong committed relationships, and single adults.

Ministry A067 Theological Education: Ministry Formation: Directs the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to convene regional consultations of those involved in ministry education to generate a shared vision of theological education and formation for ordained ministry, and report such recommendations to the 78th GC. Missionaries A113 Commend Work of Missionaries: Commends missionaries and calls on dioceses to encourage increasing missionary work.

Parochial Reports A010 On Data from Non-Traditional Worshipping Communities and Quantifiable Mea-

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sures of Mission: Directs the Executive Council and the House of Deputies Committee on the State on the Church to work together to identify information to be included in the Parochial Report previously not recognized, and to develop a reliable method for documenting mission and outreach ministry activity such as school, feeding, and campus ministries.

Racism A125 Recommit to the Work of Anti-Racism: Commends and recommits to ongoing work against racism; directs dioceses and provinces to perform ongoing antiracism training, and for provinces to report on such training annually to the Executive Council.

A128 Direct Dioceses to Examine Impact of Doctrine of Discovery: Directs dioceses to examine the impact of the doctrine, with the assistance of research and documentation from historians and archivists around The Episcopal Church and in affiliated organizations.

Small Churches A076 Strengthen Small Congregations: Charges the Office of Congregational Vitality to be the office of support for the ongoing mission of the Church in small congregations, urges the Presiding Officers to continue to ensure appropriate representation of members of small congregations and dioceses on interim bodies.

Stewardship A088 Set Expectations for Steward Leaders: Establishes a set of expectations for steward leaders in the Church in proclaiming a theology of abundance and spirituality of money, teaching biblical and theological principles of stewardship, engaging and critiquing culture, and embracing the interconnectedness of relationships between persons and creation.

A084 Establish Episcopal Credit Union: Directs the Executive Council to study the ability to establish an Episcopal Credit Union, and report on findings to the Standing Commission on Social Justice and Public Policy for enabling resolutions to the General Convention.

D066 Establish Episcopal Network of Volunteer Executives and Professionals: Creates an Episcopal Network of Volunteer Executives and Professionals, with a Coordinator to be appointed by the Chief Operating Officer.

Structure A147 Continue Forward Movement: Authorizes the continuation of Forward Movement Publications under the supervision of the Presiding Bishop, and for the Presiding Bishop to appoint its Board of Directors as necessary.

A153 Continuing the Task Force on Older Adult Ministries: Authorizes the continuation of the Task Force on Older Adult Ministries.

C095 Structural Reform: Reaffirms the Five Marks of Mission as a starting point for directing a plan for the reform of structure, governance, and administration of The Episcopal Church; authorizes the creation of a task force to gather information and ideas and convene a special gathering for receiving recommendations of reform, and report to the Church by November 2014 for actions necessary to implement reform.

Theological Education D049 Pilot Student Loan Program: Supports the creation of a pilot program for forgiving costs of seminary education of ordained persons committing to spending their first three years in an underserved area of the Church.

Violence D042 Fighting Human Trafficking: Commends work of Anglican Women’s Empowerment, calls for coordination with the Executive Council Committee on the Status of Women to share resources on human trafficking, and supports actions to recovery and reintegration of victims of human trafficking to society.

D061 Condemning Threats Against Sexual Minorities: Rejects violent rhetoric and calls for imprisonment or execution of sexual minorities, and expresses support for such persons and that they should be protected by civil law against threats.

D022 Churchwide Response to Bullying: Calls for the Church to address and respond to bullying, and encourages partnerships across groups in the Church.

Weapons D003 Gun Free Zones: Requests dioceses and congregations declare their places of employment Gun Free Zones.

The complete summary, copy of the triennial budget as approved, and links to complete resolution text is online: http://www.generalconvention.org/gc/gc2012-legislation

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Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis • All Saints’ Church, Farmington • All Saints’ Church, St. Louis • Church of the Ascension, Northwoods • Calvary Church, Columbia • Calvary Church, Weofare 12,500 baptized members Louisiana • Christ Church, Cape Girardeau • Christ Church, Rolla • Church of St. Michael & St. George, Clayton • Church the Advent, Crestwood • Churchinof46 thecongregations Good Shepherd, in the eastern halfKirkwood of Missouri, Town & Country • Church of the Holy Communion, University City • Emmanuel Church, Webster Groves • Grace Church, Jefferson City • Grace Church, • Holy Cross Church, Poplar Bluff • St. Alban’s Church, Fulton • St. Barnabas’ Church, Florissant • St. Francis’ Church, Eureka • St. John’s Church, Eolia (Prairieville) • Camp Phoenix • Christian Education • COEDMO • Commission on Dismantling Racism • Commission on Ministry • Community Gardens • Community Health and Wellness Ministries • Community of Hope • Companion Diocese Relationship Committee • Diocesan Council • Diocesan Convention • Diocesan Mission Trips • Episcopal Campus Ministry • Episcopal City Mission • Episcopal Church Women • Episcopal Recovery Ministry • Episcopal Relief and Development • Episcopal School for Ministry • Fresh Start • General Convention • Grace Hill • Happening • Hunger and Food Ministries • Missional Model Congregations • Oasis Missouri • Paseo Con Christo • St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors System (STARSS) • St. Luke’s Hospital • Standing Committee • Sustain A Faithof• Task Force for the Hungry The Mission the Diocese of Missouri is • United Thank Offering • Youth Ministry • St. John’s Church, Tower Grove • St. Luke’s Church, Manchester • St. Mark’s Church, Portland • St. Mark’s • St.Christians: Martin’s Church, Ellisville • St. Matthew’s Church, Mexico • St. Matthew’s Church, Warson Woods • St. Paul’s Church, Carondelet • St. Paul’s Church, the Church, mission ofSt.allLouis baptized Ironton •to St.teach Paul’s Palmyra • St. Paul’s Church, Sikeston • St. Peter’s Church, Ladue • St. Stephen’s Church, Ferguson • St. Thomas’ Church for the Deaf, Kirkwood • St. andChurch, to spread the Gospel Timothy’sand Church, Creve Coeur • St. Vincent’s-in-the-Vineyard Church, Ste. Genevieve • Church of the Transfiguration, Lake St. Louis • Trinity Church, Jefferson County • Trinity Church, its knowledge of salvation to all people; Hannibaland • Trinity Church, Kirksville St. Charles • Trinity Church, St.Episcopal James • Trinity Church, Central West End • Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis • All Saints’ Church, to make the love of Christ• Trinity knownChurch, in the world Diocese of Missouri Farmington • All Saints’ St.individuals, Louis • Church of the Ascension, Northwoods 1210 • Calvary Church, Columbia • Calvary Church, Louisiana • Christ Church, Cape Girardeau • Christ through our ownChurch, actions as Locust Street Church, Rolla • Church ofand St. Michael & St. George, Clayton • Church of the Advent, Crestwood • Church of the as congregations, as the diocese, St. Louis, Missouri 63103 Good Shepherd, Town & Country • Church of the Holy Communion, UniversitybyCity • Emmanuel Church, Webster Groves • Grace Church, Jefferson City • Grace Church, Kirkwood • Holy Cross Church, Poplar Bluff • St. Alban’s Church, Fulton • St. feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, Barnabas’ Church, • St. Francis’ Church, Eureka • St. John’s Church, Eolia (Prairieville) • Camp Phoenix • Christian Education • COEDMO • Commission on Dismantling clothing theFlorissant naked, housing the homeless, Racism •caring Commission on Ministry • Community for the sick, visiting the prisoner, Gardens • Community Health and Wellness Ministries • Community of Hope • Companion Diocese Relationship Committee • Diocesan Council •and Diocesan Convention • Diocesan Mission Trips • Episcopal Campus Ministry • Episcopal City Mission • Episcopal Church Women • Episcopal Recovery Ministry • Episcopal comforting those in times of trouble.

Relief and Development • Episcopal School for Ministry • Fresh Start • General Convention • Grace Hill • Happening • Hunger and Food Ministries • Missional Model Congregations • Oasis Missouri • Paseo Con Christo • 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 Church, Tower Grove • St. Luke’s Church, Manchester • St. Mark’s Church, Portland • St. Mark’s Church, St. Louis • St. Martin’s Church, Ellisville • St. Matthew’s Church, Mexico • St. Matthew’s Church, Warson Woods • St. Paul’s Church, Carondelet • St. Paul’s Church, Ironton • St. Paul’s Church, Palmyra • St. Paul’s Church, Sikeston • St. Peter’s Church, Ladue • St. Stephen’s Church, Ferguson • St. Thomas’ Church for the Deaf, Kirkwood • St. Timothy’s Church, Creve Coeur • St. Vincent’sin-the-Vineyard Church, 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’ Church, Farmington • All Saints’ Church, St. Louis • Church of the Ascension, Northwoods • Calvary Church, Columbia • Calvary Church, Louisiana • Christ Church, Cape Girardeau • Christ Church, Rolla • Church of St. Michael & St. George, Clayton • Church of the Advent, Crestwood • Church of the 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 Church, Fulton • St. Barnabas’ Church, Florissant • St. Francis’ Church, Eureka • St. John’s Church, Eolia (Prairieville) • Camp Phoenix • Christian Education • COEDMO • Commission on Dismantling Racism • Commission on Ministry • Community Gardens

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Quarterly from the Episcopal Church in Missouri Diocese

Post-General Convention 2012

Making Disciples Building Congregations For the Life of the World

We Are the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri Please Join Us in Worship This Week Next trip to Lui Diocese in South Sudan LuiNetwork.Ning.Com Pilgrims leaving in late November on the next mission trip to the Diocese of Lui are beginning to think about packing, and how they will participate in the team work of this trip. Some changes: Debbie Smith has stepped down as on-the-ground in Sudan trip logistics coordinator and that role will now be filled by Dan Smith, Canon to the Ordinary. Ev Smith is the chair of the Companion Diocese Committee. (The only Smith of those three, or including the bishop, traveling to Lui this trip is Dan Smith.)

The Mundri (location of “airstrip” closest to Lui town) police now have an immigration officer, so it is anticipated the team can fly MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) into Mundri as usual and get visas there, a much simpler process than before.

Follow along with the travelers who will post before they leave, when there and they have an internet connection, and after their return on the LuiNetwork blog. Members include Missourians and partners from Blackmore Vale Deanery, Diocese of Salisbury in the Church of England and from the Diocese of Lund, Church of Sweden. (Both groups are sending two missioners each on the upcoming trip.)

Participate in leading your diocese Are you energized by the life of this diocese?

Have you been feeling the one hope in God's call to us?

Each year in November the diocese meets in convention and elects a few folks of vision and faith to help chart the course for our life together in the Body of Christ.

Each year we ask you to consider nominating yourself for a leadership position. Some of you have been thinking about this for some years—the time is right!

Music and Arts Village over half-way to funding The people of All Saints’ Church in St. Louis are energized by this project, one that they believe will foster a deep connection with their neighborhood. It's directed at giving young people an alternative to drugs or crime. “It's a fact that kids who pick up a musical instrument or a paintbrush,” said Michael Dunnington, All Saints’ priest, “are much less likely to pick up a gun or a needle.”

The Village project received a UTO grant for $10,000. They need to raise an additional $8,000 to get a keyboard lab, guitars, and art supplies. Teachers and other volunteers have committed their time.

Dunnington continued, “Any donation you can make will be truly appreciated.

Please make your check payable to All Saints, write "ASMAV" on the memo line, and send it to the church at 5010 Terry Ave., St. Louis, MO 63115. Thanks and God bless you for your consideration.”

Copyright and your parish This year’s diocesan Communications Conference invites CCS copyright specialist (and Episcopalian) John Talbert to present information on copyright basics and blanket licenses, using songs and scripture, producing a CD v. DVD, being both creative and compliant, unique web issues, special projects, kinds of licenses, and where to go with deeper questions. He’ll hold a Q&A, and promises to bring plenty of real life examples.

Join us Saturday, October 6, 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM at St. Martin's Church, 15764 Clayton Rd, Ellisville 63011

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Post-General Convention 2012

Positions open on Diocesan Council is the corporation, oversees the budget, meets six times a year at locations around the diocese, sub-committees do much work by conference call and email, plans, develops, and reviews the programs of the diocese.

Standing Committee is the bishop's council of advice, the diocesan design team, the visioneers, meets monthly, except when there are no official acts or agenda items.

Cathedral Chapter seeks 1 lay member and 1 cleric from in St. Louis city or county Disciplinary Board seeks 1 lay member and 1 cleric.

The 2012 Nomination Form is now available online, as is the 2012 Resolution Submission information sheet. Nominations and resolutions are due in the Offices of the Bishop by 5 PM Wednesday, Sept 26.

Other Convention news. The first mailing to delegates and alternates should leave Sept. 5. Copies of materials as they come available are posted on the diocesan website (look for a convention button on the main page of diocesemo.org ).

Convention in Columbia, Nov. 16 & 17

Copyright in the morning, panels on best practices in the afternoon. There is no cost for this conference, but RSVPs are required by 5 PM Friday, Sept. 28, 2012.

Continental breakfast and beverages provided.

Order a box lunch for $8.50 or brown bag it.

Childcare provided if request received by registration deadline. More info and registration online: diocesemo.org/commconf .

DioceseMo.org

9/4/2012 2:45:38 PM