Seek!
November 2018
Our stories of following Jesus in the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri
Faith Christian Church of India
"We might be here for the one lost sheep."
ph: 314-231-1220 www.DioceseMo.org Episcopal Diocese of Missouri Offices of the Bishop 1210 Locust St. St. Louis, Missouri 63103
Faith Christian Church of India
Photo credit FCCI, front cover, members Varna Jeevarajan , Nancy Christian, Cavin Clive; above, FCCI children's choir. Learn more about the church at www.faithchristianchurchofindia.com. FCCI will present at this year's Diocesan Convention. There’s a new mission in the Diocese of Missouri. Have you heard about the Faith Christian Church of India (FCCI)? They meet on first and third Sundays at St. Luke’s Church in Manchester, on second Fridays in house prayer meetings, and for ministry outreach on fourth and fifth Sundays. In 2010 the Rev. Sujanna Raj and her husband the Rev. Clive Samson, both ministers in the Church of South India (CSI), came to this country answering a call from seminaries to CSI pastors looking for church planters. Eden Seminary in St. Louis was a partner in this effort. And while that call didn’t bear immediate fruit, Sujanna returned to Eden in 2012 to earn a Masters’ Degree in Theological Studies. She worked at a United Church of Christ in Fairview Heights, IL, for a year and then in 2015 applied for a change in religious status, to work as a pastor and form a church.
A United Church of the Anglican Communion
The Church of South India is the second largest Christian church in India. The Church was inaugurated in 1947 by the union of the South India United Church (itself a union of Congregational and Presbyterian/Reformed traditions), the southern Anglican diocese of the Church of India, Burma, Ceylon, and the Meth-
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odist Church in South India. It is one of the four United Churches in the Anglican Communion.
Summer of 2017, a new Church is born
FCCI was begun in August of 2017, meeting once a month. Sujanna explained there are many software engineers and other professionals that come from India to work in the United States. Sometimes they and their families are here for 10-15 years. Some are already involved with American Churches, but they yearn for a worship service to connect them to their Indian roots, to sing familiar hymns and songs. And language is important. India has many languages, and it’s easy for children here to forget their mother tongue.
An Episcopal Liturgy
When she returned in 2012, Pastor Sujanna was exposed to many denominations and their worship styles and liturgy at Eden. In the Indian preaching style, she would take Scripture passages and go deeply into their origin, and use them as a focus. She notes, "People want the Word to be connected to the heart. They want it to relate to what they’re going through. You have to slow down the sermon, convey that whole feeling of embodying the caring Word of God.”
Building Congregations
For the Life of the World
Faith Christian Church of India uses the liturgy of the Episcopal Church. They started meeting at Church of the Advent in far south St. Louis County. Many of their families live in St. Charles County, or farther out, and the commute was long. The move to meeting at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church locates church more centrally to their core membership.
It's a family affair
Back in India, the expectation is that Christian families will attend church. “But here, they’re free to not participate. So, we have to get families here.” On this faith journey, it’s a process of gaining trust and getting the word out to the community. FCCI has a website, and Facebook and Instagram presence on social media. And they’ve streamed and offered videos of services online. Last Lent, they hosted several other Indian fellowships for an ecumenical service, with a speaker from India. Everything is projected on a screen at services. “We want everyone to sing,” Sujanna said, so familiar songs are chosen. Her son is a guitarist in services, another Sri Lankan pastor plays the keyboard, and another plays the drums. continued on pg. 10
Search Committee chosen for the next Bishop of the Diocese of Missouri The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri is pleased to announce that after a period of prayerful discernment, the following people have been selected to lead us in the search and nominating process as we move forward together to call the eleventh bishop of our diocese.
Search/Nominating Committee
• • •
Chair Mrs. Deborah Nelson Linck, Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis Chaplain Sr. Donna Ruth Hawk-Reinhard, n/AF, Episcopal School for Ministry, Episcopal Church of the Advent, Crestwood Lay Members • Ms. Ilena Albarron, Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion, University City • Ms. Elizabeth Kroes-Asher, Episcopal Church of the Advent, Crestwood • Mr. Richard Entenmann, Grace Episcopal Church, Kirkwood • Mr. Matthew Jackson, All Saints Episcopal Church, Farmington • Mr. Rudy Nickens, Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion, University City • Ms. Bren O’Connor, Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis • Mr. William Sheldon, St. Thomas Deaf Episcopal Church, St. Louis • Ms. Annette Webb, Calvary Episcopal Church, Columbia • Dr. Carter Whitson, Trinity Episcopal Church, CWE, St. Louis Clergy Members • The Rev. Chester Hines, Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion, University City
• •
The Rev. Luke Jernagan, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Ladue The Rev. Harry Leip, Trinity Episcopal Church, CWE, St. Louis The Very Rev. Kathie Adams-Shepherd, Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis The Rev. Sally Weaver, Trinity Episcopal Church, St. James; St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Ellisville The Rev. Tamsen Whistler, Trinity Episcopal Church, St. Charles
Under the Canons of The Episcopal Church, the Standing Committee is charged with supervising and overseeing the election of our next bishop. A retreat will be held in late November and will be attended by the Standing Committee, Search/Nominating Committee and the Rev. Gary Butterworth, the consultant we have hired to assist with this search. The first task of the Search/Nominating Committee will be to create a process of listening to the diocese in order to create the profile of the next bishop. God willing, in September 2019, the Search/Nominating Committee will publish a slate of candidates for election. This election will occur during the annual diocesan convention in November. It is anticipated that the eleventh bishop of our diocese will be consecrated in April 2020. The members of the Standing Committee are deeply grateful for the applications and recommendations offered to assist us in our discernment. Each committee member chosen possesses particular gifts and skills that were determined to be both desirable and necessary for the work of this committee. We have endeavored to honor as much as possible the diversity we seek and joyfully celebrate in our diocese. We believe that each and every person chosen to
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serve on the Search/Nominating Committee has the gifts, sense of commitment, and right spirit to succeed in this holy work. So, what can you do to be a part of this search process? Pray! Pray for wisdom, spiritual guidance, and good humor for everyone involved in this process. Pray for Bishop Smith, his family, and his staff as they continue to faithfully serve our diocese during this time of transition. Finally, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns you may reach me by e-mail at bishopsearch@diocesemo.org. Yours in the love of Christ, Shug Goodlow President, Standing Committee of the Diocese of Missouri Standing Committee of the Diocese of Missouri • • • • • • • • • • •
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The Rev. Dawn-Victoria Mitchell, Vice-President, Trinity/St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Hannibal Dr. Adam Pearson, Secretary, Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion, University City The Rev. Jerre Birdsong, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, St. Louis Mrs. Simone Camp, St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Fulton Mr. Brooke Forsyth, St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, Creve Coeur Ms. Lisa Fox, Grace Episcopal Church, Jefferson City Ms. Loretta Go, St. Martin's Episcopal Church, Ellisville The Rev. Deborah Goldfeder, Episcopal Church of the Advent, Crestwood The Rev. Rebecca Ragland, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Carondelet, St. Louis The Rev. Leslie Scoopmire, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Ellisville The Rev. Jonathan Stratton, Trinity Episcopal Church, CWE, St. Louis
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The Thin Place of All Saints' Day Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical Body of your son Christ our Lord. All Saints’ Day Collect , BCP p.245
“You have knit together your elect …”
All Saints’ Day. A time when that knitting connects the seen and unseen worlds. A time when, for a moment, we “cross over.” A time we allow ourselves to be touched by the angels and saints of God – those among us now and those who have gone before us. I’ve just returned from a funeral. That occasion sent me back some twenty years ago to another death … another time of being “knit together.” I remember it like this. It was a wintry morning in February. The night slowly faded into the morning—where one began and the other ended was a mystery—much like the mystery that enveloped me as I rose from the couch where I’d been keeping watch through the night. As I stood by the hospital bed, Mother’s breathing grew more and more labored and the silences between the breaths longer and longer. My sister, Sally, joined me. We stood on either side of the bed each one holding a frail hand. “It’s okay, Mama, we’re here with you. We’ll be fine, Mama, you can let go.” In the long space that followed each breath our eyes met across the bed silently asking, “Is she gone?” And then finally one last gasp—and she joined the glorious company of the Saints in Light. For an instant—for the twinkling of an eye—we stood with her on that holy threshold that leads from this life to the next. In that moment, we held hands across the bounds of time and space, life and death. We were “knit together” in one communion and fellowship. It was a “thin place.” A thin place … that’s what our Celtic ancestors called those places and moments where the seen and unseen worlds connect. A thin place.
That’s All Saints’ Day—a day that defies all rationality. A day not of understanding, but of faith. On that day we who are the saints of God rejoice and celebrate the promise that in God’s kingdom there are no boundaries between heaven and earth, between God and humanity, between the living and the dead.
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Making Disciples
Building Congregations
For the Life of the World
All Saints’ Day allows us to know the power of a thin place. It is a time to be vulnerable and feel ourselves wrapped in the embrace of a God who is continually making all things new. On All Saints’ Day we celebrate our redeemed, sanctified lives knit together with all those we love, those who have gone before us—mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, husbands, wives, children, friends— and we celebrate those who journey with us now, those we know, those we know not, and those yet to come. This All Saints’ Day unbounded by time or space, we dared to stand in the thin place and join voices with all the company of heaven singing, “Amen, praise and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, power and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen. Amen.” The Rev. Susie Skinner Confluence Co-Founder
Confluence is a Roofless Center for Spirituality in the Diocese of Missouri. Read more about them at www.confluencestlouis.org Images of the stained glass window commissioned by family, friends, and the people of Trinity Episcopal Church in St. James, Missouri, in memory of their former rector, the Rev. Steve Barber. The window bears the inscription: IN MEMORY OF FR. STEVE BARBER & ALL THE SAINTS OF TRINITY CHURCH; Additional images of the consecration of the window in May 2018; Steve Frei of Emil Frei & Associates installs the new window.
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Offering Centering Prayer in the County Jail This is the story of a long and winding path that brought one Episcopalian to ministry with women in jail. She volunteers with Criminal Justice Ministry. Begun in the late 1970s by a Roman Catholic priest working part time in the city jail, it's now focused on re-entry services with a special emphasis on veterans, and people who been incarcerated for ten or more years statewide. When someone is in jail for a decade, they often lose their communities of support. There are classes focused on things like daily living skills like navigating health care and medications, using cell phones, anger management. There is mentoring, help finding stable housing and a job. There are many volunteer advocates, including over 100 letter writers. But a very few are called to a listening ministry, one-on-one time at the jail.
"You'll do"
Mary Taylor, member of Trinity Church in the Central West End of St. Louis, is no stranger to the judicial system. She was a healthcare attorney and represented abused kids for 12 years. And, as a long-time foster parent, she got to know the parents of the kids she used to care for, and spent time with them in jail and the family court system. “I know how thin the line can be for some people, especially those who have grown up in a difficult home or as foster child. Some of these folks are third generation foster care kids. There is a thin line between having a job and your kids and home and then suddenly not. It often starts with stupid mistakes, and many of them involve drugs and choosing abusive partners.” She had a notion of wanting to find a ministry place in the system, but met a lot of dead ends. She trained as a spiritual director at Shalem Institute in Washington, D.C. She kept searching for the place she was meant to be. She made the decision to let it go, the call to this
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work, and make her peace with that. But, the Holy Spirit. Mary received an unexpected call from Sister Jude, BVM, a nun working for many years in one-on-one prison ministry in the county jail. At the end of a very long and frank conversation, and after reviewing Mary's training and experience she told her, “You’ll do.”
A safe space to cry, to pray
Some of the women want to talk about God and to pray. Some want to cry, as it’s not safe to cry in the jail. Some have been hurt by the church, or have been taught about a God of punishment and harshness. In her listening ministry every Wednesday, whomever wants to lines up to share time with Mary. She sits and listens to whatever is on their heart. Some people are there for two weeks, some for three years, and most are awaiting trial or on a probation violation and can’t make bail. For a few it’s the fifth or sixth time in jail and their families are fed up with them. There is a lot of loneliness and sadness.
Centering Prayer class begins
For those interested, Mary was teaching the technique of centering prayer. Finding a place and time to be one-on-one with God, sharing deepest desires and regrets, offering thanks for the people in your life supporting you, the people taking care of your children. And then, being quiet and listening to what God has to say. “Any good relationship,” she added, “if you do all the talking, it’s not a very good relationship.” A core group of inmates were praying. They came to Mary a few months ago to ask if she would lead a class on centering prayer and meditation, one where Christians and Muslims and those from other faiths would feel welcome. She
Building Congregations
For the Life of the World
worked on the ability to bring a bell into jail, but it was considered contraband. She received free materials from Prison Contemplative Fellowship (PCF), Thomas Keating’s group. And Prison Mindfulness Institute gave her a scholarship for one of their courses. The inmates set up the parameters of the class, a six week pilot project that started in October. They are choosing the participants, trying to pick people who will be there for six weeks.
Always, prayers needed
How can you help? This program costs nothing. You can contribute to PCF to help them continue their donations. But, your prayers for this ministry, for the incarcerated seeking God, are critical. “People often say they know there are problems with the criminal justice system but have no idea what to do about it. You can pray for us. People in there are grandmothers, sisters, aunts, some have made mistakes or are addicted, some have made no mistakes. When they remain in jail, they often lose everything. CJM is always happy for more volunteers. Any church could invite these folks to come and talk about this ministry and a the many ways to get involved. Even if just to be aware that at any time there are 1300 people in the St. Louis County jail.
Answering God's invitation
Mary said, “For so many years I listened to horrible stories of abused kids as their attorney. I’d listen and then try to tell their story in court. Un-hearable stuff. It’s no wonder no one wants to get involved with that kind of suffering.” She started using guided imagery prayer as a practice back then. She’d go to the Carmelite Monastery in Clayton straight from jail, take her book of first names of everyone she had continued on pg. 10
This Diocese's faithful response to gun violence Tragically, despite substantial progress in many regions of the United States in reducing the frequency of gun violence, the City of St. Louis remains the epicenter of this national epidemic. In 2017, the city experienced 205 homicides, over 90% of which were committed with guns. Nor were the surrounding counties in Missouri and Illinois immune from bloodshed. Notable (albeit isolated) progress is being made with an enhanced focus on community engagement by several area police departments and the increased use of evidenced-based policing strategies, especially in the “Hayden Rectangle,” a contiguous area of North St. Louis City and County. Nevertheless, the fragmentation of local government and resulting lack of coordination among program initiatives have limited the region’s ability to address gun violence systematically.
Developing and Ongoing Partnerships
The Episcopal Presbyterian Health Trust (EPHT) awarded a $25,000 grant in 2017 to a coalition of 100+ local organizations to assist them in developing a model of collaboration and mutual accountability that would significantly improve their collective effectiveness and community responsiveness. Based on the results of a 6-month study completed with the assistance of a nationally recognized consulting firm (based in St. Louis), the St. Louis Violence Prevention Commission (VPC) was chartered in early 2018 and officially recognized by both St. Louis City and County governments.
The Episcopal Bishop’s Deputy for Gun Violence Prevention worked to secure the grant, facilitated input to the organizational study from the larger faith community and, now, serves on the VPC Leadership Committee. The partnership between the diocese and Washington University School of Medicine’s (WUSM) Department of Psychiatry for the development of materials to train clergy and mental health professionals in the care of victims of violence continues. New modules on the nature of evil, PTSD in children, chronic grief and suicide were completed during the past year.
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WUSM faculty and diocesan staff regularly offer programs to local seminaries, faith communities and community organizations. The partnership with the American Hospital Association continues, facilitating the exchange of information on violence prevention and programs to address it, primarily through the coordination of our respective web sites. The next year will focus on creating an initiative that brings the diocese and a local hospital(s) together around a violence prevention and education initiative.
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Episcopal Artists Engage with Baptismal Covenant Questions in New Exhibit "Baptism is a sacrament situated on the borderland between Church and world, to paraphrase theologian F. D. Maurice, where the world might enter Church. God is at work saving the world. Baptism is what such salvation looks like, and it binds the baptized to the work of God's reconciliation." The Rt. Rev. George Wayne Smith Address to Diocesan Convention, Nov. 2017 The Bishop's Task Force on Baptism is exploring ways to elevate and energize our understanding of the Sacrament of Baptism and what it means for each of us in our daily lives. One project is an art exhibit that visually interprets the questions and answers found within the Baptismal Covenant. Episcopal artists in this Diocese were invited to participate by creating a new work in response to one of the eight questions asked in our Baptismal vows. This exhibit includes those eight works along with the artist's statement about the piece. The exhibit will debut in the nave of Christ Church Cathedral during Diocesan Convention on November 17. Parishes will be able to borrow this exhibit for display in the coming year. Details and an application form are available on the diocesan website at www.diocesemo.org/ivingmybaptism.
Baptism and the Trinity Mary Drastal, artist Will you strive for justice and peace among all peoples, and respect the dignity of every human being? My painting, Baptism and the Trinity, is a portrait of one of my former students. She was a refugee from Europe. Her family settled in St. Louis to make a life for themselves in a safe community where they were respected and free from violence. I taught Nancy for two years
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Making Disciples
Building Congregations
For the Life of the World
during art classes in middle school. Her family still conversed in their native language. Nancy made friends with other immigrants she met in school. She was seeking a place for herself as a nonconformist who desperately needed to express herself through art. She paid a heavy price during those years. Nancy was a social outcast, due to her identification with those amongst us who have nothing in common with the majority of the population. Nancy was kind and loving to the least in our school community. To me, she represented youth and beauty, kindness and courage. Her convictions were very strong, and she seemed to understand her role as a consensus builder and peace advocate as she grew into her early teen years. I knew her to be a very special, artistically talented and gifted student. In my painting, I surrounded her with three doves symbolizing the trinity. I placed a dove perched in her hand to signify humanity as a host for justice and peace. The dove taking flight symbolizes our entry into the living Christian community through the initiation of baptism. The dove ascending upward over her shoulder illustrates that baptism brings a person out of sin and into everlasting life. Gold is one of the earth’s precious metals; it has strength, yet is malleable. I placed gold flakes around her head and shoulders, as if a crown and shawl of floating goodness exuded from her. I surrounded her with blue, representing sky and water. Traditionally, blue symbolizes trust and loyalty (the color of Mary’s robe), wisdom, faith, and heaven. The color blue represents piety, peace, and religious beliefs in many cultures. My painting illustrates and symbolizes the hope for humanity to achieve the lofty pinnacle of respecting the dignity of every human being.
Artist Mary Drastal is a member of St. Martin's Church in Ellisville. She recently led a workshop on dyeing a parish banner as part of the Baptism Task Force's workshop on practice. She writes, "As an artist, I want to create work that evokes beautiful images of the world I inhabit."
Church-wide Bible Reading Initiative for Epiphany 2019: Romans You're invited to participate in the Good Book Club, a church-wide Bible reading initiative. The Good Book Club will focus on Paul’s Letter to the Romans, with participants reading a section of scripture each day during the Epiphany season, starting on January 7, 2019. The Good Book Club debuted during Lent and Easter of 2018, with tens of thousands of Episcopalians reading the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry supports and encourages individuals and congregations to join the Good Book Club as a way to engage in “Learn,” one of the seven Way of Love practices for a Jesus-centered life. Several organizations are partnering to bring this to the Church: Forward Movement, the United Thank Offering, Forma, Episcopal Church Women, and The Living Church. Partner organizations are creating resources or encouraging their constituents to take part in the effort. ChurchNext will offer two six-week live Bible studies. The Good Book Club website, www.goodbookclub.org, lists the daily readings and partners, as well as resources to support people as they read the scriptures. Spanish resources and information are available at clubbiblico.org.
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Photo credit to the Rev. Leslie Scoopmire, close-up of the reredos of Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis.
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Faith Christian Church of India
continued from page 2
Some of their time together is focused on outreach ministry. "Through church, we wanted to get connected to the community," Sujanna said. "We are stretching in that direction." They are doing ministry among Webster University students and also with the homeless.
In God's time
The Rev. Sujanna Raj Learn more at www.faithchristianchurchofindia.com
When Sujanna came back in 2012, it was not her intention to plant a church. Many Indian communities here have fellowships, but not churches. So she helped out preaching and celebrating Eucharist. People started to know her, and encourage her call to pastor a congregation. “God is so weird,” she smiled. “Six years ago when we were here, I thought we’d go back to India. I continued to pray for clarity.” She said if she’d known would be planting this church, she might have worked in a different way. “But from scratch, we are starting anew.” “God will always take care. We might be here for the one lost sheep." She added, "No other human institution has survived for 2000 years. It’s only by the grace of God. In spite of schisms and our worst angels, there is no competition in the Spirit.”
Offering Centering Prayer in the County Jail
continued from page 6 met with. “I would pray for each one of them and visualize handing them over, sometimes to Mary, sometimes to Jesus or some kind of loving arms. It helped me realize when I’m sitting in the jail cell, that we’re not alone. God, the Holy Spirit is there. God hears all these stories.” The women set an empty chair in the circle each Wednesday at comtemplative prayer class for the Holy Spirit. Mary added, "It's a good reminder for us all that we are answering God's invitation in prayer, and that anything that comes is a gift." Links to additional information on the organizations in this article, as well as Trinity's service of contemplative prayer online at www.diocesemo.org/Seek.
This Diocese's faithful response to gun violence Lock it for love
The “Lock It for Love” partnership with Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice also continues to grow. Parishioners from Christ Church (Cape Girardeau), Grace (Kirkwood), Holy Communion (University City), Trinity (CWE) and Trinity (St. Charles) have led the diocesan efforts to raise money for the purchase and distribution of gun locks through the sale of imported cashmere scarfs. To date, more than 3,000 gun locks have been made available free of charge to gun owners throughout eastern Missouri.
A curriculum for faith communities
Earlier this year, the Bishop’s Deputy for Gun Violence Prevention received a Fellowship from the University of the South’s School of Theology (Sewanee) to begin the development of an adult education curriculum
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continued from page 7
on the responsibility of people of faith in addressing issues of violence. The first four modules of the curriculum have been completed: violence in Scripture; an American culture of violence; gun violence; and youth bullying and suicide. Chapters on domestic abuse and sexual violence, as well as forgiveness and reconciliation, will be completed by year’s end in preparation for online publication of the entire curriculum by the University of the South in 2019. Individual modules are currently being pilot tested at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion in University City. Contact information for the Bishop's Deputy for Gun Violence Prevention, The Reverend Marc D. Smith, Ph.D. (314) 452-3378 cotterboatworks@aol.com Learn more at www.diocesemo.org/GVP
For the Life of the World
For its third annual celebration of raising racial awareness through out the diocese, the Commission on Dismantling Racism will use Becoming Beloved Community as a platform for this year’s event. In 2017, the Episcopal Church articulated its long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation and justice by introducing Becoming Beloved Community, a set of interrelated commitments around which Episcopalians may organize our many efforts to respond to racial injustice and grow a community of reconcilers, justice-makers, and healers. The labyrinth below shows the four sets of commitments:
For this celebration of racial awareness, the Commission has chosen to focus on the commitment “Proclaiming the Dream.” Proclaiming the Dream points us to our Baptismal Covenant, “We will proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.” Proclaiming the Dream asks us: • How can we publicly acknowledge things done and left undone? • What does Beloved Community look like in this place? • What behaviors and commitments will foster reconciliation, justice, and healing? On Saturday, December 1, you are invited to participate with the commission in exploring answers to these questions. The commission is preparing an interactive morning that opens with a celebration of the work of diocesan churches in their journeys toward racial awareness. We get to see what Beloved Community looks like here in the Diocese of Missouri.
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Then we'll participate in a “listen, learn and teach” session around three race-related topics, a activity that promises to be enlightening and energizing to all. You will have the opportunity to engage in new learning and share your own experience as we foster new behaviors and commitments. What better way to Become Beloved Community than gathering to proclaim the dream and the Good News of God in Christ!
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• Saturday, December 1 • 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM • No cost, includes light breakfast and lunch • St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 808 North Mason Rd. Creve Coeur, MO 63141 • Register online via diocesemo.org/DR
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About The Jesus Movement We’re following Jesus into loving, liberating and life-giving relationship with God, with each other and with the earth We are the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement, seeking every day to love God with our whole heart, mind and soul, and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40).
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About The Episcopal Church The Anglican Episcopal family consists of an estimated 85 million Christians who are members of 45 different Churches around the globe, led by the Most Rev. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury. The member churches of Communion are joined together by choice in love, and have no direct authority over one another. Archbishop Justin is acknowledged as the spiritual head of the Communion, but does not have direct authority over any Anglican church outside of England. The Episcopal Church: 1.75 million follower of Jesus in 109 dioceses and three regional areas in 17 nations, led by the Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate. The Episcopal Church is in communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Moravian Church in North America. The Diocese of Missouri: 10,000+ members in 43 churches, and campus ministry and Deaconess Anne House (Episcopal Service Corps), led by the Rt. Rev. George Wayne Smith, 10th Bishop of Missouri.
By the Grace of God and with the consent of the people
The Right Reverend George Wayne Smith Tenth Bishop of Missouri will ordain
Barbara Gail Click to the Sacred Order of Deacons in Christ’s one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church
on Saturday, the 17th day of November, two thousand & eighteen at quarter after four o’clock in the afternoon
SEEK, November 2018
(at the conclusion of Diocesan Convention)
Christ Church Cathedral
1210 Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103
Episcopal Diocese of Missouri Offices of the Bishop 1210 Locust St. St. Louis, Missouri 63103
Your prayers and presence are joyfully requested Clergy: White Stoles
Seek is a publication of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri. Diocesan members may request a complimentary subscription by mail: send address to the Offices of the Bishop attn: Seek Subscription. Archived editions of Seek are online at diocesemo. org/seek. Editor: Ms. Beth Felice, Director of Communications Editorial Board: the Rev. Daniel Handschy, Dean of the Episcopal School for Ministry; the Rev. Edie Bird, rector Christ Church, Cape Girardeau; Mr. Kurt Greenbaum, St. Martin’s Church, Ellisville; Mr. Paul Jokerst, Transfiguration Church, Lake St. Louis; Dr. Carter Whitson, Trinity Church, St. Louis; the Rev. Canon Joe Chambers, Canon to the Ordinary, Diocese of Missouri.
Details after Diocesan Convention on Nov. 17 at www.diocesemo.org/ livingmybaptism
Submissions by post attn: Beth Felice, or online via diocesemo.org/submit. Deadline: Monday, January 8, 2019 for the edition available February 2019.
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Building Congregations
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n o i t i d e t n e v Ad
In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God ... Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together. - Isaiah 40:3,5 Advent is a season of preparation: shopping for gifts, decorating our homes and sanctuaries. Advent is also a time to prepare our hearts and communities for the coming of Christ. There may be no better time to reflect on how we as the Episcopal Church embrace the Holy One who continues to draw near in the neighbor, the stranger, the refugee, or the one who seems most “other” to you. It is the ideal season to commit to becoming Beloved Community and growing loving, liberating, life-giving relationships across the human family of God. We make the journey not only as individual Christians and congregations, but as a whole church.
The Labyrinth
The journey is framed around the labyrinth. Why? In the ministry of racial healing and justice, none of us walks a straight line. We enter the labyrinth wherever God has provided an opening – telling the truth about our church’s story around race; discerning and proclaiming God’s dream of Beloved Community where we are; learning and practicing Jesus’ way of healing and love; and bravely working to transform systemic racial injustice. We keep moving from one quadrant to another and back. No one is ever really finished. That is the way of ongoing spiritual formation.
• For the four Sundays of Advent each lesson includes: • Read together the Collect and Scripture for the day • Reflection and questions • In the Labyrinth: relating Scripture and reflection to the work of racial reconciliation • Make It Real: small group activities • Closing prayer • Download for free and find other resources at: www.episcopalchurch.org/ beloved-community
The backstory
This spring, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and President of the House of Deputies Gay Clark Jennings and their supporting officers shared “Becoming Beloved Community,” a new vision document that lays out the Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice. A second resource — “Becoming Beloved Community Where You Are” — details many ways for individuals and congregations to take concrete steps toward change and healing. Both are available at www.episcopalchurch.org/ beloved-community, along with a host of resources for faithful reflection and action.
The Commission will offer a 14-hour anti-racism training on the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend in 2019 (January 19 & 20) at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion in University City. This training is offered at no cost and lunch is included. Registration when available is found online at www.diocesemo.org/DR. You can also read more about the training at this web address.
The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri
DIOCESEMO.ORG
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The Missouri Deputation and General Convention
by deputation co-chairs Betty Bowersox and Tamsen Whistler
Missouri Deputation 2018 (l to r): Adrienne Dillon, Michael Booker, Lisa Fox, Kathy Dyer, Todd McDowell, Mark Sluss, Beth Scriven, Wayne Smith, Betty Bowersox, Robby Dunlap, Tamsen Whistler. Not in photo: Luke Jernagan, Elizabeth Yount Presiding Bishop Michael Curry welcomed the Deputies and Bishops to the 79th General Convention (GC) in Austin, TX on July 4th by using Starbucks as a metaphor for The Episcopal Church (TEC). He described how Starbucks stores had expanded from their original mission of providing great coffee to selling a lot of food and snacks And they started to smell like cheese, not coffee! Going back to their roots of selling coffee helped their lagging sales. “We are the brewers of the coffee called Jesus of Nazareth,” Bishop Curry stated; “We are the Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement.” Throughout the 10 days of the GC, we were continuously invited to join Presiding Bishop Curry in The Way of Love, and in the loving,
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Making Disciples
liberating and life giving Jesus Movement. The Convention thematically focused on racial healing, justice and reconciliation, evangelism, and the care of creation. While this was the first GC for Lay Deputy Betty Bowersox (Grace/Kirkwood), it was the sixth for the Rev. Tamsen Whistler (Trinity/St. Charles). Other members included lay delegates: Kathy Dyer (St. Timothy’s), Michael Booker (St. Frances), Lisa Fox (Grace/Jefferson City) and Adrienne Dillon (Alternate, All Saints’-Ascension); and clerical delegates Archdeacon Mark Sluss (Deaconess Anne House), the Rev. Luke Jernagan (St. Peter’s), the Rev. Beth Scriven (Rockwell House) and the Rev. Todd McDowell (alternate, Grace/Kirkwood). Liz Yount (St. Pe-
Building Congregations
For the Life of the World
ter’s) and Robby Dunlap (All Saints’/Farmington) were also lay alternates. Bishop Wayne Smith participated in the House of Bishops meetings. Jeannie Lucas King, Debbie Caby and Sharon Meusch represented Missouri at the Triennial Gathering of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW), also held at the Austin Convention Center. Canon Joe Chambers attended as support for the MO Deputation. Other Missouri people who came to Austin to work for TEC organizations or as vendors, providing information or selling wares in the Market Place were the Rev. Emily Hillquist-Davis (Episcopal Conference of the Deaf), Jeff Wunrow (Liturgical Vestments), Darla Shannon (Press), and Jillian Smith (Episcopal Service Corps) As a first-timer, Betty wasn’t assigned to a specific Legislative Committee. She had to review and decide which of the committee meetings to attend that were important to her and to the diocese. Kathy Dyer was busy every morning, noon, and evening as Chair of the Committee on Credentials, keeping track of voter eligibility and special ballots. Other GC Committee assignments for our deputies were Congregational and Diocesan Vitality (Tamsen), Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations (Michael), Dispatch of Business (Mark), Certification of Minutes (Luke, Chair; and Lisa) and a Special Committee on Sexual Harassment and Exploitation (Beth). Bishop Smith served as chair of Prayer Book. Liturgy, and Music. Altogether, there were close to 30 hours of Legislative Committee meetings, 45 hours of Legislative Sessions (plus six hours of Joint House of Deputies/Bishop Sessions), 14+ hours of Prayer/Worship, and five+ hours committed to A Day of Action (Bishops against Gun Violence, and prayerful witness at the Hutto Residential {ICE Detention} Facility). Every evening the MO Deputation convened for 1-2 hours to discuss critical issues of the day and what to look for in the day to come. These gatherings were open to everyone at Convention from the Diocese of Missouri, not only official members of the deputation. At the behest of Jeannie Lucas King, ECW delegate, we began meetings by answering the question: Where have you found God today? Some numbers: The House of Deputies seated over 840 voting Deputies representing 110 Dioceses; while the House of Bishops seated over 300. Of 524 Resolutions reviewed, GC acted upon 368. Of those, 262 received Concur-
rence from both Houses! – while 156 went no farther, either replaced by a substitute resolution, rejected, not completed in the time allowed, or received a “Take No Action” vote. A 55-page PDF titled “A Summary of Actions of the 79th General Convention” and the text of all resolutions can be found online at www.generalconvention.org Your Deputation members involved themselves in the business of GC, and enjoyed the collegial fellowship of our group as well as with other friends made throughout the years while gathered at this triennial meeting of TEC. Once home, the deputation together has selected what we think are the Top Ten Topics to share with the Diocese of MO. Beginning in January 2019 and continuing for the year, we introduce an online forum, “The Larger Conversation.” This an opportunity for members of the diocese to dialog with the deputation over a webinar platform on each of these topics: • Liturgical Revisions, including a process for a new Book of Common Prayer • A liturgical response to abuse (#MeToo) and Title IV (Ecclesiastic Discipline) Canons • Readmission of the Diocese of Cuba into TEC • Marriage Rites for the Whole Church (B012) • Immigration • Israel/Palestine, and other decisions with Political Impact • The Way of Love TEConversations – Racial Reconciliation/Justice, Evangelism, Creation Care • Day of Action – Bishops Against Gun Violence rally and Hutto Center
demonstration GC Triennial Budget Bishop-Search related issues and other Resolutions with direct impact with the Diocese of MO “The Larger Conversation” is a program being designed as an expansive alternative to the usual post-GC Reporting Sessions. The thought is that this method will provide a more convenient and more in-depth opportunity for everyone to get involved in GC topics of interest to them. At the GC Deputation's table at Diocesan Convention on November 17, you will find buttons to remind you of “The Larger Conversation,” and an opportunity to indicate the issues you would most like to see discussed in that forum, beginning in January 2019. The deputation will also have enough tri-fold wallet cards on the Way of Love for diocesan convention delegates to each take one home. Still longing for an in-person-post GC presentation? Never fear! We have a PowerPoint slide show, built around the basics of General Convention and highlighting the Top Ten Topics noted above! Photos, lists, and details of specific resolutions are included. Members of the deputation are still available to present a GC report in congregations, at Convocation meetings, or in other venues at mutually agreeable dates and times. Send an email to either co-chair to arrange for this GC79 Presentation if interested! Have PowerPoint; will travel! The Rev. Tamsen Whistler tamsenwhistler153@yahoo.com Betty Bowersox bowersoxb@gmail.com • •
The 179th meeting of the Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri is planned for Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, at Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis, Missouri. Preliminary schedule 9:00-10:15 a.m. Plenary 1 Opening, appointments Welcome from Host (CCC) New Clergy, New Cures, Clergy Who Have Died Bishop's Address Nominees introduced, Report of Nominations 10:30-12 a.m. Plenary 2 Reports Presentation of Budget Balloting 12:00-1:00 p.m. Working lunch Noonday prayer Open Meeting Discussion of Resolutions and Budget The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri
1:15-2:30 p.m. Plenary 3 Deaconess Anne House Youth Presentation Report from GC Deputation Companion Diocese Committee Report Faith Christian Church of India New Ventures in Community Ministry UTO Presentation 2:45-4:00 p.m. Plenary IV Adoption of Budget Resolutions Committee Report Site Selection Appointments Ordination and Eucharist (clergy invited to vest, white stoles) Adjourn DIOCESEMO.ORG
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Every three years the Episcopal Church meets in General Convention. It's a time of dreaming about what this denomination stands for, what we hope for, and where we want to see the Episcopal Church join in God's great plan for the world. And those hopes and dreams and discernment happen through legislation. If you're not conversant in that legal language, description of the ministry discerned feels distant. So, how do we begin to understand this convention's 500+ resolutions and how they affect our worship and ministry here in the Diocese of Missouri?
sentation with time for Q&A. They'll be recorded and archived online. And we'll start building lists of associated resources on the diocesan wiki bulletin board as the conversations develop. You'll be able to find links to all of this at: www.diocesemo.org/thelargerconversation.
Beginning in January, members of the Missouri Deputation to General Convention will collaborate with diocesan communications to offer a monthly webchat for diocesan folk. We're envisioning this in the form of a call and response. The first month's call will be a conversation with some members of the deputation. They'll share some of the legislation that touched their ministry heart and that they believe is of special interest for this diocese. Some of these resolutions will make their way to Diocesan Convention. Some are more aspirational or inspirational. At General Convention, personal stories and experiences at hearings and on the convention floor illustrate and inform the legislation. It can be with the volume of work accomplished, much of what we see is the compact wording of the accepted resolution. This webchat offers our deputies a platform to bring forward some of that narrative. The following month, we'll have a response to the issue/s raised. Our guests will be Missouri Episcopalians working in these ministries or fields in the diocese, or those who are interested in learning more. Think of this as an online ABCD*, bridging the direction of the Episcopal Church as charted by General Convention with the mission and ministries of the Diocese of Missouri. The webchats will take place on Zoom and will be 45 minutes; pre-
*ABCD, or Asset-Based Community Development. ABCD engages communities at a grassroots level to recognize local assets and creatively envision how to use that abundance to achieve goals and imagine new forms of ministry. Read more about this at: www.episcopalchurch.org/library/topics/ asset-based-community-development
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Making Disciples
Building Congregations
Intrigued? Help us find the best time for the live webchat at this online 2 question survey: tiny.cc/thelargerconversation
The Episcopal Church also offers several "Called to Transformation" workshops on ABCD each year. The workshops and a free online toolkit were developed to train facilitators in leading a faith community in understanding the ABCD process, explained the Rev. Melanie Mullen, Episcopal Church Director of Reconciliation, Justice, and Creation Care. Sean McConnell, Episcopal Relief & Development's Senior Director of Engagement said, "ABCD focuses on the gifts and strengths of individuals, congregations and organizations, and helps community members dream new possibilities leveraging the gifts they have. By recognizing their own gifts, people are empowered to more deeply invest in achieving the shared goals of the community."
For the Life of the World
General Convention: a bishop's eye-view Bishop Wayne Smith with some observations about what General Convention is and how it does its work. General Convention is the governing body of the Episcopal Church, some 100 plus dioceses in the United States and elsewhere. It gathers once every three years to consider structure and mission, ministry, and all sorts of related things. It's a bicameral body and just like the US Congress, there are two houses. The House of Bishops, which is the House that I sit in and is the smaller house, and the House of Deputies. Each Diocese can send up to eight deputies in total, four clergy and four lay people. The two houses sit and deliberate separately and must come to exact agreement on the resolutions before the become binding on the entire Episcopal Church. I describe it as the US Congress on the "no-huddle offense," everything is time-constrained. And that sometimes leads to possibilities, but it also presents some challenges especially as the General Convention begins to run out of time. The days are long. They begin early in the morning, generally with legislative committee meetings and often go into the evening hours after legislation, after worship, and a hodgepodge of meetings during those evening hours.
The general mood
This is my sixth general convention as Bishop of Missouri and likely my very last as Bishop of Missouri. I have mostly enjoyed my times at General Convention although I will say that it's a routine that is difficult for an introvert, such as I am. But it's a good time for leadership of the Church to be together, to take council together, to argue as we see necessary, and to make plans for our ongoing life as a church. My sense of the General Convention this time around comes from my experience in the House of Bishops. Again, it's a smaller house. We meet regularly every year, generally two times a year and not just in the General Convention years. So bishops have an ongoing relationship with one another, which is one difference between the two houses. Most of the deputies see one another only during the meetings of General Convention.
The House of Bishops' morale is higher now than it has been at any time in my sixteen years as bishop. Bishops are finding more common ground and working harder to reach that place of agreement. It's a very fine time for the bishops in the Episcopal Church.
#metoo in the Church
We did some very difficult things during General Convention, not least of which was attention to the #metoo movement. On the eve of Convention there was a special listening session during which all the bishops gathered with other people who were interested, and heard the stories of people who have survived abuse in the Episcopal Church. It was a time of prayer, a time of story-telling. I think that it helped to set a sober tone for the whole General Convention and I think it showed some real leadership from those who put the event together. One of the most hopeful things about the House of Bishops at this time is that the newest bishops among us are the ones taking leadership. They led us in putting this session together, and also took the leadership in some of the other difficult matters that we had to face. I have great hope for our church, what with this leadership that is emerging and is already present among us.
The Prayer Book
We made some important decisions as a General Convention about the liturgical life of the church. That is to say, we decided not to change the prayer book that we have now, last revised in 1979. We did agree that we need a wide range of supplemental materials for our current prayer book. So that was the directive given to a new task force studying the prayer book and ongoing liturgical needs in the Episcopal Church.
The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri
Welcome back Cuba
The Episcopal Church welcomed back to its community the Diocese of Cuba which the General Convention separated from sometime during the 1960s. It is right that this community in Cuba returns to the Episcopal Church. It's a natural home for the Diocese of Cuba. And the return of that diocese and the person of the Bishop of Cuba, Bishop Griselda, was such a happy moment in the House of Bishops. I was honored to be present when she came forward and took her place in the House of Bishops and addressed us all.
Way of Love: Practices for a Jesus-Centered Life
Our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry continues to give a spirited leadership to the whole Episcopal Church and he challenged us with the Way of Love in very specific ways. I hope you will explore the Episcopal Church's website for the materials that are available for use in your parishes and also for use in your individual discipleship and your growth as a follower of Jesus. (see pg. 18) Your deputation brought hard work, commitment, and good humor to the General Convention and represented the diocese very well.
DIOCESEMO.ORG
Image credit to the Episcopal News Service, photos of the #metoo listening session, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry welcomes Bishop Griselda Delgado del Carpio of the Diocese of Cuba to the House of Bishops.
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This Advent season, new Way of Love curricula and resources for individual study and faith community use
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has invited the whole church to take up The Way of Love, a “rule of life” focused on practices for Jesus-Centered Life. On the Episcopal Church website (www.episcopalchurch.org/wayoflove) see videos including Bishop Michael's introduction of Way of Love at General Convention this past July. Read more about engaging The Way of Love, developing and following a rule of life, walking with others, the Jesus Movement, and more. •
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Journeying the Way of Love: 4-week Advent Curriculum pegged to readings and themes from the Sunday lectionary. Ideal for Christian formation hour offerings at churches and ministries exploring the Way of Love. Following the Way of Love: 9-session Small Group Guide for groups that seek to reshape their lives around Jesus and his Way of Love. The guide details best practices for organizing small groups and discipleship groups, and then moves participants through reflection, discernment, action and deep commitment around the seven practices. Excellent for small groups, vestries, ministry leadership groups.
Downloadable resources available from the Episcopal Church website (free): • Way of Love wallet card • Way of Love brochure • Covenant and Commitment Ritual • Way of Love Reflection & Discernment Handout Print resources available for purchase from Forward Movement: • Printed sets of Way of Love wallet cards in English and Spanish • Way of Love brochures (English and Spanish) Faith communities, dioceses, and organizations following The Way of Love are invited to share their stories and resources using #wayoflove on social media posts, or send to: wayoflove@episcopalchurch.org. For more information or to share your story or resource, please contact 212-716-6102 or wayoflove@episcopalchurch.org.
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Making Disciples
Building Congregations
For the Life of the World
#adventword Help create a giant online Advent calendar, as an individual of faith or as a worshiping community. This Advent join with Episcopalians and Anglicans to coordinate sending images and reflections up into social media...as a respite from the sadness of days, as a challenge to hear God's voice, as a Good News drenched hope. This past summer, literally Advent in July, people from across the denomination held the Scripture and prayers of Advent close to discern words that were both reflective of our texts and invitations to associate images. You, too, can look ahead to our Lectionary texts for Advent. Online, visit: www.lectionarypage.net/YearC_RCL/Advent/ Take a moment and think about this year's list of words. Do any of them bring to mind photographs taken at and of your church this past year? As we are thinking more and more about our faith through the lens of our baptism, do any of these words call forth our ongoing engagement with that covenant? It's a 2-(or more)for-1 proposition. Personal reflection + faith story + evangelism + Bible study + invitation for others to join you at this prelude to Nativity.
How?
Do you have an Instagram account? It's perfect for this project. Visit the account of AdventWord located at: www.instagram.com/adventword/ Post an image. Add some of your reflection. Maybe it's the backstory of the image, maybe it's a link to Scripture that is personally meaningful. Add some hashtags, they help people find your topic. At the least, add #adventword and the word of the day. Add @missouriepiscopal and we'll repost your image. Consider a few additional hashtags, like #Episcopal and #Jesus. These are how we identify and invite others to learn more.
Why this matters.
Last year's #adventword reached millions in over 30 countries. It's hard to predict which words had the most resonance. For instance, last year's #heal had the lowest number of people opening the daily emailed reflection, but had the largest number of views on social media, over 570,000. The campaign rolls out just as this Seek goes to the printer. You can read more at www.adventword.org.
The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri
DIOCESEMO.ORG
Day 1, December 2 — #JOURNEY Day 2, December 3 — #WATCH Day 3, December 4 — #FOCUS Day 4, December 5 — #NIGHT Day 5, December 6 — #LIGHT Day 6, December 7 — #SPROUT Day 7, December 8 — #ALERT Day 8, December 9 — #WILD Day 9, December 10 — #CRY Day 10, December 11 — #GO Day 11, December 12 — #ROUGH Day 12, December 13 — #SMOOTH Day 13, December 14 — #PRUNE Day 14, December 15 — #PREPARE Day 15, December 16 — #REJOICE Day 16, December 17 — #SING Day 17, December 18 — #ANCESTOR Day 18, December 19 — #WASH Day 19, December 20 — #ABLAZE Day 20, December 21 — #SIGN Day 21, December 22 — #EXPECT Day 22, December 23 — #PERSIST Day 23, December 24 — #PEACE Day 24, December 25 — #CELEBRATE
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Nominees for Diocesan Governance To be elected by the 179th Meeting of the Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, Nov. 17, 2018 at Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis for Cathedral Chapter (electing 1 clergy and 1 layperson) • The Rev. Mark Kozielec, Rector, St. Mark's, St. Louis
for Diocesan Council (electing 2 laypersons) • Thomas Allen, St. Martin's, Ellisville • Scott Ferguson, Holy Communion, University City • Rudy Walz, Emmanuel, Webster Groves • Elizabeth Yount , St. Peter's, Ladue
for Disciplinary Board (electing 1 clergy) • The Rev. Maria L. Evans, Good Shepherd, Town & Country; St. Luke's, Manchester for Standing Committee - Clergy (electing 1 clergy and 2 laypersons) • The Rev. Kevin McGrane, Deacon, St. John’s, St. Louis
for Standing Committee - Lay Persons (electing 1 clergy and 2 laypersons) • Betty Bowersox, Grace, Kirkwood • C. Kay Crecelius, St. Vincent's in the Vineyard, Ste. Genevieve • Michael Fowlkes, Trinity, Central West End • Kurt Greenbaum, St. Martin's, Ellisville • Jeffrey Yount, St. Peter's, Ladue Read their biographies online at: diocesemo.org/convention2018
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Building Congregations
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