The North Carolina Disciple - Winter 2018 by Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina

Winter 2018

Becoming Beloved Community Also in this Issue

Mission out in the World | Young Adult Ministry that Works

Diocesan House 200 West Morgan Street, Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27601-1338 PHONE: 919.834.7474 TOLL FREE: 800.448.8775 FAX: 919.834.8775 WEBSITE: www.episdionc.org The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina Bishop Diocesan The Rt. Rev. Samuel Sewall Rodman, III sam.rodman@episdionc.org Diocesan House: 919.834.7474 Bishop Suffragan The Rt. Rev. Anne E. Hodges-Copple bishopanne@episdionc.org Office of the Bishop Suffragan: 336.273.5770

PUBLISHER

Bishop Diocesan of North Carolina EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Christine McTaggart christine.mctaggart@episdionc.org MANAGING EDITOR / ART DIRECTOR

Summerlee Walter summerlee.walter@episdionc.org CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE

The Rt. Rev. Sam Rodman The Rt. Rev. Anne E. Hodges-Copple The Rev. Audra Abt The Rev. Dr. Chantal Morales McKinney Christine McTaggart The Rev. John Heinemeier The Rev. Caleb Tabor Summerlee Walter SUBSCRIPTIONS / CHANGE OF ADDRESS Scott Welborn: scott.welborn@episdionc.org SUBMISSIONS

All submission ideas are welcome and considered for publication. Email submission ideas to communications@episdionc.org. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Send letters to the editor to communications@episdionc.org. COVER PHOTOS

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

Students at Winston-Salem State University contribute prayers to a communal prayer board outside of the student union, part of a fledgling ministry at the campus. Read the story on page 28. Photo by Latricia Giles

Making Disciples, Making a Difference

contents

table of

features

4 12 16 20 23 24 26 28 30

WINTER 2018

Unity Does Not Mean Uniformity The Annual Convention Concludes Its Work Becoming Beloved Community Mission Out in the World Bishops’ Ball Responds to Hurricane Relief The (New) Art of the Canvass

It’s Not a Gimmick. It’s Church. Mission Endowment Grant Spotlight: Answered Prayers in the Mission Field Listening Without Prejudice

departments & more 6-7 8-11

Around the Diocese New, Notable & Newsworthy

At a Glance Facts: This Magazine... The North Carolina Disciple is the quarterly magazine of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. Other diocesan communication vehicles, including Please Note, a weekly e-newsletter, and the diocesan website, www.episdionc.org, are used for more time-sensitive, day-to-day news. Contact the communications staff at communications@ episdionc.org with any questions or feedback regarding these communications, or to submit ideas, articles and photos.

•

Is printed with soy inks, which are more environmentally friendly than traditional petroleum-based inks.

•

Is printed on FSC® certified paper — paper certified by the Forestry Stewardship CouncilTM, an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests.

•

Is printed and mailed in Morrisville, North Carolina. The printer has been using an internal paper recycling system for paper production since 1995.

Delivery occurs during the first week of the following months:

Reflecting the Radical Welcome of Jesus

October/ Fall Issue January / Winter Issue April / Spring Issue July / Summer Issue

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

By the Rt. Rev. Sam Rodman

Unity Does Not Mean Uniformity Our diversity plants the roots for Becoming Beloved Community to grow It is amazing to me that six months have passed since the Ordination and Consecration service at Duke Chapel that hot July day last summer. I am enjoying each day as your bishop, and I am particularly grateful to Bishop Anne and the diocesan staff for their partnership in the work we all share. Of all the wonderful and memorable experiences I’ve had already, by far my favorites have been my visitations with congregations. Between Sunday visits and other occasions, I’ve had the chance to spend time with more than half of our churches and missions, and it has been a joy to start to get to know you. There is so much diversity in our congregations. Each one is unique with its own sense of vocation and mission, its own personality and character. The buildings and properties and histories are all different; each has resources to offer and faces challenges in maintaining those resources and connecting them to mission. The rich diversity of leadership at every level is perhaps the greatest treasure in this diocese. And the good news is your leadership is not hidden or buried; it is shining brightly as we live into the Jesus Movement and the promise of what it means to become beloved community. In and through all this diversity is the common ground we share, that common purpose as followers of Jesus, as disciples sent out to our local communities to offer good news, to partner with our neighbors, to discover what God is already stirring up around us and to celebrate the movement of the Holy Spirit. THAT WE ALL MAY BE ONE In my Pastoral Address at the 202nd Annual Convention, I shared a bit of history from the Book of Common Prayer. Buried in the Historical Documents of the Church section is a little known and largely ignored document called the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral. The document is a Statement of the Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church in 1886 that says, “to all who it may concern, and especially to our fellow Christians of the different Communions in this land, who, in their several spheres, have contended for the religion of Christ: Our earnest desire (is) that the Saviour’s prayer, ‘That we all may be one,’ may, in its deepest and truest sense, be speedily fulfilled….”

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

The statement then lays out four principles for the unity of the church that includes the following: 1. Affirmation of the “Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the revealed Word of God,” 2. “The Nicene Creed as the sufficient statement of the Christian Faith,” 3. The two sacraments — Baptism and Eucharist, or the Supper of the Lord as it is called in the document, and 4. “The Historic Episcopate — locally adapted … to the varying needs of the nations and peoples called of God into the unity of His Church.” I think we can all agree we are a long way from fulfilling the intention and promise captured here. Upon returning from the 2008 Lambeth Conference, the Rt. Rev. Thomas Shaw of the Diocese of Massachusetts returned with this to say about Church unity: “Unity is very, very, very, very hard.” Bishop Shaw was not talking about unity with other denominations; he was speaking about unity within our own Anglican Communion. So rancorous and divisive was this gathering that instead of holding the next gathering in 2018 when it would normally have been scheduled, current Archbishop the Most Rev. Justin Welby postponed the next Lambeth conference until 2020. Why is this important to us here in North Carolina? Some of the dividing lines around which the Lambeth conference in 2008 struggled were conservative and liberal theological perspectives; differing understandings of human sexuality; tension between the mostly white Northern Hemisphere churches and the Southern Hemisphere churches, which are not only predominantly people of color, but also, at this point in history, represent the vast majority of Anglicans worldwide; and the economic fault lines between well-resourced and underresourced members of the communion. Sound familiar? It seems to me that for us, this living prayer of Jesus “that we all may be one” has been channeled in North Carolina by your bishops, the clergy and lay leadership for quite some time in what we have come to call the Jesus Movement. You all have had the vision and the wisdom to recognize that Jesus’ call to unity — his prayer — is a call to unity of purpose, a focus on mission and movement more than church structure and the institution. The movement has been characterized by language

Making Disciples, Making a Difference

Becoming Beloved Community that is not only missional but is also full of energy and life: Go to Galilee; be disciples who make a difference; go deep, go speak, go do. During the walkabouts and Whistle Stop tour last February, I noticed something about the spirit of this diocese. It is gospel inspired. The gospel comes first. The way you live out the gospel is creative and innovative. You are willing to take risks, to try something new, or something very old in a new way. Recently I have been speaking about the concept of apostolic succession as having meaning for the life of the church, as it leads to apostolic expression and expansion. We are all apostles. We are all witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. We all have a vital role to play in God’s mission and in the Jesus Movement as it continues to unfold, to expand and to deepen. Our apostolic call is not only as individuals, but as communities, as congregations. This is the connection between the church of the first century, the church of the Book of Acts, and the Church of today. ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL Now, just as then, there is no one model for what it means to be a church. In the early church, some met in houses, some met in synagogues, some met in the catacombs, some gathered in the streets. This holds true today: One size does not fit all. There are traditional models, and there are contemporary models. There are new church plants, there are churches that close and are reborn in a different form with a new sense of mission and purpose. There are established, well-resourced congregations. There are churches started by people going door to door to offer welcome, to offer prayer or

Reflecting the Radical Welcome of Jesus

to serve the needs of the community. Our unity goes hand in hand with our diversity. As we become beloved community, we are becoming the rich, colorful and multifaceted tapestry the church of the 21st century needs to become to share the fullness of the gospel promise: We are all God’s children, we all have gifts to offer and we are each unique. The gifts we bring are different and varied. What is true for us, as individuals, is also true for our congregations. This is the richness embedded in the life of the church. This is the light we are called to let shine, especially in the Season of Epiphany, the season that celebrates the gift of the gospel of Jesus for all people, even strangers, from another land. This is the season that reminds us that from the very earliest days, the coming of Jesus was all about movement, a journey and following the light of God wherever it may take us. The soil here is rich and ready for the gospel promise of becoming beloved community to take root and to grow up in us. We are being sent by God to share what we are discovering about ourselves, each other and the liberating love of Jesus. Unity may be very, very, very, very hard, but unity is our call. Not unity that masks oppression, but unity rooted in the living prayer of Jesus, unity where none of us has the upper hand. Becoming Beloved Community is our first next step in responding to that call and living into Jesus’ prayer for each and all of us. The Rt. Rev. Sam Rodman is the XII Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina. Contact him at sam.rodman@episdionc.org.

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

Around the Diocese Remember to send photos of happenings in the life of your congregation to communications@episdionc.org. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Milton Williams

Photo by Christine McTaggart The Rev. Milton Williams, rector of St. Francis, Greensboro, blessed Lil Sebastian during the church’s Blessing of the Animals on October 1.

The Rev. Andrew Miles Harmon receives his chausuble during his ordination to the Sacred Order of Priests on December 14 at St. Francis, Greensboro.

Photo by Stacie Taylor

St. Mary’s, High Point, held a parade of saints for All Saints’ Day.

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

Photo by Joanie A. Cameron

Photo by Bill Welch

The Rt. Rev. Sam Rodman ordained the Rev. Adrienne Koch and the Rev. Jeanine Driscoll to the Sacred Order of Priests on December 17 at the Canterbury School, Greensboro.

Once per month, the Sunday school program at St. Margaret’s, Waxhaw, coordinates a “Family Teach Day,” during which kids and parents work together on a service project. November’s project was Operation Christmas Child box packing.

Making Disciples, Making a Difference

Photo by Jesse Griffin

Photo by Marsha Nelson

The altar at Holy Innocents’, Henderson, got a festive makeover for the church’s Thanksgiving Day service.

On November 1, members of St. Andrew’s, Haw River, celebrated Dia de los Muertes (Day of the Dead) with children from the neighborhood.

Photo by Katharina Johnson The Rocky Mount churches served their community this holiday season. St. Andrew’s supported children from 56 families living in Carriage Court Apartments, part of Episcopal Housing, through its annual Angel Tree. Snow falling from the tree provides entertainment for a young parishioner. Marzena Laszewski and Jonathan Whitley from the Church of the Good Shepherd shopped for 81 Thanksgiving boxes which were distributed to families in the community.

Photo by Cianna Fisher

Photo courtesy of the Rev. Dr. Cheryl McFadden

The choir of Saint Augustine’s University performed Handel’s Messiah on December 1. Reflecting the Radical Welcome of Jesus

The Rt. Rev. Rob Skirving, Bishop of East Carolina, ordains the Rev. Dr. Cheryl McFadden to the Sacred Order of Priests at Good Shepherd, Raleigh. The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

New, Notable & Newsworthy Church of the Advocate Awarded Stewardship of Creation Grant The Church of the Advocate, Chapel Hill, was awarded a $9,600 Stewardship of Creation grant from The Episcopal Church for its work with the Piedmont Patch Project, a collaborative social ministry dedicated to restoring native flora and fauna displaced by the rapid urbanization surrounding the property, and cultivating keepers of Creation. As described by the Advocate, the Piedmont Patch Project “will transform five acres of our site into a foodproducing and natural habitat, create a network of involved neighbors, and provide numerous opportunities to educate and engage people of all ages and backgrounds.” The Stewardship of Creation grant from the Episcopal Church is part of a program to help support projects “that focus on local faith-based projects for mitigating climate change and safeguarding the integrity of Creation.” The $9,600 grant awarded to the Advocate will be used to: • continue building collaborations with those beyond the church, including civic organizations, the scientific communities of two local universities, an historic African-American community, newly relocated suburbanites and the PeeWee Homes residents, • continue the transformation of five acres of the Advocate’s campus into a food-producing and restored native species habitat, and • develop digital and other educational resources for sharing in the community, the Diocese and across the Piedmont.

Members of the Advocate, Chapel Hill, mark various types of native piedmont grasses as they plant “plugs” on the southeast corner of the pond. Photo courtesy of the Advocate, Chapel Hill

The project includes an educational component, engaging school children and graduate students and inviting all who are responsible for patches of Piedmont land to learn how to create vibrant native sanctuaries that serve rather than harm God’s creation. To learn more about the project, visit theadvocatechurch.org.

Lift Every Voice: Celebrating James Weldon Johnson March 15-16 In the introduction to God’s Trombones, Maya Angelou writes, “James Weldon Johnson, composer of the lyrics of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing,’ was a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance and one of the most revered African Americans of all time, whose life demonstrated the full spectrum of struggle and success. In God’s Trombones, one of his most celebrated works, inspirational sermons of AfricanAmerican preachers are reimagined as poetry, reverberating with the musicality and splendid eloquence of the spirituals.” A series of lectures and a dramatic reading of God’s

Trombones will celebrate the 90th anniversary of this landmark work of the African-American literary and spiritual tradition at the University of North Carolina Greensboro March 15-16. As a Lenten activity, congregations are encouraged to read God’s Trombones and to learn about and sing the hymn, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” There will be discussion questions and some information about Johnson available at the beginning of February in time for Lenten study. To download them, please visit episdionc.org.

Parochial Reports Due Soon The deadline to submit annual parochial reports is fast approaching. Please make a note on your calendars to send 8

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

your reports to Diocesan House by March 1.

Making Disciples, Making a Difference

Trinity Institute: ‘Values in Action,’ February 2-3 Trinity Institute’s 2018 Conference, “Values in Action,” is taking place February 2-3, 2018. Its lineup of speakers include leading activists, theologians, authors and experts on how to integrate core values into strategic and effective action. Included on the schedule are: • The Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, • Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, and • Pádraig Ó Tuama, poet, theologian and mediator and leader of the Corrymeela Community in Belfast Ireland. As always, Partner Sites are needed. The only technical elements required to host the conference as a Partner Site are a web connection, projection capability and speakers. Trinity Institute provides full technical support before and during the conference, as well as supplementary materials to host your own response and conversation, complete with guidelines and an instructional video for conversation facilitators.

As a Partner Site, besides livestreaming the conference, you also have the option to play video of the keynote addresses and panel discussions on-demand later at your convenience. The fee to be a partner site is based you your ability to pay: the full price of $300 (the cost to provide TI2018) or a discounted rate of $100. For more information or if you sign up to be a Partner Site in the Diocese of North Carolina, please contact Ayliffe Mumford at ayliffe.mumford@episdionc.org. To learn more about “Values in Action” or to find a Partner Site near you, visit trinitywallstreet.org/trinity-institute/2018.

Botswana Pilgrimage: September 13-24 The Botswana Companion Link Committee has announced a second Botswana Pilgrimage, scheduled for September 13-24, 2018. Anyone in the Diocese of North Carolina is welcome to be one of the 12 pilgrims traveling to our companion diocese to experience the life of the Church in Botswana, to build relationships with our partners there, and to deepen your own spiritual journey. Applications are now being accepted, and while there is no official deadline, those wishing to be a part of the journey are urged to reserve their space by April 1, 2018. For more information or to download pilgrimage materials, visit episdionc.org.

Members of the 2016 Botswana pilgrimage visit an orphan care center run by the Mothers Union in Mahalaphe.

Episcopal Church Foundation Fellowship Applications Accepted Applications for the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) 2018 Fellowship are now being accepted. The Fellowship is for individuals pursuing advanced academic studies and special ministries with the aim of educating and equipping future clergy and lay leaders. ECF is committed to strengthening the leadership capability of The Episcopal Church. Applicants to the academic and ministry tracks are invited to describe how they will develop the next generation of leaders for the Episcopal Church, whether in the context of academia, a local congregation, through a church-wide initiative or in another setting. Reflecting the Radical Welcome of Jesus

An ECF Fellowship provides both financial support and networking opportunities. Three to four Fellowships are awarded per year; new awards range up to $15,000 for the first year and are renewable for an additional two years. In addition to this financial support, new Fellows join a wide network of past Fellows, and ECF partners with them so that they may share their knowledge, experience and best practices with the wider Church. The application deadline is March 16, 2018; to learn more about the ECF Fellowship and how to apply, visit episcopalchurchfoundation.org/programs. The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

HUGS Camp Applications Now Being Accepted HUGS Camp is celebrating its 30th Anniversary in 2018! Every year has been a life-changing experience for participants, and this year will hold even more as we come together as a diocese to reminisce, celebrate, honor and look to the future. We’ll bring it all to you as the July 8-14 camp dates come closer, but the first step is to reserve your space! Applications are now being accepted for both campers and helper campers; the deadline is May 15. To access the application or learn more about HUGS, visit episdionc.org.

Episcopal Peace Fellowship Toolkit: Learn About Palestine/Israel The Episcopal Peace Fellowship’s Palestine/Israel Network (EPF PIN) is pleased to announce a new educational resource for members of the Church. The toolkit addresses the history and questions often asked about the “IsraeliPalestinian conflict” and includes material to help learn

about and understand the complexities of the region. Useful to beginners and the knowledgeable, the toolkit can be used either for self-study or teaching situations. For more information or to download the toolkit, visit epfnational.org/pin.

Hosts Needed: Being a Peaceful Witness Manifestations of hatred and division are becoming increasingly common whether politically, racially or otherwise motivated. More and more members of our diocese are asking for help in managing and responding to anger, especially in crowded, escalating situations. The Diocese is working with Ready the Ground, an organization that has facilitated trainings for faith communities across the state. We are working to set up trainings in the coming year, but we need host locations. Would you like to be one? Hosting a half-day training by Ready the Ground involves: • offering a host space, • setting up registration, • publicizing the event, • obtaining interpretation and childcare services, if needed, • offering some hospitality (drinks and a snack, or possibly a light lunch, depending on the time of day), and • collecting a modest honorarium for the trainers. No one person or church is expected to take care of all these pieces alone. In fact, a training has a greater impact if more than one church, group or community cooperates in hosting it. Diocesan staff also stand ready to help.

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

To learn more or become a host site, contact the Rev. Canon Rhonda Lee at rhonda.lee@episdionc.org.

stay in touch Keep up with our diocese and bishops! Episcopal Diocese NC @EpiscopalNC @episdionc www.vimeo.com/episcopalnc Facebook – Sam Rodman Twitter - @samuelrodman Instagram - @bishoprodman Facebook - Anne Hodges-Copple Twitter - @bishopannehc Instagram - @ahodgescopple

Making Disciples, Making a Difference

On a Mission Trip A mission team is headed to Houston this spring to help with Hurricane Harvey relief work. The team heads to Houston, Texas, April 29-May 5 to assist in rebuilding and housing rehab efforts in partnership with the Texas Baptist Men (TBM). All skill levels are needed and welcome. The

estimated cost of the trip is $450 and includes airfare, ground transportation and food. TBM is providing lodging, tools and the work site. If you are interested in joining the team, please contact the Rev. John Gibson at johngibson520@gmail.com.

In case You Missed It Bishop Sam Bible Study and Podcast In December, Bishop Sam launched a monthly online Bible study. On the second Wednesday of every month at noon (ET), he and a guest discuss a Bible passage on Facebook Live, and viewers are invited to comment and ask questions during the study. The sessions are available both as a video on Facebook and as a podcast on iTunes. To watch or join in Bishop Sam’s Bible studies, like the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina on Facebook. The Rev. Jim Melnyk Appointed Officer The Diocese of North Carolina is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev. Jim Melnyk (St. Paul’s, Smithfield) to serve as the diocesan Ecumenical and Interfaith Officer. The Rt. Rev. Kevin Brown, bishop of Delaware and formerly rector of Holy Comforter, Charlotte, previously served in the role. Melnyk has long had a heart for this work and has been involved in many efforts, both locally and more broadly, to bring people and communities of different traditions and faiths together. Recently he has worked with the Yavneh Jewish Renewal Community in Raleigh, been engaged in dialogue with local Muslim leaders and been part of a team of ecumenical partners in a Habitat for Humanity effort in Johnston County. Melnyk will work closely with diocesan staff and in partnership with the Rev. Jill Staton-Bullard, diocesan liaison to the North Carolina Council of Churches. While the role of Ecumenical and Interfaith Officer is not a paid position, we are grateful to Melnyk for taking on this leadership role. Melnyk’s tenure in his new position began January 1. The Rev. Lauren Winner’s New Book The Rev. Lauren Winner, vicar of St. Paul’s, Louisburg, has a new book, A Word to Live By. Part of the Church’s Teachings for a Changing World series, Winner’s latest offering introduces the story behind the Scriptures and invites readers to engage the Word of God with curiosity and confidence. Rich with content and grounded in Episcopal tradition, A Word to Live By is filled with Winner’s trademark combination of humor, authenticity and rich insight. Available at Reflecting the Radical Welcome of Jesus

churchpublishing.org, amazon.com or any Episcopal, religious or secular bookstore. Erin Sweeney Joins Diocesan Staff Full-time There’s a new face behind the reception desk at Diocesan House in Raleigh. Erin Sweeney has been filling in part-time since October but joined the staff in a full-time capacity on January 2. Be sure to welcome her next time you call or visit! New Dean and Lay Warden in Sandhills and Charlotte The Rev. Tim Hushion, rector of Calvary, Wadesboro, and All Souls, Ansonville, has been elected dean of the Sandhills Convocation. Hushion had been serving as interim dean for more than a year. Emerson Bell of St. Martin’s, Charlotte, was elected lay warden of the Charlotte Convocation.

DIOCESAN

EVENTS February 23-25 Bishop’s Ball, Camp Walter Johnson, Denton March 1 Parochial Reports due 8-10 Education for Ministry (EfM) Mentor Training, St. Francis Springs, Stoneville 19-20 Lenten Quiet Day for Clergy, TENTATIVE 27 Renewal of Ordination Vows, TENTATIVE Look for additional events and more detailed event information online at episdionc.org, or contact the Diocese at (919) 8347474, toll-free at (800) 448-8775. Upcoming diocesan events and events from around the Diocese are also featured in Please Note, the weekly diocesan e-newsletter. Sign up on our homepage.

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

The Annual Convention Concludes Its Work The 202nd Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina convened on Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem. With a theme of “Becoming Beloved Community,” this year’s gathering was all about bringing together the work of the Diocese of North Carolina and the work of The Episcopal Church as together we follow a path focused on reconciliation, environmental harmony and, above all, listening. CONVERSATIONS As has become a tradition, Convention’s unofficial start was the Thursday Night program. This year’s offering, “One Great Fellowship of Love?” began with a historical perspective by the Rev. Dr. Brooks Graebner, who encapsulated 200 years of tenets espoused by the Church and the realities of how those tenets have been lived, especially in relation to people of color. The Rev. Jemonde Taylor followed with stories of our history in action within our own diocesan borders, in both the recent past and today. He challenged those present that we need to get out of the mindset of “fixing;” instead of asking “what should we do?” or “what can we do for you?,” engage 12

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

with actual listening by asking “what do you want, what do you need?” The presentations alone would have been more than enough in any circumstance, but the power of the evening really came to bear in the discussion that followed. Shy at first, person after person stood up to share their thoughts and stories, calling on everyone in the room to focus on listening to each other, to respect the dignity of every human being, and to engage in the “messy” work of acknowledging the wrongs of the past while forging a new way forward. Conversations were an integral part of Convention. In preparation of the panel discussion taking place Friday afternoon, lunch was dedicated to conversations based on the diocesan “Go Speak: Reconciliation Edition” of cards. The panel discussion that followed focused on the subject of racial reconciliation. The Rev. Ollie Rencher served as moderator for “Toward Becoming Beloved Community,” during which the five panelists shared their own stories and experiences in answer to questions about racism and other forms of prejudice, how they dealt with those circumstances and the results or effects on each of Making Disciples, Making a Difference

Opposite page: In a relatively rare procedural move, Convention votes on a resolution by cards when a voice vote was too close to call. This page, clockwise: The Rev. Ollie Rencher moderates the Becoming Beloved Community panel. Bishop Sam delivers the homily during the opening Eucharist on the Friday morning of Convention. Delegates from St. Mark’s, Huntersville, and Holy Spirit, Greensboro, focus on the business of Convention. On Friday afternoon, Bishop Anne delivers her Convention Address recapping the good work the Diocese did in 2017. Photos by Summerlee Walter and Christine McTaggart

them. After the panel finished, the audience broke into small discussion groups where they, too, practiced deep listening with each other as they answered the questions posed earlier to the panel. BISHOPS’ ADDRESSES Between a homily and two special addresses, our bishops gave the diocese a tremendous overview of the work we are doing and will be doing. They provided both context to understand why the work is so necessary, and how our efforts in North Carolina dovetail into and complement work underway by The Episcopal Church. (Learn more on page 16.) In his homily, Bishop Sam spoke of Becoming Beloved Community, a path that has at its heart reconciliation, especially racial healing. He reflected on it as a journey, one that organizes our efforts to grow a community of reconcilers and justice-seekers. For, as Bishop Anne highlighted in her address, North Carolina is already full of effort toward becoming that community. Her address was a celebration of the ministry and people bringing God’s love to the Diocese of North Carolina. In addition to the election and consecration of Reflecting the Radical Welcome of Jesus

Bishop Sam, we did an incredible amount of work on our road to Galilee, including a bicentennial, bold new initiatives in environmental, reconciliation and evangelism areas, and new collaborations with community partners as we begin to move in a direction where there is less distinction between outreach and evangelism, and we find ourselves increasingly being “with” our neighbors instead of simply “doing for” them. In other words, we made the priorities outlined by the presiding bodies of the Episcopal Church — evangelism, reconciliation and earth stewardship — our own. “If the Jesus Movement is the journey and going to Galilee is the road map, then Becoming Beloved Community is the mission,” said Bishop Anne. “Healing the wounds of division is reconciliation. Our reconciliation accomplished through Jesus is the Good News. So reconciliation and evangelism are the two sides of the same salvation coin.” In his first pastoral address, Bishop Sam spoke of the challenges presented when contemplating unity, recognizing that despite differences that may seem to keep unity at bay, we can look for answers in Jesus’ living prayer for the full and everlasting power of his resurrection. Bishop The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

Left: Bishop Sam presents a posthumous Bishop’s Award to Tom Droppers’ widow, Mary Ellen. Representatives of the Advocate, Chapel Hill, receive the inaugural The Rev. Thomas Droppers Memorial Green Congregation Award. Scott Evans Hughes receives a Bishop’s Award from Bishop Anne. Photos by Summerlee Walter

Sam sees this living prayer in the Diocese of North Carolina in its incarnation as part of the Jesus Movement. “Jesus’ call to unity, his prayer, is a call to unity of purpose, a focus on mission and movement more than church structure and the institution,” said Bishop Sam. “You all have had the vision and wisdom to recognize that.” MEMORABLE MOMENTS • The 202nd Annual Convention marked the first time in our diocese young adults had seat, voice and vote. • Participants and corps members of the Abraham Project in Winston-Salem and the Johnson Service Corps of Durham and Chapel Hill were commissioned and blessed, called by Bishop Anne the “living embodiments of God’s love in the world.” • The offering collected during Holy Eucharist was designated for a new bilingual food pantry at Christ’s Beloved Community, a fully partnered church between the Diocese of North Carolina and the NC Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. • The first of two Bishop’s Awards was presented to Mary Ellen Droppers, the widow of the Rev. Tom Droppers, in posthumous recognition of the decades of work Tom Droppers did on behalf of the environment and his years of service to the diocese. • A second Bishop’s Award was presented to Scott Evans Hughes in recognition of serving as a delegate to 40 diocesan conventions, in addition to countless other contributions to the Diocese. Hughes was also awarded a Bishop’s Medal for her work on environmental issues. • The Chartered Committee on Environmental Ministry, as part of its report, announced the creation of “The Rev. Thomas Droppers Memorial Green Congregation Award,” which recognizes the work of a congregation in the area of environmental initiatives. Church of the Advocate, Chapel Hill, was the inaugural recipient. • Worship was a key element of Convention, serving as a centering and spiritual force. In addition to the Holy Eucharist that opened Convention, attendees celebrated Evensong, Morning Prayer and Noonday Prayer, with a special Compline Friday night at the A Movable Feast trailer, once again on site to offer warm drinks and hospitality to all who passed by. THE BUSINESS OF CONVENTION In the business of Convention, the 2018 budget passed as submitted. Voting on resolutions went as follows. Certified copies of the acts of Convention are available on the diocesan website. • Resolution 202.1 – On Clergy of Churches in Full Communion with The Episcopal Church; adopted 14

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

Making Disciples, Making a Difference

• Resolution 202.2 – On the Relationship between Saint Augustine’s University and Botswana; adopted • Resolution 202.3 – On the Legacy of the Rev. Thomas Droppers; adopted • Resolution 202.4 – On Reduced Enforcement of Immigration; split • Resolution 202.4a; amended substitute resolution adopted • Resolution 202.4b; amended substitute resolution adopted • Resolution 202.5 – On Openness to Immigrants; amended resolution adopted • Resolution 202.6 – On Supporting the Vitality of Historically Black Episcopal Congregations in the Diocese of North Carolina; substitute resolution adopted • Resolution 202.7 – On the Diocese of Costa Rica; adopted Voting on elected positions went as follows: • Standing Committee – Clergy Order (1) The Rev. Hector Sintim – St. Stephen’s, WinstonSalem • Standing Committee – Lay Order (2) Richard Taylor – Chapel of the Cross, Chapel Hill Reid Joyner – St. John’s, Charlotte

The 203RD Annual Convention The 203rd Annual Convention will take place November 16-17, 2018 at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem.

• Diocesan Council – Clergy Order (2) The Rev. Alicia Alexis – Redeemer, Greensboro The Rev. Jamie Pahl – St. Stephen’s, Oxford • Diocesan Council – Lay Order (3) Mary Long – St. Timothy’s, Wilson Fritz Falkson – St. Mary’s, High Point Robert Rinaldi – St. Mary Magdalene, Seven Lakes • Board of Trustess, University of the South – Clergy Order (1) The Rev. Jane Wilson – Calvary, Tarboro; St. Luke’s, Tarboro A full recap of the 202nd Annual Convention, along with videos of the Thursday Night Program, Bishop Sam’s homily, both bishops’ addresses and the panel discussion are available at episdionc.org.

Friday night compline, hosted by A Movable Feast, drew a crowd with hot apple cider and hymns. Photo by Christine McTaggart

Reflecting the Radical Welcome of Jesus

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

By the Rt. Rev. Sam Rodman and the Rt. Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple

Becoming Beloved Community Diocesan priorities for 2018 In May 2017, The Episcopal Church announced “Becoming Beloved Community: The Episcopal Church’s Long-term Commitment to Racial Healing, Reconciliation and Justice.” It was not another program; it was a path for all of us to follow. As outlined by the Church, Becoming Beloved Community has a focus on racial healing and is comprised of four components: tell the truth; repair the breach; proclaim the dream; and practice the way of love. There is no short cut on any of these paths; indeed, as the Church’s Becoming Beloved Community logo depicts, the path is so circuitous and winding, it comes to resemble a labyrinth. It is an apt analogy, because while the journey on a labyrinth may take many turns, if you keep on it, eventually you will find the center. The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina is already on that journey, and we easily recognized ourselves and the mission work to which we’re dedicated in the path outlined in Becoming Beloved Community. In looking at what has been accomplished in recent years and

where we want to go in the years ahead, it became clear that the path we were already on meshed with the one outlined by the Church. And so it is a path we will continue to follow in 2018 and the coming years. Continuing our work in the area of racial reconciliation and healing will remain a focal point. In thinking through the wide scope of our work, however, we have defined four other priorities that support, complement and intertwine with that reconciliation work. They build on our answered call to be part of the Jesus Movement, recognizing its call to unity through mission and movement more than church structure and the institution. They keep us on our road to Galilee, where we will continue to go out in the world, seeking out our neighbors and increasingly seeing the importance of “being with others” as well as “doing for others.” If the Jesus Movement is the journey and Going to Galilee the map, our work in Becoming Beloved Community is our mission.

Becoming Beloved Community Left: The logo for the Episcopal Church initiative, Becoming Beloved Community. Right: The North Carolina logo for Becoming Beloved Community incorporates the labyrinth from the Episcopal Church’s logo over the heart of the state, where the Diocese of North Carolina is located.

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

Making Disciples, Making a Difference

EXPANDING THE MISSION In the unfolding and expanding of our mission, there will be many expressions of how we accomplish our goals. There will be models both traditional and innovative. One size will not fit all. The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of North Carolina will be a “God-send” — in the apostolic definition of the word that it is God who is sending us — to our state and to the wider church. And while the Church’s Becoming Beloved Community is rooted in four priorities, ours is rooted in five.

1 Engaging in deeper dialogue and multi-layered conversations around the dynamics of difference with particular attention to race, political tensions between left and right, and the economic divide

2 Support for vulnerable congregations

We define vulnerable congregations as those who feel vulnerable. This can be a congregation of any size, and it will be the congregations who decide they feel vulnerable; it is not something that will be decided for them. The life of a congregation does not follow a linear path; it is cyclical, and we understand how at certain points on the curve it can feel as though you’re going backward instead of forward. So this priority is about helping congregations who are struggling discern the where and why of their struggle. We — your bishops — will help with that discernment process on our visitations, and then follow-up teams will be formed based on the gifts needed to uplift the congregation.

Anyone who has taken the training provided by the Racial Equity Institute (REI) or Seeing the Face of God can no longer believe that racism is simply a matter of personal opinion or behavior. It is a deeply rooted systemic problem, and as we learn more about it, we also have started having conversations and listening to how systemic racism has impacted — and continues to impact — communities of color and, indeed, all of us. We will go deeper into these conversations to increase our understanding and to find common ground from which we can forge new paths and move forward together. We will develop and provide resources for answering anger with peace to help build bridges across political and social divides. And we will continue to forge partnerships and collaborations on every socioeconomic level so the face of the Diocese of North Carolina reflects and supports all the people of North Carolina.

Right: Go Speak: Reconciliation Edition decks are one way to begin addressing issues of race and racism in our congregations.

Reflecting the Radical Welcome of Jesus

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

3 Missional collaboratives that will be regionally cultivated

The power of this priority has already been proven many times over in our diocese. Galilee Ministries of East Charlotte started as a hub for refugee services and has evolved into a partnership of churches in the Charlotte convocation and a multicultural community of friends. Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beloved Community, the fully partnered church plant between the Diocese of North Carolina and the NC Synod of ELCA, began as two-by-two knocking on neighborsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; doors and has now blossomed into a beautiful missional community that recently celebrated its first confirmations. Church of the Advocate in Chapel Hill entered into collaborative ministry first to build PeeWee Homes on their campus to help housing-insecure neighbors and later to work with partners to help with hydration challenges faced by farmworkers. These are but a few examples of the collaborative work happening within our diocesan borders. A great many others are in the exploration and planning stages with more to come. All will be based in relationships, work to engage both secular and worshiping communities and focus on diversity in its leadership.

Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beloved Community/Comunidad Amada de Cristo held its first confirmation on November 5. The community is a bilingual Episcopal/Lutheran church plant in Winston-Salem. Photo by Christine McTaggart

4 Lifelong Formation

To live the gospel to the fullest means it must be part of our daily life. The work of lifelong formation has long been underway in this diocese, but to go even deeper, a task force led by the Rev. Ginny Inman is developing ways to help us integrate Christian formation into our daily lives in ways that are guided by five principles: that it be intergenerational, relationally based, creative, adaptive and highlight the role of liturgy.

HUGS Camp and Godly Play are just two examples of the creative formation happening across the Diocese. Photos by Lisa Aycock and Amy Campbell

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

Making Disciples, Making a Difference

5 Reconnecting to the Land

We were blessed to travel in September to Alaska to attend the House of Bishops meeting. Both of us were profoundly affected by Episcopalians whose ancestors have lived in Alaska for thousands of years, struggling to bear the Light of Christ as well as defend the dignity of their tribes and the integrity of their sacred land. It was a deeply felt reminder of our responsibilities to the land on which we live, and the imperative we all must feel and answer to protect the Earth and work to restore its declining health. We have incredible leaders already doing amazing work in environmental areas, and all of them stand ready to teach us, guide us and involve us. Nativity, Raleigh, has multiple initiatives that will be guideposts for us, including Zero Waste Church, Restoring Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Earth and a new project involving carbon farming, an innovative new approach to pulling carbon from the air and returning it to the soil. Our Chartered Committee on Environmental Ministry has developed several tools and offerings to help individuals and churches alike reduce their carbon footprint, and more are coming. With so much momentum already in place, we will continue to work in the area of eco-justice, legislative advocacy and the development of ecumenical and interfaith partnerships. It is impossible to list in this limited space all the powerful work being done in the Diocese of North Carolina. So know these priorities are not written in stone. They are a work in progress. For the work, in large part, is already in progress, and it is work rooted in our Holy Baptism and led by the Holy Spirit. It is work that needs our focus and resources so that it may continue to grow in the gospel promise of Becoming Beloved Community. The Rt. Rev. Sam Rodman is the XII Bishop of North Carolina. Contact him at sam.rodman@episdionc.org. The Rt. Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple is the VI Bishop Suffragan of North Carolina. Contact her at bishopanne@episdionc.org.

Reflecting the Radical Welcome of Jesus

Top: In addition to partnering with other organizations to build Pee Wee Homes for housing-insecure members of the community, the Advocate, Chapel Hill, also has a pond in which people can fish as part of its Piedmont Patch Project. A local fisherman shows off his supper catch from the Advocateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pond on a summer evening. Photo courtesy of the Advocate, Chapel Hill Bottom: The diocesan Chartered Committee on Environmental Ministry is sharing weekly tips for reducing our environmental impact throughout 2018. Find them through diocesan social media channels.

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

By the Rev. Audra Abt and the Rev. Dr. Chantal Morales McKinney

Mission Out in the World Rethinking ministry through re-establishing relationship Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ calls us to “Go,” and when we do, we can trust that Christ is out there ahead of us, beckoning and saying, “Come.” When we choose to step out of our church comfort zones and take some risks to be part of ministry in the world, we find that God blesses us and those we meet in amazing ways. This is what we’ve experienced at two mission sites in our diocese: Christ’s Beloved Community/Comunidad Amada de Cristo in Winston-Salem and Comunidad Puerta Abierta in the greater Greensboro area. For the past several years, we’ve been blessed to be part of the ministry teams engaging the community in these areas. Though the ministries took different shapes, they share an approach that centers on building relationships with people outside of church membership and discovering their gifts and resilience as the keys to revitalizing church ministries. CHRIST’S BELOVED COMMUNITY / COMUNIDAD AMADA DE CRISTO The sign out front of the A-frame church building on South Main Street in Winston-Salem says “Christ Lutheran Welcomes Christ’s Beloved Community,” but other than that it may not be immediately apparent how God has been dreaming a new creation there. Through basic one-on-one

conversation and deep relationship building since 2014, God opened doors again and again for this new church to be formed. A small, aging Lutheran congregation opened its space by way of permanent agreement, and it was transformed into a bilingual, Episcopal and Lutheran neighborhood-based congregation-under-development. From the parking lot, one can see neighbors’ homes and can imagine young people coming after school to play on the new playground set or tending a community garden that could take shape on the land before coming inside to do homework, access the internet and share the good story of Jesus and God’s holy people. Inside, the ministry team continues to renovate the church building, creating a community center that includes a bilingual food pantry, fellowship hall, youth space, children’s space, and adult and community meeting spaces. Months of listening to their neighbors shaped the church’s vision, and it is the neighbors (many of them youth) who helped to paint, pass out flyers, install a swing set and more. Area churches, neighbors and the growing congregation work together to pray, play, create and build this new church into existence. Leadership, visioning and mission are all shared. With this approach, people are invited into a communal experience that is ultimately what church is about: living into a shared love and a shared commitment to each other as the beloved community of Christ.

For four years, Las Posadas has brought together members of Puerta Abierta, neighbors from different backgrounds, traditions and immigration statuses, to recall the Holy Family’s seeking refuge at the time of Christ’s birth and commit themselves to practicing hospitality and openness to the Other, in whom we meet Christ. Photo by the Rev. Audra Abt

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

Making Disciples, Making a Difference

It is built on a foundation that began with approaching people with vulnerability and a simple desire to know them, to discover Christ in them and to understand the neighborhood through their eyes as a place of lived struggles and lived faith. During the ministry’s first 12 to 18 months as a street ministry, the missioners focused entirely on meeting neighbors and staying as open as possible to them and the movement of the Holy Spirit. Being vulnerable meant studying the Gospel of Mark and the way Jesus sent out his disciples two-by-two with nothing to protect them and, therefore, with nothing to keep them at a distance from the people they would soon meet. Like Jesus’s disciples, they discovered the Kingdom of God was very near to them, and they walked away from encounters with neighbors inspired by what God was doing in their lives. Mutual prayer and conversations about the blessings and challenges of living in Southside, Winston-Salem, led to praying and dreaming of how they might all work together to create a community of faith and a community center open to using people’s gifts in the neighborhood and serving those who walked through its doors. PUERTA ABIERTA AND THE NORTH GREENSBORO CORRIDOR Puerta Abierta, a bilingual house church in Greensboro that gathers for worship once a month and for various community events, also has its roots in listening, exploring and deepening relationships within a community. It, too, began in 2014 in answer to serving a few Spanish-speaking parishioners of St. Andrew’s, Greensboro, who faithfully attended the English-language services but missed the language and worship style of their home cultures. When a Spanishlanguage Eucharist was offered in St. Andrew’s chapel, more than twice the expected number of people attended. Watching native Spanish speakers, English speakers and bilingual worshipers bridge the language gap, the idea formed of radical welcome by stepping outside of church walls to be the church in their Greensboro neighborhood. The model for house church community focuses on gatherings in neighborhoods and homes. Deeply scriptural, it features lay-led Bible study, prayer, table fellowship and local service to others. Priests serve as travellers, presiding at home Eucharist, offering ongoing formation for lay readers, and delivering news of other house churches. As the house church community grew, those in attendance included not just a mixture of Spanish and English speakers, but Lutherans, Catholics and even a few “nones.” It became a reflection of the community it called home. Further connecting with lay and clergy leaders of several churches in Greensboro led to the creation of a collaborative missional venture that includes prayer walks, asset-based community engagement and a collaborative approach to ministry. Church of the Holy Spirit, St. Francis and St. Barnabas, all in Greensboro, work and venture together to Reflecting the Radical Welcome of Jesus

Get Creative! There are lots of ways ministries can manifest themselves as relationships within a community. Here are a few ideas for extending the invitation and becoming part of the neighborhood around you, but be creative as you think about the opportunities that surround you. You never know how you’ll start seeing God at work through you and your neighbors, but it will be in ways that transform and amaze you! • Why have all our meetings in the church? Support a locally owned restaurant and meet there. It allows the business owners to extend their hospitality to you; and who knows, perhaps you will discover a way your church can bless them and the neighborhood. • Imagine your altar guild approaching neighbors who plant flower gardens and asking them if they’d offer flowers for altar bouquets once a month in the spring and summer. Or invite those who love to garden to come help with yours! • Build intergenerational bridges by developing a monthly youth ministry visit to a nursing home to spend time with residents when everyone can sing songs or do a craft together.

discover how the Holy Spirit might use their gifts to turn outward and into their neighborhoods. Some of this discovery takes place during prayer walks, where parishioners gather, reflect on Scripture and then go out, seeking to pray with one another and the neighbors they encounter, deepening their relationships with the community around them. As they go out, they pay attention to where there might be a yearning for God. They also allow the neighbors to pray for them, making it truly mutual. Those participating in these prayer walks acknowledge they receive as many blessings as they might give. They are wide open to the ways that God will move and shape their missionary efforts. COMMON ROOTS Though they look very different, Christ’s Beloved Community and Puerta Abierta were built on a similar approach: meeting neighbors where they were, and focusing on listening to what they had to say instead of trying to be a provider of answers. At no time did we start out with an intention to “fix;” the focus was on being vulnerable and humble, and staying open to discovering the gifts in those we met. As we oriented our ministries toward the world, we kept The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

LEARN MORE VISIT Christ’s Beloved Community at www.belovedws.org. WATCH an interview with the Rev. Dr. Chantal McKinney, the Rt. Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple and Bishop Tim Smith on the occasion of the first confirmation celebrated at Christ’s Beloved Community. READ Puerta Abierta’s blog at https://iglesiapuertaabierta.wordpress.com. ASK for partnership! The Rev. Audra Abt and McKinney are happy to answer questions, teach, equip, train, etc.

Christ’s Beloved Community gathers for a community meal every time they worship. Breaking bread together through community picnics and potlucks with an abundance of food is essential to the ministry. Fellowship outside remians an important component of CBC. Photos by the Rev. Dr. Chantal Morales McKinney

the emphasis on relationship rather than programs. We came to see that the notion of “worship on Sunday at 11 a.m.” wasn’t always the best time for those in our communities. Worship and service during the week was every bit as important — if not more so — than the traditional format. Though we kept close our sacred teachings, we did not let tradition get in the way of following Jesus and hearing what our neighbors had to say. We emphasized prayer, always staying rooted in Scripture and remembering how Jesus equips us to go out in the world. As we met and prayed with our neighbors, we returned to knock on their doors again to pray, to invite them on our journey and to accept invitations to walk with them on theirs. We took the time to talk with each other after going out, sharing stories of who we met and the stories we heard. It helped everyone involved to start seeing what God was trying to reveal to us in the people we encountered. And we were patient, always understanding that genuine relationships cannot be rushed; they take time, just as God’s dream or vision takes time to unfold. ENCOUNTERING GOD IN CHRIST When we leave the church walls and step outside into the world, we enter into a more missional way of life. At that point, we are likely to experience the challenge of wanting immediate results in a perfect form. And yet that is both the burden and the blessing of being missional. Missional engagement with the world requires that we rely on God to lead us to people in the world. We rely on God’s timing to open doors to new possibilities. We rely on the Holy Spirit to guide and guard us. And we rely on the missional call that God places in our hearts as we follow God’s lead. The journey itself becomes the means to encountering God in Christ.

The Rev. Audra Abt is the vicar at Holy Spirit, Greensboro, and the former diocesan missioner for Latino/Hispanic ministry. Contact her at audraabt@ gmail.com. The Rev. Dr. Chantal McKinney is the church planter and founding pastor of Christ’s Beloved Community, Winston-Salem. Contact her at chantal@belovedws.org.

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

Making Disciples, Making a Difference

By Christine McTaggart

elief Reflecting the Radical Welcome of Jesus

to Hurr i c a

Service projects at the annual Bishops’ Ball are nothing new; they are a much as part of the tradition as games, worship and hitting the dance floor with our bishops. But at this year’s Bishops’ Ball February 23-25, the attending youth are taking it up a notch as they turn the spotlight event into a fundraiser for hurricane relief. The traditional Saturday night dance will instead be a Dance-A-Thon, with all pledges and donations going to Episcopal Relief and Development’s Hurricane Relief fund to support recovery efforts in all areas affected by the storms of 2017. “Our youth have really enjoyed past service projects for Stop Hunger Now [now Rise Against Hunger] and others,” said Beth Crow, diocesan lead youth missioner. “We normally propose the project, but this year, they came to us early on to ask if they could work toward hurricane relief. They were really moved by those affected by all the storms, and they wanted to help.” The youth team leaders involved in planning Bishops’ Ball have been hard at work since early December, creating videos and turning to social media to get the word out. “We’re really proud of the work they’re doing,” said Crow. “They’ve just taken this effort and run with it, and the approach they’ve taken has expanded this initiative far beyond Bishops’ Ball weekend.” Participants in the Dance-A-Thon began gathering pledges and donations in early December, and they’ll con-

eR n

Th e

ds n

s’ Ball Res p o ill dance, and you po h can s outh w he

tinue to do so until the start of Bishops’ Ball on February 23. They’ve set a goal of raising $5,000, and anyone wishing to support the endeavor can either make a pledge per dance or offer a flat donation. Help can also be offered by sharing the pledge link (go.rallyup.com/bbdance-a-thon/ Campaign) and using #BBDance-A-Thon on social media. Bishops’ Ball is an annual weekend retreat for middle and high-school youth, planned and led by youth members of the Chartered Committee for Youth (CCY). Filled with activities, workshops, worship, conversation and, of course, the dance, its goal is to help diocesan youth explore and develop the spiritual facet of their lives. This year’s theme is “One Body, Many Hearts.” “The youth of our diocese have already transformed ‘One Body, Many Hearts’ from a theme into reality,” said Crow. “They are a living example of what can happen when many hearts and hands come together in a common effort.” All are welcome to be a part of it. The links for pledges and donations are up and active. Registration is open to attend Bishops’ Ball. Whether as a supporter or a participant, you are invited to be a part of it! Visit bit.ly/BishopsBall2018.

Christine McTaggart is the communications director for the Diocses of North Carolina. Contact her at christine.mctaggart@episdionc.org. The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

When one thinks of canvassing on behalf of a church, traditional images often come to mind: knocking on doors with religious pamphlets and requests for a moment to share the Good News, questions about one’s relationship status with Jesus By Christine McTaggart with the Rev. John Heinemeier, and invitations to the Rev. Caleb Tabor, come to the door the Rev. Audra Abt and knocker’s church. the Rev. Dr. Chantal McKinney This image is what is most immediately associated with “evangelism,” and it’s a concept with which many Episcopalians are uncomfortable. But in recent years, Episcopalians have started taking the old notion of canvassing and using it in new ways, approaching it not as a way to “ask” something of those on whose doors we knock, but rather as a way to offer, whether that means a service to the community, a prayer for those in need or simply an offer to listen to what our neighbors have to say. Yet while the approach to canvassing may be evolving, the heart of it is the same it’s always been: an invitation to begin and build relationships.

The (New) Art of the Canvass

OFFERINGS During his time as vicar of St. Cyprian’s, Oxford, the Rev. John Heinemeier revived the practice of canvassing the local neighborhood. With its diverse congregation and bilingual services, St. Cyprian’s had a lot to offer the surrounding community. Knocking on neighbors’ doors was not only a response to the Great Commission of Christ, it was a wonderful way to re-introduce a vibrant and revitalized congregation to its neighbors. Today, led by vicar the Rev. Caleb Tabor, St. Cyprian’s continues the tradition of interacting with its neighbors, using canvassing as a central means of sharing information about special events and services. “We use canvassing more to build relationship between the church and the community,” said Tabor. “Yes, we’re also raising awareness about the presence of the congregation in the community, but the relationship is the priority.” In the last year alone, St. Cyprian’s has used canvassing to invite residents of Oxford to a Halloween party, where about a third of those who attended were not St. Cyprian’s members but community neighbors, and to advertise a legal workshop taking place that included information for those facing immigration issues. “We didn’t ask the person [we were talking to] if he or she needed the workshop,” said Tabor. “We just presented it as something that was happening, and we wanted to let residents know about it in case they knew of someone who might find it useful.” For St. Cyprian’s, “canvassing is essentially taking an idea and making a personal connection with someone about it in person,” said Tabor. “It’s meeting a person, in person, wherever that person might be that day. It’s not mediated by social media or any other channel. We let folks know about what’s happening, and they can take it or leave it. There are no strings, and that alone can be incredibly rare.” “Of course,” he laughed, “if they do come to an event at the church, we make sure worship information is easy to find!” Though there are best practices to canvassing, Tabor advises there’s no one “right way.” “There are many approaches,” he said. “None of them are wrong. Figure out what’s right for you and your church, and take it from there.” 24

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

Making Disciples, Making a Difference

LISTENING In the last few years, the Rev. Audra Abt and the Rev. Dr. Chantal McKinney have both been instrumental in developing new ministries in the Winston-Salem and Greensboro areas (page 16). While their respective ministries look different at first glance, both are rooted in the practice of going out and meeting their neighbors where they are. Because their ministries were not yet established at the time their canvassing began, when knocking on their neighbors’ doors, prayer and listening were at the heart of their offerings. “We believe we can affect change through listening first, rather than the church having all the answers,” said McKinney. “And there’s a beauty of meeting neighbors on their own terms, walking with them on their own streets and hearing their hopes for their neighborhood.” In the listening, gifts can be found, concerns can be heard, leaders developed and gaps identified. A critical step in hearing the community was gathering missioners after outings to share stories about what they heard and learned. They listened to each other as much as to their neighbors. “It helps us to see where and how God is active and how Christ met us in the people we encounter,” McKinney explained. “As you encounter the same people over and over again,” said Abt, “let yourself be invited as much as you’re extending an invitation. That’s how relationships are built and deepen, and it’s how God affects and transforms us through those relationships.” Both agree, “God will bless you through the people you encounter as much as or more than you bless them!”

BEST PRACTICES

GIFTS FOR YOU

•

• •

• • • • • •

Go! You don’t need to read another book or study more; if you are ready to enter into open conversation and give of yourself to your neighbors, you are ready to go. Trust that God will equip you with what you need. Go two-by-two. As Jesus sent forth his own disciples two-by-two, so should you go. Practice! Canvassing is a new and unfamiliar experience for many, so think through what you’d like to say before you go, and don’t be shy about practicing it with a partner or friend. If you’re not ready to do the talking, ask to be partnered with someone more comfortable having new conversations. Don’t go in anyone’s home, and don’t ask for personal information. The goal of the encounter should be about offering, not asking. Be friendly. Approach the conversation with a blank slate of expectations; don’t assume you know what’s needed or what you’re going to hear. Listen, listen and listen some more! Leave something behind – an event flyer, a pen, anything that reminds your neighbor you and your church are there for them. Remember the destination is the journey itself.

Reflecting the Radical Welcome of Jesus

•

Canvassing is a wonderful opportunity to build relationships within the church, as it depends heavily on lay engagement. Challenge yourself to go out in the world with someone you don’t know well, and get to know them as you walk. Canvassing can be an intergenerational event, bridging age gaps and encouraging learning from one another as stories are shared. Going out into the world offers you a chance to ask yourself about your own faith; why is what you’re doing important to you? The key to canvassing is listening; as you learn to listen to strangers, what more are you starting to hear from your friends, family or coworkers?

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

By Summerlee Walter

It’s Not a Gimmick. It’s Church. How two churches are connecting young adults to their faith Unlike the rest of The Episcopal Church, the congregation of THEO in Tarboro is at its largest during the summer months. A ministry for young adults — some in college, others a decade or so older — THEO swells when college students return home. Young adult ministry like this, though, is upsetting traditional expectations of how the life of the church works and what faithfulness looks like. Long an area of occasional consternation in congregational ministry, ministry to young adults is increasingly looking like, well, just ministry as Episcopal institutions deal with the rise of the nones, a decreased social expectation of church attendance and increasingly busy family schedules. This is not an article about pub theology, even though the two ministries highlighted below both meet in bars. This is an article about healthy, faithful, curious Christian communities meeting outside of church walls. This is an article about churches meeting particular groups of people where they are, both literally and figuratively. Above all, this is an article about two priests doing what churches increasingly need to do in order to reach any demographic in their communities: reconsider old ways of doing ministry and be open to the possibility of what church might look like today and in the future.

THEO, the young adult group at Calvary, Tarboro, gathers at a local pub. Photo by the Rev. Janey Wilson

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

THEO The Rev. Janey Wilson started THEO while she was the associate for pastoral care and college ministry at Christ Church Cathedral in Lexington, Kentucky. Recent graduates of the University of Lexington and Transylvania University who had been involved in campus ministry were looking for a way to stay connected to a faith community. They just weren’t looking for church. The group began with three people — Wilson, her young adult son, Erik, and another student — at an Irish pub in Lexington and grew to a dozen or so by the time Wilson left for Tarboro. (The Rev. Joe Mitchell, now rector of Good Shepherd, Asheboro, followed Wilson in that position and grew the ministry even larger.) At Calvary, Tarboro, Wilson was inspired by the church’s organist (and director of music and youth ministry), Chris Pharo, to begin something similar. Pharo, Wilson and Wilson’s husband, Shannon, who also has long campus ministry experience, started meeting with interested young adults at an underground pub on Thursday nights, two hours before the pub hosted trivia. The timing was purposeful; lots of young adults in Tarboro attended the weekly trivia competition, so Wilson went where the young adults were. After the pub closed down, the group shifted to Tarboro Brewing Company. Regardless of location, Wilson has one rule: the conversations can range to the group’s personal lives, politics, current events or pretty much anything else, but the group must discuss God once during the conversation. The young adults are connected to Calvary in some way — many attend church during Lent, Christmas and Easter or sing in the church’s choir — but THEO is their main congregation, and they are faithful in their attendance. THEO participants take their commitment to their congregation so strongly, in fact, that as Calvary recently went through the RenewalWorks process, all of them took the survey. About half of that congregation also attend Calvary’s annual meeting, and they followed the Diocese’s Episcopal election with great interest, watching recorded town halls and Whistle Stops. Young adults from the Presbyterian Church also sometimes sit with the group, and people are free to arrive early or late, to come and go as they please. During the summer, half the group walks up the block to get ice cream, which allows more intimate conversations to emerge. The Wilsons, Pharo, the Rev. Louise Anderson and her husband, Sammy, and other young(-ish) adult couples take turns helping to facilitate the conversation. Their presence is important to the community’s functioning. Making Disciples, Making a Difference

“Sometimes young adults have strained relationships with parents or bosses, but to be able to be in a place where community wisdom can help you work something out is helpful,” Wilson explained. PUB THEOLOGY The Rev. Robert Fruehwirth inherited a young adult group when he came to St. Michael’s, Raleigh, as the associate rector in May 2016. The mailing list included 60 or so emails, and 25 people would come to a major event like a Christmas party. During a planning meeting with some of the cohort, two predominant themes emerged: the need for social connection and a desire for “lighthanded theological discussion” that feels authentic. Fruehwirth decided to give pub theology a try. He called a local brewery recommended by a young adult parishioner, and the manager was excited to have the group meet in their space. Fruehwirth sent out the word via the mailing list and Facebook, and 10 people gathered for the inaugural meeting. One person had never before attended anything associated with St. Michael’s but had connected with the church via the young adult Facebook group. The group met twice during December 2017. The first time, they worked through the day’s propers using the practice of lectio divina, a Benedictine practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer. The next time, by popular demand, the group explored the Book of Common Prayer, discussing both its history and how they might use it in their own worship lives. “It’s a chance to speak authentically about how we live our Christian life that has a special kind of authority because it’s not coming through the going-to-church filter,” Fruehwirth said. WHAT WORKS According to Wilson, members of THEO’s congregation aren’t there for the food or the beer, per se, but the sense of fellowship gathering over a meal and a beverage — “breaking bread,” she calls it — is crucial. “The food makes the conversation less intense and more joyful,” she said. The feeling of freedom the brewery setting engenders, the lack of judgment in the space, allows those who attend to engage in spirited but safe conversations. The casualness of the meeting space is also helpful to accommodating those with young children. Both Wilson’s and Fruehwirth’s groups meet in locations that are family-friendly, despite being beer-forward. Fruehwirth, who resided in England before coming to St. Michael’s, compares it to the English model of a pub as a meeting place, “which is completely family friendly. It’s a coffee house with beer.” He emphasizes that those who attend a gathering like pub theology aren’t just looking for a drink but are looking for answers to a question fundamental to the Christian faith: “How do we live our Christian life in our world, now, at a very simple level?” Summerlee Walter is the communications coordinator for the Diocese of North Carolina. Contact her at summerlee.walter@episdionc.org.

Reflecting the Radical Welcome of Jesus

Tips for Building a Young Adult Ministry From Brittany Love, Diocesan young adult missioner Relationships are paramount, so be community-focused. For many young adults, it’s difficult to meet people after high school or college graduation when work becomes the primary focus. Gather people where they already gather. While a bar, pub or brewery is certainly one option, coffee houses and restaurants are also popular, casual gathering places. If the meeting place itself is low maintenance and comfortable, it’s easier to ask people to engage deeply and honestly. Different models of young adult ministry will work in different contexts, but having a strong leadership team with an invested theological point person — someone who is comfortable exploring difficult questions and has the knowledge to explain why church functions the way it does — is crucial. Try not to get too caught up on the difference between young adults with children and young adults without children (although be aware of scheduling concerns). Formation is formation, and parents still need to be fed spiritually for their own development before they form their children. Contact Love at brittany.love@ episdionc.org for help exploring ways your congregation can reach and engage young adults in your community.

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

Mission Endowment Spotlight

By Summerlee Walter

Answered Prayers in the Mission Field A fledgling ministry at Winston-Salem State University spreads its wings The Rev. James Franklin had been praying hard for a little help. Franklin, who is the Winston-Salem young adult missioner responsible for ministry at Wake Forest University and Divinity School, Salem University and the surrounding areas, needed someone to help him establish a campus ministry at Winston-Salem State University, a historically black university that had been without a ministerial presence for more than 15 years. And he needed someone willing to volunteer for the task since he had program funding from a 2016 Mission Endowment Grant but had been unable to secure any salary support grants. Making one final attempt to find help, Franklin emailed a field placement supervisor at Wake Forest Divinity School and asked if anyone in the program might be interested in campus ministry. As it happened, she had been ready to call Franklin seeking help placing someone when she received his email. AN ANSWERED PRAYER That’s when the Holy Spirit intervened and Franklin met Latricia Giles. Giles, in her second year of divinity school, was a graduate of WSSU and had relationships with people in the administration. She secured permission to set up a prayer station in the 28

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

student union on Wednesdays during the fall semester. The prayer station started out as a white board with a dry erase marker, but forgotten supplies led Giles to improvise one week. She offered snacks and sticky notes, a chance for students to rest a moment, talk and record their prayers on the corporate prayer board without erasing or crowding anyone else’s pleas. Like much else in the WSSU ministry, her improvisation led to a spiritual opportunity. By the end of the semester, Giles had accumulated a tower of sticky note prayers. “It’s something special to me to actually have the prayers in my hand when I’m praying,” Giles shared. “I literally carry the prayers with me as I pray for the students. It’s a constant reminder what I do is important, even on the days when I don’t have a lot of participation.” The prayer station served as a good introduction to campus, a way to build relationships and trust while demonstrating to a wary administration an Episcopal presence would help care for students’ well-being, not disrupt campus life. Steering a nascent ministry is not without its challenges. For one, there are not a lot of Episcopal resources dedicated to campus ministry best practices. “There’s absolutely no manual for how to start a Making Disciples, Making a Difference

campus ministry,” Franklin explained. “How many books are there about how to plant a church or do congregational development? There’s volumes of stuff that’s out there. There’s like one book for campus ministry, and it’s way outdated.” Giles and Franklin also face some challenges specific to their context at WSSU. There’s no administrative support for student religious life in the form of a chaplain’s office or structure for denominational campus ministers. Recently, though, the university appointed an administrative position for student wellness, which includes spiritual health. A high percentage of the school’s 5,100 students commutes, which also poses challenges for extracurricular activities like campus ministry. Then there’s the general lack of awareness about The Episcopal Church. “Students who haven’t heard of [the Episcopal Church] want to know if we’re Christian, and do we love Jesus,” Giles explained. “And I tell them we love God, God loves them and I love them.” WHO’S NOT AT THE TABLE? Despite the challenges, however, it is clear to both campus ministers WSSU is ripe for mission work. “It was obvious that someone was not at the table in campus ministries around here, and that is a historically black university. That’s a problem, and that has to change. If we’re going to be a ministry that looks like the Kingdom, then everyone is a part of that,” Franklin emphasized. In the fall 2016 cycle grant application, Franklin, Giles and the board of advisors for campus ministry in Winston-Salem wrote: “This is envisioned as an incarnational, Galilee ministry for and with but not limited to: the religiously unaffiliated, millennials, the ‘nones,’ self-identified Episcopal students, the marginalized, the LGBTQ community, the interfaith community, faculty, staff, those who love Jesus and seek his Church, and those who know or don’t know Jesus and have been hurt by the Church.” “Something needs to happen that’s different,” Giles said. “Kids are crying out, and there’s no one there. People need to know people can be there for them, and not just on Wednesday with a snack.” While it seems clear from Giles’ initial experiences ministering to students at WSSU she and Franklin were right about the need on campus, Franklin acknowledges that, without the support from Mission Endowment grants, the practicalities of Latricia’s work would be much more difficult. “It’s nice to have that instead of sending someone out and saying, ‘Well, get creative,’” he joked. More seriously, though, “there’s a freedom of creativity that comes with [having program funding].” During the fall semester, Giles partnered with a religion professor who hosts a Bible study for students Reflecting the Radical Welcome of Jesus

Opposite page: Students at Winston-Salem State University share their prayers on a pop-up prayer station campus minister Latricia Giles sets up outside of the student union every Wednesday. Above: The Rev. James Franklin and Giles on the occasion of Giles preaching at St. Stephen’s, WinstonSalem, in June 2017. Photo by the Rev. James Franklin

enrolled in one of his classes. The experience gave her a chance to learn more about leading a Bible study in preparation for launching her own — this one not required for course credit — in the spring. She plans to get creative, both with the content and promotion of her Bible study: “Drake Theology,” after the Grammy-winning artist, will explore theology in popular music, and, because only school-sanctioned campus organizations can advertise events on campus, she plans to enlist her sorority sisters to help spread the word. Franklin and Giles also hope to take students who have connected with the fledgling ministry on retreat, expanding the invitation to the wider community of campus ministries in Winston-Salem — and perhaps across the Diocese of North Carolina — for a second retreat during the fall semester. They plan to finance the retreats using leftover funds from the Mission Endowment Grant so they will be available to students for little to no cost. In addition, they are interested in sponsoring cross-campus events for students at WSSU, Salem College, Wake Forest University and the North Carolina University School of the Arts. Franklin is unsure what the future will hold for the nascent ministry. He is hopeful, however, because God has already interceded once. “I count it as a Spirit thing that God put it on our hearts, and then it happened the way it happened with Latricia and the Divinity School. God was listening.” Summerlee Walter is the communications coordinator for the Diocese of North Carolina. Contact her at summerlee.walter@ episdionc.org. The next Mission Endowment Grant application deadline is April 16.

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

Close to Home Mission Days included a session of Listening Without Prejudice and working at the Raleigh Dream Center handing out school supplies, clothes and groceries.

By Christine McTaggart

Listening Without Prejudice St. John’s, Wake Forest, teaches kids the art of compassionate conversation A feeling of being unheard. A quickness to anger. A building frustration. At first glance, it doesn’t seem that any of these things would be at the heart of something potentially life-changing, but in the case of youth at St. John’s, Wake Forest, they were. EXTENDING THE INVITATION St. John’s surrounding Wake Forest community is one that represents old traditions meeting new ideas; deep rural roots sharing space with urban borders; a full spectrum of political ideals; and an increasingly diverse population reflecting a wide range of backgrounds and beliefs. In the wake of the 2016 presidential election, Wake Forest was no different from many other parts of the country where political emotions were running high. Folks were struggling to process the unpredicted results, and conversations often quickly became heated when tempers flared. Adults were not the only ones struggling with these challenges. Kids were mirroring what they saw in others, and it was leading to a lot of stress and uncharacteristic reactions. For Joy Shillingsburg, St. John’s quarter-time youth director, it presented an opportunity. “I felt like we had to get talking,” said Shillingsburg. “A lot of people were in shock, and our kids were asking questions. They talked a lot about how they weren’t being listened to when they spoke in school, and so they were 30

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

lashing out online, saying quick, snarky things that were not in line with who they were. They didn’t know what to do, and it was a real internal struggle. It felt familiar, because a lot of adults were having the same experience.” Shillingsburg went to the Rev. Sarah Phelps, interim rector of St. John’s, with an idea. In Shillingsburg’s mind, what was needed was to bring people together and get them talking. But she saw no benefit if the conversation consisted only of other Episcopalians. “We needed to bring in other voices,” she said. Phelps readily agreed, and a committee was formed. It consisted of people from different generations, backgrounds and perspectives. “I envisioned something like a storytelling hour,” explained Shillingsburg. “Our whole faith is based on a story and struggle. I think stories are the best way to bring together people of very different backgrounds and the best way to reach our kids.” The stories were to be the focal point of an evening of storytelling by a panel of diverse voices. It was designed primarily as a youth event, its goal to model for kids how to listen to those stories without judgment or prejudice, and then use those stories as a springboard for conversation with compassion at its center. The hope was to teach the kids that no matter what background they came from, people were dealing with the same things and facing the same struggles with how to react. Shillingsburg realized the goal of the evening was a good Making Disciples, Making a Difference

one, but it was going to ask of its participants a leap of faith, one that would require an openness and vulnerability among strangers. She focused on congregations with strong youth programs, reaching out to Rabbi Lucy Dinner of Temple Beth Or, Imam Mohamed AbuTaleb of the Islamic Center of Raleigh, and Leah Reed and Trae Bremer, youth directors, and Dr. Randy Bridges, senior pastor, from Rolesville Baptist Church, among others. She wanted to include Olive Branch Baptist Church, the historically black congregation on the east side of town, as well. Wake Forest’s Mayor Vivian Jones, a member of St. John’s, knew Olive Branch’s pastor, Daimon Rawlinson. She knew, too, that he was looking for opportunities to create deeper connections between his congregation and the surrounding Wake Forest community. Jones introduced Rawlinson and Shillingsburg, and an invitation was extended for the youth of Olive Branch to join the evening of storytelling and teaching. At the time of the invitation, the storyteller panel included a Muslim, a transgender woman and a Trump supporter as keynote speakers. Rawlinson was immediately enthusiastic about participating, but when he presented it to his board of trustees, they expressed reluctance at the many unknowns, including the potential for the evening to be anything but compassionate. They ultimately decided it was not something to which they would expose the youth of their congregation, but they did not turn their back on the attempt. And something extraordinary happened. Rawlinson was preaching the spring evening “Listening Without Prejudice: Practicing Compassionate Conversation” took place and could not attend the event. But despite their reservations about youth attending, several members of the board of trustees did. Their hearts were open as they listened, and even as the event was in progress, they texted Rawlinson that a mistake had been made; the kids of Olive Branch Baptist should have been there. PROVIDING THE TOOLS While Shillingsburg was delighted at the reaction, she did not want it to be a missed opportunity for the connection the evening hoped to create. So she and Rawlinson worked to find common projects for their churches. By the summer of 2017, the kids of St. John’s and Olive Branch were working together as part of a summer food program at Olive Branch, where they helped feed community children twice a day, five days a week. At the end of the summer, the two congregations did a three-day, close-to-home mission outing, during which they visited Raleigh Rescue Mission, Raleigh City Farm, and the “Race: Are We So Different” exhibit at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. Unbeknownst to either Shillingsburg or Rawlinson, the three-day gathering would culminate in proof of Reflecting the Radical Welcome of Jesus

the power of what they were trying to teach. On the gathering’s final day, all electronic devices were turned off, and workshop leaders did a “Listening Without Prejudice” session with the kids. While the original evening focused more on politics and religion, this session’s topic was privilege and misunderstanding. The same format was used: Shillingsburg and Rawlinson served as keynote storytellers, with Rawlinson sharing a story of discrimination and Shillingsburg a tale of white privilege. After the stories were told, they modeled the keys of compassionate conversation before breaking into groups and using 30 key questions as conversation starters. “The kids loved it,” said Shillingsburg. “It was very structured, and it gave them a framework on how to speak with one another and introduce conversation, even if it was about things on which they had different stances.” It also provided the kids the tools they’d need to navigate the unsettling days ahead. Because electronic devices were turned off, no one knew that as the second “Listening Without Prejudice” took place, riots were erupting in Charlottesville, Virginia. CONNECTIONS ARE THE KEY The relationship between St. John’s and Olive Branch continues. A joint caroling event was enjoyed in December, and more events are in the planning stages for Lent. When asked about the keys to taking the first steps toward building community relationships, one word came to Shillingsburg’s mind: credibility. “Making cold calls to enter a relationship that might be high-stakes probably isn’t going to work,” she said. “Having a common link was key. For us, the mayor was that link, as was the imam. “Because youth are often segregated from the main congregation, it’s our job as youth directors to connect them with the other members of their own church community and ministries. You never know what connections exist between church members and the surrounding community, and I think establishing those internal relationships are at the heart of it. “When I look back at how our relationship evolved, it was a couple of good, trustworthy connections that made the difference.” But however a relationship begins, Shillingsburg closed with a thought that applies to all. “Efforts can’t be hammered into people. It takes time and effort to build relationships, and they have to be organic. They have to be natural. And for the kids, they have to be fun! But they all begin with someone being given the time, space and freedom to reach out and extend the invitation. St. John’s has given that to me. I’m not even sure they realize what an amazing gift that is, and none of this would fly without it.” Christine McTaggart is the communications director for the Diocese of North Carolina. Contact her at christine.mctaggart@episdionc.org.

The North Carolina Disciple | Winter 2018

The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina 200 West Morgan Street, Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27601-1338 919.834.7474 | 800.448.8775

NONPROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID RALEIGH, NC PERMIT NO. 992

Until we read again... Register for Bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ball, and support the attending youth in their fundraising efforts for hurricane relief (page 23). Submit your annual parochial report to Diocesan House by March 1. Become Beloved Community by connecting with the Diocese and staying up-to-date on the mission work to which weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all dedicated. Subscribe to Please Note, subscribe a friend to the Disciple and connect on social media. Find the links at episdionc.org. Find Lenten resources at episdionc.org.